Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-10-30
"A NfDYLUPON CLUTCHES.

Il is to be seen often enough in Cen
trial park.
He, pale. emaciated, one Of those men
who carry a ticket for Charon's ferry
boat in his pocket, and is only lettering
n little by the WY. She, as full Of life
as tho lilacs near which they sit, CRATE
full 10 the eye "a Ter beauty as they to
the tense in their fragrance. lie the
weakness. she the strength, Of the part
nership She as upright as a tall lily
stem, with health to pay Time full rent
through along life. he STOPPING painfully
over the W sticks that prop up his
nerveless body. Those are the crutches.
Now for the idyl.
There was p feverishness Of life in
New York city. North and south had
grappled by the throat. Wal was whip
ping the tops Of commerce until they
hummed again. The government cried
"Givel giyeI" and merchant, manufac-
turer and artisan toiled and moiled
Even man as man had a value in the
market; flesh and blood was dear.
A youth and a girl met at a church
door. and strolled away together. In the
course Of the service-for it was the
Sabbath day-the minister had invoked
the divine blessing npon the Federal
hrms, and made n passionate appeal to
the congregation to aid with purse and
person to keep intact the grand old flag,
that not a single star should be rent
from the union, o one stripe from its
field And hearts had throbbed and
eyes had wclled over with tears that
morning. There were dollars for the
wounded and volunteers for the war in
that sermon.
is it true that you have bought a SAB
s]titutc, Edgar
1t was the girl who spoke as the pair
turned ND Lexington avenue.
"UTaF' and Edgar nodded his head
afirinAtively. "A German, who thought
his Body and bones worth $1,000"
She looked straight before her, kicking
Ghe point Of her parasol with her boot
tips as she walked.
"The last steamer brought 500 emil
grants, Georgia. The price Of substitute
will go down for a bit. 1t lisa pity | did
not wait a little"
"Yes. it is"
She said this quite seriously, and stop
ped before the doorof the house she lived
in.
"Well don't look so serious about it,
he added cheerfully. IL have put 81 ,0OC
to a worse use before now. Georgia"
"Never in your life. Edgar"
"Ehg"
"Never in your life, lsay, Edgar" She
jumped up two stops, and then turned tC
confront bin. AN the substitutes viii
be gone after awhile, and then they'll
have 20 call upon us girls TO go to the
war. II were drafted.rd not buy asub.
stitute: III CO."
81 understand YOU said he slowly
and leaned against the plaster, "Yor
love your country more than all besides
Ell, Georgian
She looked down at him with a hal
perplexed expression in her hazel colorel
eyes; and just then rome leaves from tin
creeper that clambered the front Of tn.
house came huttefing to the ground be
tween them. STOPPING, she picked a re,
one up and held it up to him by wa,
Of diversion. us not that a beautiful
colorG"
ut is red-a very suggestive n jus
now, and quite aprOpos of Uur converse
ton, Georgia Give it TO me. That vii
be a leave taking, won't itY'
There was Il tone Of bitterness in hi
voice; it was DOT hard to see that he wa
angry.
"You understand me in part. Edgar
It is the worst part that you understand
the better escapes you.
mo. I think not. Georgia" Be pusl
ed his hat back from his face and gaze
steadily ut her. You believe hOnestl
that it is on ny account. for my goo
name. that you are solicitous Come
now. some Of your girl friends hav
been twitting you with my ingioriou
p%roclivities for n whole skin, coutras'
ing the patriotic nobleness of the
sweethearts with the selfish pHsillanin
its Of yours. The thought has grow
mp in your brain that by and by it wi
be said to you. Your husband bought
substitute when he was drafted; 20
married a man who, when old and youn
were going to the war, sheltered himse
behind his doi.ers. Wen. now, 6eorBii
listen % me
stop a moment Edgar Tel m
have You never falt any of this for you
self2 No one has ever twitted me
You say. but / have thought, not In m
brain bnt in my heart, where all ~
thoughts Of you grow, Edgar-
cheek flushed. but sho spoke reaolutel
-"that hereafter men may twit yol
and You IN turn may twit me, hecauI
when uur country cried ont loudly. an