San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-29

hAo iot MIN go Win prayers ana tears.
The letters from Ryan were buoysnt,
and made no mention of care or trouble
OF any kind. How could he ask his
fathers help when he had refused his
offer? The colonel rejoiced at the
youngsters independence and decision,
although he said nothing to his wife.
Then came Franks orders for Arizona,
and Mrs. Hearn sobbed herself to Sleep
Again the father said, Resign if you
like and I'll start you here" but in the
solitude of his library he kissed the boys
letter and blessed him in his heart of
hearts for replying, Il wouldn't be my
fathers son were l to resign now, with
the prospect of sharp fighting ahead"
Heaven! with what trembling hands and
tear dimmed eyes he read the glowing
words of old Capt. Rawlins' dispatch
telling how brilliant and daring the boy
had been in the first fierce battle with
the Apaches. He draped the Stars and
Stripes over Franks picture in the par
lor, and babe the neighbors in to drink
to the new south and the old flag, and
even Mrs. Hearn, ever pessimistic and
filled with secret dread of vague tempta-
tons that she knew not of, fearing them
| more than peril or ambuscade, took
heart and strove to rejoice that Frank
was such soldier. How shocked and
sorrow stricken they were when but a
short time after came the tidings of the
old captains lamented DEATH How they
studied all Franks letters and learned
to know the regimental officers through
his eyes, and longed TO meet that capital
adjutant, Lane, when he came to Gin
cinnati recruiting!
Col. Hearn even took few days off
and the north bound "fyer" on the
Queen and Crescent to go thither and
make the acquaintance of his boys
friend, and sat for hours with Lane at
the club, listening to his praise of Frank.
Then came the eastward move again,
and brief leave, and the mothers heart
yearned over her stalwart son, wonder
ing at the bronze and tan of his once fair
skin and rejoicing in the strength of his
handsome face. Mother like, she sought
long talks with him and strove to cate
chise him as to what they did when not
actually in the field. Was there not
great deal of dissipation? Did they not
play cards? Were there not too many
temptations to drink wine? What OPP
portunity had they for attending divine
service? etc. So far as he himself was
concerned he answered frankly, but as
to his comrades, all these questions he
had laughingly parted. He had now
been six years an officer, and had never
once asked his father for money, yet she
nursed her theory that under it all there
was something hidden. From childhood
she had been taught that army life
meant frivolity and dissipation, if not
vice, and now at last, when her husband
was miles away from home looking af-
ter investments he had made in Florida,
came this startling and terrible contir-
nation of her fears.
In glazing head lines, in crushing,
damning terms, in half score of promi-
nent northern papers she read of her son
as a drunken bully, gambler, an
abusive tyrant to the helpless men COM
mitted to his charge, and, utterly over
whelmed, the poor soul had thrown her
| self upon her knees to implore of heaven
the strength to bear the dreaded blow,
and wisdom to guide her Alright in the
effort to reclaim her hayward boy. The
gray haired pastor, for whom she had
sent, came and mingled his tears and
prayers with hers, and then they had
between them written the letter that
was now before him:
1t is but the confirmation Of a long haunting
fear. have all along felt that you were holding
back something from me, my son, and God only
knows how l have prayed that this cup might be
spared me and this sin averted from you.
dreaded the temptation Of army life for one of
your impulsve temperament. strove, / rebelled
against the idea of your being subjected to such
companionshp / hoped against hope that it
might not be as l feared but alasl my intuition
was right after oil. Do not think am angry, my
boy. Do not let this drive you from us. AS soon
as it Is over come home, and all that a mothers
| love can do shall be done to spare you further
bitterness My first impulse was to wire your
uncle James at Washington TO ask If something
could not be done to avert the court martial, but
good old Dr. Wayne, whose son was in the army
before the war; tells me that it is hopeless, and
that the best that be done is to get your resig
nation accepted, so that though you have to quit
the service. he says it may not be by the dis
grace Of a sentence. | have, therefore, wired
james to so at once TO the secretary. and DR.
Wayne has also invoked the aid OF some infuen-
taI friends. Wire me instantly receipt of
this. that may know that you are bearing up
manfully. 1t will soon be over May God sustain
YOU my son. is the Irayer of your devoted and
distracted MOTHER.
p S.-Frank my worst anxiety is on your poor
fathers account. dread to think of the effect
this news viii have upon him. He never appre
ciated the danger as did.
And this was the letter poor Hearn
was almost raging over when the door
ox>o,oJ of,ar , ci,,pla ,rafof p,,, bono,