The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-09-09
CHAPTER XIX.
HOME, SWEET HOME.

Whenever railroad train rolled up
TO the station at Meltonburg its passen-
gers were accustomed to smilingly re-
mark that every man, woman and child
In the place was loafing on its platform
10 gaze at the arrivals and departures.
What, then, must they have thought
when one bright August morning the
express from Columbus dashed up TO
the little depot with a series of jubilant
shrieks that showed that the engineer
was In sympathy with some unwonted
excitement, and they saw the depot
draped in fluttering bunting and alive
with hundreds Of country folks arrayed
in their best, while local band, with
more energy than harmony, brayed the
air Of See, the Conquering Hero
Comes"
And the conquering hero who came
toMeltonburg on that sunny morning
was none other than Frank Besant,
who was dumfounded at his noisy re-
ception, which was really due 70 the
energy Of the editor Of the Weekly Adj
vertiser, who had reused the honest
rustics TO what he afterwards described
inthe columns Of his Journal as "a red
hot burst Of enthusiasm." And, when
the village president, an aged and es-
Unable hardware merchant. stepped
forward and fred an oration at him,
which was a little personal at first, but
soon driftcd into q Fourth Of July
screed, that Frank thought he had
heard before, the young soldier felt
that he would rather endure another
Chicknmaugh than 90 through the or
deal but he had 70 face the music--to
hear Rev Lubin Ferry compare him In
drlcet tones with every Biblical hero
from David downwards, and declare
that his ma thought this day that the
Meitonburgers would forever be proud
of-and to accept at the hands ofa COM
mittee, OF which the Advertiser man
was spokesman, the presentation OF a
sword, on which was engraved list OF
the battles In which he had-or ought
to haye-taken part. As the Adver-
hser said, III was high old time, and
the weikin rang with the plaudits OF
thousands, when the youthful hero, In
few but appropriate words, gracefully
acknowledged the tribute TO his brav-
cry
But they let nun go at last. Even the
little boys VINO mad shouted themselves
hoarse, mad sense 10 leave him, when
he opened the garden gate and turned
mp the avenue OF walnuts to his home.
"Motherlv
my boyF
Idraw the curtain over the tender
scene and leave them 10 their bliss
And Grace came, too, blushing and
trembling, and OH SO glad, that Frank
took her In his arms and stroked her
hair and rained kisses upon her uplifted
face, just as though he had a right TO
do.it and she was his afiianced bride,
mot at oil in the subdued, yet affection
ate manner in which he greeted cousin
Kate. Why, the two receptions would
not bear comparison; and was she not
happy girl? But she was happier when
that night the young soldier told her
the old, old tale Of love, which in her
ears sounded rs sweet and fresh as
though mons Of ages ago II had not
called the blush 70 tie damask check Of
woman.
And when on Sunday Mr.. Brentwood
preached 10 crowded congregation
memorial sermon, In which, after
touching tribute to the Meltonburg
boys who had died In action, he remind
ed his hearers of the debt of gratitude
they owed the brave survivors Of that