Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-04-07

Getting himself in any easy chair ba
drew the letter from its envelone nm
folding II slowly against his knee n
was a half sheet of ordinary commercial
paper and the Tires upon it numbered
perhaps, a dozen. Mason WINGED AZ
sight of the heading as though an old
wound had been pressed. His sister
leaning over the back of his chair. read
with him: putting out hand across his
shoulder to help him straighten the
page. 1t ran thus:
POINT Lookout, May =. 1866
To Berkeley Mason. Esq. Virginia:
Silt Confederate soldier, now n nrisoncr
OF war at this place, giving his name as Temple
Mason, Is lying IN the prison hospital at the
point OF death. He was too i'll to be sent south
with the general transfer. and in compliance
with his urgent request write again-the
third time-to inform you of his condition. lie
can't last much longer, and in event of his dy-
ing without hearing from his friends he win
be buried In the common cemetery connected
with the prison. and his identity. in all proba-
biilty, lost. This Is what he appears to dread.
and he entreats that YOU will come to him. In
Gods name, II you are still alive The utmost
dispatch will tie necessary. Respectfully,
PERcfvAL SMITH. B. G., q. S. A.
Sonut'. =. .. r., FOlnt Lookout.
Mason returned the letter to its enyel.
ope and leaned back in his chair think
ing. 1t was one of the many messages
of sorrow that had winged their way
through the country in the weeks fol-
lowing the close of the war; one of the
murmurs Of pain that had swelled the
funeral dirge vibrating through the
land.
Pocahontas came and seated herself
on her brothers knee, gazing at him
with wide gray eyes filled with inquiry.
"When did this come? | never saw it
before, she questioned gravely.
Then with troubled brow, and voice
that grew husky at times, he went over
for her the sad story of the last months
of the last year of that unhappy and fate
full struggle. In the autumn of sixty-four
their brother Temple, lad of seven
teen, had been taken prisoner, with
others Of his troop, while making
reconnaissance, and they had been unable
to discover either his condition or place
of incarceration. Mason himself had
been at home on sick leave, weak and
worn with the loss of his arm and sa-
Der cut across his head. All through
the winter and spring, while calamity
followed calamity with stunning rapid
ity, the wearing anxiety about Temple
continued, made more intolerable by the
contradictory reports of his fate brought
by passing soldiers. Finally, this letter
had arrived and converted Il dread fear
into worse certainty.
1t had been handed to Roy Garrett by
a Federal officer at Richmond, and Roy
had ridden straight down with it all
those weary miles. feeling curiously Ger.
tain that it contained news of Temple.
and sharing their anxiety to the full.
Roy had been stanch and helpful in their |
trouble, aiding in the hurried prepare
tons for the journey, and accompany
resolute mother on their desperate mis-
sion. Then came the hideous journey, |
the arrival at the prison, the fearful |
the relief akin to pain of
the reply; the interview with the bluff. /
kindly commandant, wac took their
hands heartily and rendered them every
assistance in his power. Then, in the
rough hospital Of the hostile prison, the
strange, sad waiting for the end, fol-
lowed by the stranger sadder home
coming. 1t was pitiful story, common
enough both north and south, but none
the less pitiful for its commences.
With her head bowed down on her
brothers shoulder, Pocahontas sobbed
She was familiar with
the outlines of the tale, and knew vague
il of the weeks Of anxiety that had lined
ler mothers gentle face and silvered her
brown hair, but Of all particulars she
lgas ignorant. She had been very young
1t the time these sad events occurred;
she young brother sleepingin the shadow
If the cedars in the old burying ground
was scarcely more than name to her,
md the memories of her childhood had
aided somewhat, crowded out by the
cheerful realities of her glad girl life.
When she broke the silence. it was
yery softly, Berkeley she said, III
vas kindly done of that Federal officer
o let us know This is the third letter
re wrote about poor Temple; the Others
must have miscarried.
..They did: and this one only reached
Is Just in time You see, communlca-
ion with the south in those early days
vas more than uncertain. If Roy hadn't
happened to be in Richmond, it's ques-
ion whether should have received TINS
me. 1t was kindly done, as you say
md this General Smith was kindly
nan. shall never forget his considera-
ion for my mother, nor the kindness ne
bowed poor Temple. But for his aid
We could hardly have managed at the
asst, in spite of Roy's efforts. Weowe I
i'm debt of gratitude I'd fain repay
bod bless him."
..Amen,m echoed Pocahontas softly.
CHAPTER VI
: MS