The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-10-20

'She begs me to take her home. She
isn't mean, at all, only just broken
hearted, and feel like FOOL
"'Have you your horse hitched up
L says. Let her think you're going
to drive her home. While it's being
hitched she'll be down here in the pi-
azza and listen, no doubt
so Gray obeyed and the poor little
woman came down, unaware, of
course, of my knowledge Of her
reason for distress.
"Gray went down to the stable ard
drew up my chair and began to talk
to her.
"Sorry to hear that you are going
away, Mrs. Gray said. 'Pve taken
such a fancy to your husband. But
then, Eve only discovered that he and
l were comrades in battle once.'
"She turnedSa shade paler.
"You-you were in the war;? she
| asked.
"'Yes; but wasn't lucky enough
to be wounded--much less do anything
heroic. But then, after all, Mrs. Gray,
a great deal of heroism goes unknown
and unappgeciated.'
"Yes, went on, sometimes those
who are nearest and dearest are ig-
norant of deeds of their loved ones in
the past, which, if they but knew,
would fill and thrill them with pride.
How many people, Mrs. Gray, do you
suppose know of your husbands
wounds andt the noble way he received
them? Few enough.
81 looked around to see if Gray
was returning, but,he was nowhere in
sight.
"'And even if they did know of the
bare circumstances L went on, chow
little idea they could form unless they
haHseen him as | had seen him that
day, in the thick of the hdeous strug-
gle, the bullets whizzing by him, the
powder clouds binding and choking
him, the.shellss bursting at his horses
feet, and he. child that he was-barely
fourteen-dasfing forward with the
colors. When l remember it, | al
ways think of the poem Boy Brit
tom Perhaps you'know that poem.
An exquisite things. Yes, Gray was
as eager, as daring young hero'-I
heard the wheels of the cart coming
up from the stable and made big
iump to end il. No retreat for him
no retreat! A shot shattered the
flagstaff in, his hand He stood in the
stirrups and held his right arm up
with the precious rag. Another ter
rifle explosion, and the horse went
down under him. He freed himself
and, turned to catch a comrade who
had fallen and was being trampled,
and\a shot struck him in the side and
ripped through his back! Think of
it--a boy of fourteen-a tender
chidr
"Mrs. Gray's face had changed
strikingly us she listened, She sat
leaning forward and fairly hanging
on my words. Her lips had almost
begun to work, when up drove Gray,
good natured and impassive with the
banged tailed horse. As he sprang
out, she rushed toward him.
'Oh, Matte, Matte! We won't
go-we-won't gol l want to stay
--Pve changed my mind, Nattien
II disappeared,into the house and
he took her upstairs sobbing. But
knew it was all fixed and L felt quite
happy"
Kummel paused and drew self
satisfied breath.
Althea, my wife, had come up and
stood leaning against the porch railing
with her eyes intent upon him.
"And was it all true and just as you
said, Mr.. Kummel?" she asked, smil-
ING very sweetly. My wife is con-
sidered a great beauty by good judges.
"IIm! Supposing it WEREN'T" he
laughed, "what would you say?"
81 should say ooh, what an awful
liarvn said Althea with beauty's own
audacity.
'My DEAR" l corrected, "you
wouldn't at all. You'd merely muir
mur Blessed are the peacemakers' y
CNew York Mercury.