Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1892-12-01
After Many Years.

ChlcagO tribune.
The train was crowded with people
going to the &. A. r. reunion. Every
where there were blue coats with brass
buttons; everywhere badges and in
scribed medals; everywhere bronzed
faces and toll hardened hands and eyes
which stared at the crops through the
grimy car windows with the expression
half anxious, half-stolid, so curiouslv
characteristic of those whose success
depends the caprices of a contradictory
climate, for the majority of the veterans
appeared to be farmers.
Hui" commented disgusted voice.
THE feller what owns that farm hez
got to hump hisself to roust them
weeds
But the man wearing the medal across
the aisle did not read the fast turning
leaves of the landscape. Instead he
looked at his wife and child. He was
past middle age. He had plain, grave
face. patient, if somewhat stern. She
was not young either, but she had the
kind of countenance one 1atters with
second look, and that not because of
the distinction of beauty.
There" exclaimed the man, sis Hen
derson of the old-th-.Jim Deane's re-
giment. l didn't think any of that
crowd were in the West, But, then, it
is goodish while since I've been to
reunion"
She started and her lips twitched. He
noticed that as he looked at her. A
sudden surge of color swept across his
face,perhaps because of his inadvertence
of speech.
"You amt got over that, Nellie" he
said in low voice.
She was silent minute, looking
down at the child to disguise the fact
that her eyes were brimming over
When again she glanced up it was with
courage and pitiful gayety.
"I-Tm going to Davew she asserted
softy.
"Superior!" bawled the conductor.
Then the band on the platform blared
out and the train disgOrged. Carrying
the boy and assisting his wife the man
descended. They vanished in the aug
menting crowd to reaper later at ''the
grounds"
In the midst of it all, while the organ
of the merry -go-round wheezed its loud
est, the brass band played, and the ora
tors of the day shouted themselves
hoarse, and the children shrilled their
appreciation of puppet show, two peo-
pie met. She was the woman of the
train. Her little child clung to her
hand. The other was a stopped man
with silvery hair and mnstache-one
who must have been superbly handsome
in youth.
"Ohl' she cried, shrinking from him,
''it amt ever Jim Deane!"
"It's him!" he replied slowly and bit
terly.
Him that you promised to be true to,
Nell. just thirty years ago! An when
| came back you were gonew
But" she gasped, '.you got the letter
left for you!"
What letter."
They stared dumbly at each other
Then he said simply: 1--WE hunted for
ye sence."
Quickly resentful she retorted: Il
waited for you twenty-six years!'
Nell, when | met Dave Kilmer in
Lincoln four years back he told me you
were married! Isupposed long ago!"
"When four years ago." she said, in
voice that shook, "Dave Kilmer came
back from his Western trip to the little
factory town in Pennsylvania where |
had been workin' for long spell, he
told me he met friend of yours out
there who said as how you were dead.
Then married himl'
Their eyes met in one long look of
pain and passion.
'And this is your child?" he asked.
Yes"
He lifted the boy. He saw he had his
mothers eyes. So he kissed him. Then
he went away. She was conscious only
that the lad was crying because button
On the strangers coat had scratched his
cheek. They walked on till she found
her hushpnd.
81 want to go home to-day" she said.
"Why, Nellie! The reunion has only
begun! and there's crowds of outsiders
here. The campfres, an the sham bat
tie, an the balloon ascension, an-"
Il am going home," she repeated.
"Are you sick?"
perhaps"
"Who were you talkin' to bit back?"
he asked suddenly. "The igger seemed
kind O. familiar from here. Any one
from our parts?"
Her eye ofscornful rage flashed as she
turned it ubon him, but as the little
lads hand crept into her own and the
little lads voice rose in a tired muir
mur, it
Softened itself as sheathes
film the mother eagles eye
When her bruised eaglet breatheS.
"No," she answered quietly. "a per-
son | used to know-lOng ago. Will
you lift Charlie into the wagon?"
| AM an old man and have been con- /
stant sufferer with catarrh for the last .
ten years. l ain entirely cured by the /