Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-09-16

| ""S N~HN VIZ W HtI IuVN.
But Gray didn't return. lie stayed
away until'I began to iI,mk there
must be something rather serious
about il.
"Mrs. Gray did not como down
again, either. So | found ono of The
cliambcrmsids who seemed to have
good sense aud put her up to go and
see IL anything had happened. She
came back and reported that Mrs.
Gray was lying faco downward on
her bed, not moving or seeming to
breathe. OF course | sent her ur
again at once 10 sec if Mrs. Gray was
dead She went up and roued her
and the lady said sllc was only rest
ing; she would come down in tho
porch. Bat before she had had limo
TO do SO Gray dreve up, sprang ont
and sent his horse aud cart to tho
stable. lie looked around, saw that
his wife was not in sight and hurried
up stairs. ! had an idea lie was d
little frightened. Aud l felt sorry,
for had taken sort of liking 10 him
--hc was one of those good-nalured
fellows, always ready with 4 harm
less jest even though he wasn't cs-
pccially Brilliant.
"Afler a good while he camo down
gain, looking simply woc-bcgonc.
i say, said, moved by sudden i'm
pulse, you'll pardon me if Pm max
ing myself olllsious. nlt is there
anything the matter9 Anything that
could do to help you to set thing
righ'?' lIS looked almost relieved.
'WhY.' he said, I'm in a deuce Of q
fix. hardly know what 10 do It's
an absurd thing. too, and yet its
growing serious. My wife is tho
dearest little thing on Garth, AMI yet
She has some high-1Jwn IDEAS that
welI, don't know but they arc going
to part us. She wants to leave me
aud 20 home. Not 10 her mother, Cor
she hasn't any, but to an old maid
cousin of hers who has filed her M
with ridiculous notions Of honor
"sllut what have you been doing?'
asked. .Ilow have you misbchaved
yourself 10 deserve such punishment
'Why, that's the humiliating part Of
it, he said. Its SO absurd. The
truth Il, was in the war aud ] was
wounded. Aud never. happened 10
tell my wifc about ii unu last night.
IIc L.;lr.cl ibis out Ike !, big school-
boy, but he seemed relieved when lie
had done so.
" Ga, said. Il understand. Wcll'
good graciousl OF course you were
very very young when you were in the
war. A mere child. That's easy
enough. Let's see-'6i to 'S4, twenty
years; '91, seven more, makes twenty
seven. Suppose you were fourteen.
Why that's only forty-one. A man of
foriy-one is young"
"sIt isn't tho age. it's the wound,
lie said, with little groan.
"'And you mean 10 tell inc she is
NJ proud of thcm3'
"lIe tried 10 laugh, but only sue
cccdcd in a sort of grunt. They're in
my back he says.
"Wrll, Of course there was a mo-
mont's silence. | wasn't as ready as
might have been. didn't want to
grin either. Then he went on hastily y:
Il was a mere boy; carried the colors
mounted. Ny horse was shot first and
reclcd sidewi.c. couldn't turn him
back quick enough and a shot ripped
up nv bacA--in aud out-ricochet ]
think they call it. There's Two biz
holes and they cost me a year in bed.
But Celia will never get over their J.
cation
81 refe ted for few moments,
;hcn said:
"sPil Try to help you out. ! was in
the war, too, for few days. III tell
i, war story hat may serve a purpose.
Where is your wifc?'
.Shc's all dressed 10 CO. he says,
She bcgs me TO take her home. She
i,i't mean, at all, only just broken
hearted, and | feel like a fool
..sIlavs you your horse hitchcd up,
| SAYS. Let her think you're going
to drive her home. While its being
lliiched she'll be down here i'll the pi-
azza aud listen, 10 doubt
s.SJ Gray obeyci aud the poor little
woman came down, unaware, OF
course, Of my knowledge of hen
reason for distress.
"Gray went down TO The stable ard
| drew up my chair and began TO talk
to her.
.'.Sorry 10 hear That sou are goins
away, Mrs. Gray ! said. I've taker
such fancy TO your husbnd. Bu
lhen, Eve only discovered that he ant
| were comrades in battle once
"Shc turned a shade palcr
.You-you were in tho warp sh'
asked
"sYes; but wasn't lucky enough
TO be woundcd-mucll less do anything
heroic. But then, after all, Mrs. Gray
a great deal of hcroism goes unknown
aud unappseciatcd.'
"sYcs,' l went on, sometimes those
who are nearest and dearest are is'
norant of deeds of their loved ones il
the past, which, If they but knew
would fill and thrill them with pride
How many people, Mrs. Gray, do yo'
supnose know of your husband