Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-07-01

1852, Jack, a real soldier then, and no
longer boy playing at the mimicry OF
war, was wounded; and next day tho
news came to the quiet Brighton home.
Conn had grown to be n young lady
In the sweet grace of her twenty sum-
mers, and she was her Aunt Saraa's
help and comfort. To these two wom-
en- came the news of Jacks peril. The
mother cried a little, helplessly; but
there were no tears in Conn's eyes.
"Aunt Sarah," she said, quietly, 81
am going to find Jack"
And that day she was off for the PEN
insula. 1t was the Fourth of July
when she reached the hospital in
which her Cousin Jack had been
placed. She asked about him, trem-
bling; but the news, which treasured
her, was favorable. He was wounded,
but not dangerously. 1t was q girlish
instinct, which every girl will under
stand, that made Conn put on fresh,
white gown before she used the per-
mission she had received to enter the
hospital. She ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Jack
remember also?--that other Fourth of
July on which they found each other
six years before. As If nothing should
be wanting of the old attire, she met,
as she passed along the street, a boy
with flowers to sell-for flowers
bloomed, ojust as the careless birds
sang, even amid the horrors of those
dreadful days-and bought of him a
bunch of late red roses, and fastened
them, as she had done that other day,
upon her breast.
The sun was low when she entered
the hospital, and its last rays kindled
the hair, golden still as IN the years
long past, till it looked like a saints
aureole about her fair and tender face.
She walked on among the suffering,
until, at last, before she knew that she
had come near the object of her search,
she heard her name called, just as she
had called Jacks name six years be-
fore:
"Oh, Conn! Conn.,"
And then she sank upon her knees
beside low bed, and two feeble arms
reached round her neck and drew her
head down.
IL was waiting for you, Conn. I
knew you would come. ! lay here
waiting till l should see you, as you
were that DAY long ago-al in white,
and with red roses on your brcast-my
one love in all the world"
And the girls white face grew Grim
son with swift, sweet joy, for never
before had such words blessed her.
She did not speak; and Jack, full OF q
mans impatience, now that at last he
had uttered the words left unsaid SO
long, held her fast, and whispered:
Tell me, Conn, tell me that you are
mine, come life or death. Surely you
would not have sought me here If you
had not meant it to be so! You are
my Conn-tell me So"
And suppose Conn satisfied him, for
two years after that she was HIS wife,
and twelve years later he gave the old
pistol of that first Fourth Of July to q
young ten-year-old Jack Richmond to
practice with for that years Fourth;
and pretty Mother Conn, as fair still as
in her girlhood, demonstrated, as gentle
mothers will, with:
"Oh, Jack, surely he is too young for
such a dangerous plaything."
Father Jack laughed as he lifted little
Conn to his knee, and answered:
Nonsense, sweetheart; he is sol.
dier's boy, and little pistol shooting
won't hurt him."
But how noisy it was round that
house on Fourth of July!-Louise C.
Moulton, in n. Y. Weekly.