Arizona republican., 1894-10-07

GIVe hdouiCS are lihe CIl11NtICh, unC spring of confidence once broken it is impossible to restore it. Question, re- proach, accusation, elicit nothing; thenceforth they are dumb.
 The man who had told her good-by was gone. The uneventful mountain life closed over him as still water over stone. He was a confederate soldier with wounded leg, who had asked shelter until he was able to rejoin his regiment. Mandy knew nothing more of him except that he was young like herself, and ready to jest, and the cabin for the first time was lively. But Nathan had quickly disliked him.
 Mandy felt as if life had closed over her also. Nathan did not speak to her, nor in anywise notice her. She fan cied herself like a ghost, un- seen, unheard, by the living-except when the child was with her. Before this he had run after his father all day over the fields, or staid by him at his work for hours; but now either Man dy's imperious need for human affec- tion unconsciously drew him, or he was not so we'll. At any rate, he could not be induced to leave her.
 One day in the ea.ly fall she had taken him to the ridge to look for chestnuts. It was clear weather and there was a sparkle of frost in the air; the dry leaves rustled under their feet. She was surprised that he seemed drowsy and tired so quickly of the search, but she took him up, and his head dropped on her shoulder.
 Presently he raised his head, and listened intently. Boom, boom! Nanny, big guns!'
 It was the distant sound of cannon, dull, heavy, intermittent-a battle was going on. So serene and bright a day for men to mutilate and kill ons another! but Mandy listened vacantly, although the firing increased. It meant nothing to her. Life was so dreadful, so strange, that it had left no room for comprehension of the dread ful tidings of death.
 ''Bo-room. Bo-roomr' cried the child, laughing aloud, and trying to initiate the deep, sullen reverberatiou of the guns.
 | What for, mammy, what for?" he asked, eagerly.
 II don't know" she answered, slowly.
 Very soon his interest slackened, and he put his head again wearily on her shoulder. Nanny, I'se so poly"
 She tried eagerly enough now to arouse him. but he slept heavily as if fever had already drugged his veins with it's red poppy juice. It ran it's course quickly. The last night she watched by him the rain dripped slow ly through the leaks in the roof. Now and then came gust of wind. Nathan sat by the hearth and his wet coat and hat, hung on chair, dripped upon the floor.
 His eyes were fixed on the boy. "That mans dead" He spoke rough ly. but he had not spoken to her before for weeks. "Shot in battle.''
 Mandy started; her face quivered, as if she were about to explain-protest. But her husband was not looking at her. Mandy understood the motive; he was sorry for her-and for that! If ne had insulted her it would have been easier to bear. Her face hardened again, and she answered sullenly:
 What do it matter? Nothing mat ters Hush, hush"
 For the child had begun to speak. His mind wandered and he fancied himself again on the ridge. His mother, bending over him, could hear him feebly initiate the guns bloom, boom." The land was so full of war that even to this poor baby the wind of death blew across old battlefelds.
 Nathan's kin came to the funeral Mandy's people lived further off ''cross the mounting'-and it was hard to send message through the federal outposts. The men talked of crops and of the late fights, of Hartman and Bragg. They treated Nathan with respect; William was the ''best off of the brothers, but Nathan was the old est. ''Nathans wife" with her still ness and reserve, impressed them with awe " Illdu WdGCuCu hol CloSely duu took Nathan aside for a talk as the horses were being hitched to the big wagon.
 T don't like Mandy's looks" he said. ''Taint natural fur a woman to be so still. She oughter hev change"
 Nathan waited.
 Send her back with us,'' he urged, "Morgan's men hev fairly tored up the bridge, but there's good ferry, and Nancy'll be proper glad ter see her. Let her stay spell; it'll do her good, an she'll come back spry ez ever" Nathan turned away. ''She kin go ef she pleases,' he said, but when the plan was broached to Mandy herself,