The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-30

heart, Nat hurried down to the cottage ana
made his way round to the door, against
which the snow had drifted high. He rap
ped again and again, the knock being an.
swered after a time.
The door opened, and a white faced ghost
of a girl stood there, clinging to the latch
for support. She saw him, and her lips
moved, but made no sound. He leaped in
to the room and caught her in his arms
barely in time to keep her from falling.
"Merciful heaven, Jennie!' he gasped.
"'What is it2 What has happened"
'"Uncle Dan'l-be is SO I'LL dared not
leave him a moment. There are no matches
in the house to build a fire."
And you are nearly persisted of cold!
This is terrible! Why didn't l come be-
foref"
He ~disengaged his feet from the snow
shoes and assisted her to a chair near the
bed on which the sick man was lying. In
q few moments he had n fire built in the
stove.
you look hungry, Jennie. l believe you
are nearly starved" declared Nat.
Il have not eaten anything fortwo days"
was her confession. The only food in the
house l kept for uncle. We are out of pro.
visions, and there was no way of getting
more"
Nat was Mortified. On the bed the sick
man was muttering deliriously of his army
days. He saw the visitor, but did not rec
ognize him.
1t was late that afternoon when Uncle
Dan'l becamehimself once more, to find the
village doctor by his bed, with Jennie and
Nat close at hand. The old soldier looked
long and steadily at the young man, and
then he family said:
II thought it was a dream, but l see ye
have really come in time to save my poor
lamb. I've been an old fool, butt
"There, there" broke in thedoctor sooth-
ingly; you must not talk now. 1t will
weaken you"
1--WE got to talk now, doctor, or never.
I've made my last campaign, and Pm goin
to be mustered out right away. The COM
mander in chief will soon give mt an hon
orable discharge" Then he turned to Nat
and Jennie, motioning them to approach.
When they were close by the bed, he went
on, his voice growing weaker with each
moment:
II alwus thought the one thing l held
against John Loring was that he slept at
his post. l thought had forgot he won
the woman who once promised to marry
me. But as l lay here l had a vision that
told me what a selfish, revengeful old
wretch l have BEEN"
The girls fingers touched his lips, and
she whispered entreatingly, Hush, uncle"
~ can't hush-I won't hush" he gasped,
a shadow settling on his weary old face.
my strength is goin. Nat, will ye mar
ry my little oneP Will ye love and protec'
her as If she was yer own lifei"
Heaven knows I WILL" was the reply.
"Then take her. She'll soon need anoth-
or to guard her. T've-I've been faithful
to-the end-faithful to my duty. I've
stood by my. post to the last, but now
Pm tired-and I-must-sleep."
With the weeping girls loving kiss on
his lips, Uncle Dan'l closed his eyes in that
dreamless slumber that comes when the
campaign Of life is ended.
When another Memorial day came around,
the fading band Of veterans found q new
grave ON which to place a tiny flag and fra
grant flowers. Uncle Danl slept not far
from where John Loring was buried, and
little Jennie, with her husband at her side,
dropped q tear for both. But through the
shadows other sorrow shone the sunshine
Of perfect love,