Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-10-18

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, boom
BOOM. The land was so full of wal
that even to this poor baby the wind
of death blew across old battletields.
Nathan's kin came to the funeral
Mandy'S people lived farther off
cross the mounting''-anu it was hard
to send 4 message through the federal
outposts. The men talked of crops. 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 oldest
"Nathan's wife," with her stillnes and
reserve. impressed them with awe.
William watched her closely and took
Nathan aside for a talk as the horses
were being h:tched to the big wagon.
L don't like Mandy's looks" he said.
I faint natural fur woman to be so
still. She oughter hev change
Nathan waited.
Send her back with u.s. he urged.
'Morgan's men hev fairly tored up the
bridge, but there's 4 good ferry, and
Nancy'n be proper glad ter see her.
Let her stay spell; it'll do her good.
an she'll come come back spry e.
ever
she pleases,'' he said, but when the
plan was preached to Mandy herself.
she would not hear Of it.
The other women cried when they
left; Mandy's eyes were still dry and
hard.
"'Pear's like she couldn't forgive
Providence, no how" said Aunt Jane
after they We're out of sight.
why, sister," said William cheer
fully,-he had done all he could and
was inclined to shake off any further
sponsibility-''She's young enough
ter hev a dozen mo- children"
Aunt Jane shook her head Neither
she nor any of the others had seen
signs Of what they would have called
a falling out" but the whole atmos-
phere had been unnatural.
1t would have seemed still more so,
was left alone. With feverish energy
she cleaned the cabin, and mended
Nathan's Sunday coat and vest, and
various pairs of half-wOrn socks.
Then she cooked supper, though it was
an hour or so before shutdown. Nathan,
coming in for an old bucket Of tar that
stood in corner Of the shed, was
amazed. She took up her sunbonnet,
and as if by fash, he OWNED her
meaning.
Once more she hesitated.
THE child don't need me now," she
murmured. She was starving for a
word of himself.
Il dunno" he answered slowly, ''ef
he kncwed,-itd be kind O. lonesome
fur the little feller,"-h paused.
For the first time Mandy put her
hands before her face and wept.
Things were not very different in the
next three or four years. Nathan did
not talk; he had fallen into a habit of
silence. but he watched her, he was
restless if, by any chance, she were
away,-a new thing, he even tired to
save her from rough work or exposure
to rough weather.
She needed care, though she did not
say so. A pain often came in her left
side, her breath was short, she had a
cough. She was, however, not I'm
happy, for she began to suspect that
Nathan was fond Of her. Had he come
to think her innocent or-had he for
given her guilt? He gave no sign
either way.
One day she tried to lift heavy log
and tainted. She was slowly regaining
consciousness when Nathan found her.
but her eyelids did not culver or her
lips move, as he carried her in and put
her on the bed. He stopped down and
gave her a long kiss.
Presently somebody was bathing her
forehead, and rubbing her cold hands.
It stopped, tor there was an unfamiliar
call outside.
Il can't rightly say she's noticed any
thing, DOCTOR" said her husband.
"'Pears like she's too fur gone The
sentence broke abruptly as the speaker
turned away.
The doctor found her weak and pale
but with dilated eyes of ecstasy. Her
faded lips wore a smiling rapture, for
she still felt her husbands kiss. 1t
was Mandy hour of triumph-only-
she was dying.