Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-10-17

their mark upon him, and he looked
old and worn.
.'Thank de Lawd. marster," said
Hannah. II sho' is glad ter see yer
back. Take dis cheer by de fire.
busting that article with her handker-
chief the while, though it was already
spotless--''Set dar en- warm yer POI
tired feet, en- lem me git yer sum sup
per-"
Hannah knew he had heard of his
wife's death, and of the destruction Of
the house, but no one had told him of
the detection of his daughter, and she
was seeking with hustle and clatter to
put off the evil moment when the ill
tidings must be told.
Col Henson made no reply, but
looked through the window at the va
cant spot where his home once stood,
and at the grave just beyond the box
borders of the garden, showing red
dish yellow in the last rays Of the set
ting sun.
His face, though sad, was not hope
less, for despite the issues of the war
and the desolation surrounding him, he
was expecting each moment to hear his
daughters voice and to feel her arms
around his neck. He had been alone
| in his sorrow SO long! Why did she not
come? At last he turned to Hannah
and said: Where is Mary?"
sob, marster. who is to tell you bout
dat? can't" and throwing her apron
over her head she rocked to and fro,
shaking with sobs.
i "Speak, woman" said the colonel,
sternly; lis she dead?'
Hannah uncovered her face and
looked at him. When he looked and
talked like that she knew she must
obey.
''She is married, en- when she heard
you wus in prison she en- her husband
say dey gwine get yer out"
Married? And to whom?" ,,.,..r
"Ter dat capting whar cum long
here wild Gineral Sherman. He took
keer OBJ her en- ole miss when de house
wus burnt, en- though she hated a
Yankee like pizen, love is stronger
dan hate, en- she loved him." ar al, e.
Col Henson said nothing, but he
looked like man who had received
his death blow. '7a 'i -Ht -.'t.I =
Hannah knelt at his feet, pouring
out from her heart protestations of
loyalty and affection, and from a
stocking she had taken from her pock-
ct two hundred dollars in gold. She
begged him to take the money; she
had made it in various ways, and saved
it for him. And then she added: .,
'rse gwine ter stay wild yer, mars
ter; case OATS what promised ole miss
when she wus on her dyin' bed, wild
one han in my han en- de oder in Miss
Mary'p. But she looked at me last, en-
she say in whisper: You'll stay wild
dem, Hannah| en- / answered: Fore
God, i will, while dere's. bref in my
J body en- ain goin' back on promus
, ter be daid, not if 1 know it!'' P
/ As she rose to her feet Col. Henson
said: Keep the, money for yourself,
= Hannah" and with an imperious wave
. Eof his hand: ''Never let me hear my
, daughters name again" SO
And that was all he would say. A,.-
Hannah cooked for him, saw that he
slept comfortably, and tried in many
ways to arouse his old-time interest in
the farm. 1t was all in vain. A men
tai paralysis seemed to have settled
3 down upon him that nothing could
4 dispel.
"He jes' lax dade man waikiki
Hannah said to her husband. Hes
: got look on his face lax he wus see,
in through eternity. He nebber say
huthin', he go erlong cherry mawnin
! ter ole miss's grave, en- dar he sets,
He won read nur write, nur muffin
: "He gwine go crazy sum err desc
days" answered Jake. dolefulIy.
ale look so curious outen his eyes,
Hannah continued, 81 gittin' 'fraid tel
let him set thar by heself all day.
, think I'll, make Sugy-Honey stay dal
I moseIy, so She kin tell me eff he try tel
4 hurt heself." 4ti rgmlsf 500
- Jake assented to this, and after am
, pie explanat ton it was understood be
: tween the three that Sugy-Honey was
= to be valet de chambre to Col. Henson
y She we'll remembered her young mis-
Q tress, whom she adored with an affec
c ton the mistress of to-day never
= knows. The knowledge that Mis-.
7 Mary woulds want her to stay will
"marster' touched responsive chorc
= in her heart. She could not do TOT
II much. Each day thereafter found hel
:; in ATTENDANCE. Sometimes, in an oh
:, | trusive corner, she rubbed the knives
u at other times she softly played check
e ers on an old shawl; but whatever he
apparent occupation, hands, feet an,
Il eyes were always at his service. If h
happened to be thirsty, she brough
the colonel fresh water; if sleepy, sh
4 beat up the pillow on his lounge, au'
Planned him while he took a nap
Sometimes she sat with a stray news
fpaper, in, her hand pointing out tn
letters and making them into words
for her young mistress had taught he
i alittle, and told her to try and learl
more =
Col. Henson seemed scarcely cor
lscious Of. her presence He appeare
to be silently sinking into the grave
! for the mental and physical SUFFERING
he had endured. His daughters maj
. riage seemed to have been final blo'
3 that almost rdethroned his reason.
just at this juncture Hannah re