The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1896-04-16
Sarah Barton's Pension
BY ANDREW DOWNING.

Il is not believed that patriotism
alone prompted Henry Barton in 1862
to enlist in IN Illinois regiment. In
fact it 10 recalled by some OF the
neiQhbors that he and his wife Sarah
did not 'get along well' together
about those days.
The cause OF contention-if such
there was-is not known, save that it
might be summed up, perhaps, in the
word "incompatibility," mysterious
something which often drapes very
thinly closeted domestic skeleton.
For he was an ignorant, selfish
man, much given to causeless jeal-
ousy. And Sarah was the very oppo-
site in character, being patient, dis
Greet and womanly. Moreover, she was
we'll educated, and the marriage would
seem to have been ill-assorted. But
I will tell the story and permit the
reader to draw his own conclusions.
The man enlisted. The little wife,
with fearful eyes and heavy heart,
bade him good-by, and he was soon at
the front Left alone. with two small
children, and an eighty acre farm to
care for, and with rather slender means
at her command, it is no wonder that
she thought to herself that her service
would be the harder OF the two. But
she was plucky and resolute, and
wonld do her best.
d. The soldier was sparing OF letters to
his family. Sometimes weeks and
even months marked the intervals of
their coming. And very little money
was enclosed in them.
In July. 1868, the regiment was at
Nashville. Mrs. Barton had received
no letter from her husband for nearly
three months; but one morning the
news came through neighbor-home
on furlough from the same post-that
Barton was sick in the hospital at that
place. About a month later she re-
ceived notice from the hospital sur
geon that the husband was dead and
had been buried in the Nashville GEM
terry.
/ But Barton was not dead. In truth
be had been very sick with typhoid
fever. then oonvalescent and finally
was ordered to report to his captain
for duty the following morning.
He did not sleep we'll that night, but
lay awake for hours neutrality-suspicious.
ing, It would seem. Upon the wall,
ct the head OF his bed, was tackled
card giving his name, Henry Barton.
his company and regiment, and the
nature Of his sickness. This rule was
generally observed. The cots were
close together, there was just room
enough to allow the attendants to pass
osWoou tnCus 0uAtOn Woo Al tho
Typhoid fever" ward. as it was
palled.
Sometime after midnight he awoke
rom doze. Listlessly his hand fell
ppon the cot nearest him, upon which
Eas Pennsylvania soldier. His fin
kers touched the mans face. It was
old. He investigated and found him
b be dead. None of the nurses
eemed to have discovered it.
Almost instantly he formulated
Ian, and, about as quickly. began its
Fecution. He wanted to desert from
he army it would appear that he
ished to leave his wife also-or
lther that he did not mean to return
her. The plan was shrewd one
pd everything favorable to its ac-
pmplishment.
Rising from his couch, and dress
g himself hastily, he lifted the dead
an from the cot and placed him up
the one he himself had vacated.
he lights burned dimly and he sue
eded in finally getting out Of the
Hiding unperceived, and finally out
the city.
The next morning the attendants