The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1896-03-19
A DIVIDED HOUSE
A Story of the Civil War in
Missouri.
by SIDNEY E. POWELL.
CHAPTER Xx.-REsTITUTIoN.

lbbNtN Wv L htl dllu lhllN Al Hdtib-
faction and happiness.
The doctor, who had been sent for,
said he must have perfect quiet and all
excitement was to be avoided. But his
mothers presence at the bedside did
not excite him, he liked to have her
there, and often his hand timidly
sought hers and held to it for hours
while he slept,
Elfc was not banishcd, though, from
the sufferer. She had feared She would
he, but Mrs. Dabney, she now saw,
was a changed wonan
When she and Mrs, Dahpcy were
together alone that evening, and Ellie
had told how Charlie had suffered all
through the dreadful trial, his mother
caught her hand and pressed it low
ingly.
God bless you, child, " she said,
"for taking Il mothers place to my
poor boy. l have never done you right,
but l know you will forgive me, and,
God being my helper, the future shall
make mp something of what the past
has lacked.
And Ellie, so glad and tender, kissed
the trembling old hand she held.
"Oh. Aunt Mag, - She said, Il have
always loved You, aud nothing could
have kept me away from you if you
had not been in Mr.. Clayton's house. -
Il know it, said Mrs. Dabney.
THAT is all ove now, and may God
forgive me rs you do"
For days Charlie lay lowering
between life and death. but there were
three watchers by his bedside--his
mother, Ellie and Mary-who never
seemed to grow weary, and helped
couragcously to fight against the grim
monster.
How AN we give him up now, ;"
said Fife, when he seems so much
worthicr of love than ever before. Oh,
Aunt Mag, if John could only come
before he dies, how happy it would
make him"
At the mention of Johns name Mrs.
Dahney gave way to Il passionate out
burst of grief.
81 have killed them" she cried,
"both of my children. God has taken
| them from me and how can He forgive
me for all my neglect and s%eltishness.
Ellie, child, and she stopped low
down to her, for Elie was knecling al
her feet, John wrote you a letter tell
ing O how much he thought of you,
and | stole it out of your Bible where
he had put it, and he thought you die
not care for him, and that is why h'
went in the army and lost his life
Ny Charlie went ecause he had III
home and no mother. Oh, ! have
killed them both ~
Her remorse was pitiful to see, an(
Elfc forgot as well as forgave ever,
wrong She had ever done her in tn,
sympathy she felt for her,
Dear Aunt Mag" she said, Il
will all come right don. rcproacl
yourself so much,
II have that letter yet. Ellie, and
will go and get it, for | brought it t
you that | may lift a part of the guilt,
load / have carried 50 long"
She went to a little drawer in the oil
desk in the sitting room, aud took tn
letter out that John had write
months before he left for the army, an
putting it III Elites hand said
Forgive . poor old woman, VIII
made the mistake Of loving none
better than duty. Now / see my 81
and pray Gods forgiveness and yours.
As she turned away and went back t
Charlie. Ellie looked ut the familia
handwriting on the letter.
Did he indeed write it, " she wor
dered.
: For months he nUd been gone an
| not Il line had he written to any ont
: and this letter, hidden away so long
old yet so new to her how could 81
believe it. How precious it SCENE
i even before she had read it? She mu
, needs battle it with kisses and tear
y before she could break its seal al
, know its contents.
When she had read it and learned fl
y the first time the cause of all that st
y alienation and distrust and how
must have gone away believing her
!, be hcartless and unappreciative, 81
felt grievcd to the heart, but she W
conscious of no resentment toward h
mothre.
" q will not let her crushed hea
have another pang on account OF II
" sorrow, " she said, and she went ba
=" into Charles room with a calm, chez
- full face.
10 After Mrs. l..bney had confessed
u Ellie how she had wronged her a
a John she seemed to give up her abse
- son as lost to her forever and her whit
j soul centered in Charlie,
" AS she sat watching the sleeper s
b" was startled by a knock on the fro
door. She heard Ellie 60 to the dc
and then a strangers voice asking
# Mrs, Dabney.
"Was he here to tell her John v
i. dead?" and her face grew pale at
10 thought.
When Ellie came in and whispe,
II. to her that a man wanted to see her
n business, she felt that she could
bear much more trouble, her streni
.r. would fail her.
"Was this what people called
vs. broken heart? for surely hers
nm throbbing as if it would burst.
to "Aunt Mag" Ellie said, seeing
he pain sit is not about John"
ful Reassured, she tottered into the
ting room, and there found Mr.. Cl
of tons cousin, Mr.. Warren,
hes II want to see you, Mrs. Dabr
of on important business. Its importa
7 bona will ha Suficiant axcuaa for