The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-10-27
but what he was really dead. 1t would

whose unselfish heart was planning for
you, placing your future peace and
well. being before his own craving hum
ger for home, happiness and children's
Lowell
When Mark Ryder glanced again
towards the window, the strange man
vision, and he saw only Coralie sitting
there with Floy in her lap, while Ed
die leaned on the arm OF her chair.
Home, and wife, and children-all that
he had hoped and prayed for through
three years of war and eighteen months
of captivity, before his eyes, within his
reach, at lastl l think none but God
knew what was in the mans soul then,
when he gave them all up, and elected
to become wanderer. One long look
at the dear faces he should never see
again this side of Heaven - then he
turned resolutely away.
He had his hand on the fence to get
over, when dog came out of KEN
mel near by, growing savagely. " Bru-
no, good fellowl" Hearing his name
in that voice, the dog knew his master,
and sprang up with quick glad whine,
licking the hand that caressed his
shaggy head, and the face that bent
down close for an instant, as the man
knelt on one knee on the frozen ground,
his arm about the dogs neck.
"You will see them all tomorrow,
old fellow - Coralie and Eddie and
baby Floy-but shall never see them
again until / meet them up yonder.
They'll never know that I've been here
tonight, and you can't tell them, can
your You'll keep the secret, and when
all the rest have forgotten me, my dog
will remember. No, you mustn't fol-
low, back, / say, and good-by."
He did not look back once as he
went - kept straight on across the
fields toward the station, in the same
path he had come over less than an
hour before. The wind was in his face
now, that bitter, piercing wind which
seemed to penetrate the blue overcoat
80 easily, chilling him through and
through. He shivered at first, and
shrank, as it swept over him, but after
awhile he did not feel its chilling
blasts 30 much.
1t must be getting late, he thought;
he was growing very sleepy-walking
oAo"Oi anu oioWOi, P'"sAn6 o"SS az WAN
mournful howl of a dog feel on his ear.
"Poor Bruno! Nobody else'll grieve.
Nobody else knows or cares. It's
strange-what makes me 30 tired. l
must sit down - here - and rest.
's-time-enough. No need
to hurry-Coralie'- asleep-by-this-
time-and L" leaning his elbows on
his knees and his face in his hands, he
sat quiet. Not asleep, for he still heard
the barking of the dog, but it sounded
to him miles and miles away. His
senses were getting dulled, his faculties
benumbed.
An hour passed - two - then the
shrek of locomotive broke the still
ness, startling the echoes far and near.
But Mark Ryder did not move. Had
he forgotten that he meant 10 take the
train7 When daylight came he was
sitting there still
Later in the morning Coralie's
husband, coming down through the
very field, paused at the sight of man
in uniform, sitting there in that de-
jected attitude.
care you sick, sir? Can 1 help you
in any way?"
But the soldier did not look up or
speak.
A strange fear fell upon the ques-
toner. He came nearer and gently
lifted the sleeper's head, pushing back
the cap that shaded the white forehead,
and the closed eyes.
"Deadl Frozen to death, with help
80 nearl This is terriblel"
Not the slightest glimmering of the
truth dawned upon his mind. He had
never seen Mark Ryder, and to a
strangers eyes this pale face turned up
mutely to the winters sky, bore little
resemblance to the picture he had seen
Coralie kiss. So he called neighbor,
and between them, with reverent
touch, they lifted the poor, pallid image
of what had been strong loving man,
and bore it to the nearest house. And
the news spread that dead soldier, a
stranger evidently, passenger from
one of the night trains, was lying at DR..
Purcell's house awaiting coroner's
inquest.
What impulse was it that prompted
Coralie, when she heard Of it, to take
her two little ones by the hand and 60
down there. Her husband met her at
the door with an awe-struck face.
Some one who had known Mark Rynder
had recognized the body, and one after
another Of his old neighbors, crowding
nearer, recognized it, too. They would
have kept her away then, but she only
said =" l must see it, and, putting away
their OBTAINING hands, stepped into the
room.
In spite of gray hairs, in spite of
worn features and altered looks, she
knew him instantly.
She did not faint nor cry out-just
knelt down beside the low bed where
they had laid him, and dropped her
head on his shoulder, and kissing the
cold lips that would never warm under
the pressure of hers, calling him by his
name" Mark, Mark, my love, my hus-
bandit" and the neighbors standing
there lifted up their voices and wepl.
In his pocket they found his papers
transportation ticket and discharge
and in his knapsack the gifts he had
bought for his dear ones; shawl for
Coralie, a music-box for Eddie. doll
for baby Floy The gifts had reached
their destination, but alas! for their
giver.
Oil true heart, strong for the right,