The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-10-27

master stood there, his lantern in hand
and beside him a man and boy, wait
ing to get on the train. The man did
not glance once at them, nor at the
twinking lights, from the group of a
dozen houses, on hillside near at
hand, though he had many friends
there when he went away. He was
looking off across the bare fields, to
where, mile away, single light
cleaned as star.
"Coralie's up yet. Like enough
she's thinking of me this minute"
Voice and hand both trembled with ex-
element as he turned up the collar of
his overcoat, for protection, against the
wind that came sweeping, bitterly cold,
across the bit of open country.
A friendly hand was laid on his should
err, as he turned away, and friendly
voice said, Goodnight, comrade. God
give you happy Homecoming" Then
the hand was gone from his shoulder,
the train dashed on, and the soldier
struck out cheerfully across the fields,
steering straight for the light which
still glowed steadily in the distance.
The air was still biting cold, but he did
not feel it.-How should he when his
heart was aglow?
"It's early yet, hardly eight. I shall
find them all up. Dear Coraliel what
will she say, wonder?"
No shadow of doubt or fear dimmed
the eager joy of anticipation; no thought
of change. And yet two years is such
long, long time. This was his home
he was coming to, his and Coralie's,
and Coralie loved him. 1t was Coralie
he thought of, always Coralie.
How familiar the old gate looked, and
the barns beyond. He would not 60 in
that way, though; the gate used to
creak, he remembered, and he wanted
to surprise them-wanted, too, to get
one look at them all before he made his
presence known. The shades were up
and the light shone full in his eyes as
he approached the window, stepping
lightly, that no football might betray
| him. Nearer and nearer until he stood
close to the sill.
What pleasant room it was, with its
pretty carpet and FURNISHED stove, and
the pictures on the walls. A little boy
sat with a book and slate beside the
lamp. That was Eddie, studious Ed
die, and the pink-cheeked child who
leaned on his knee was the baby Floy.
| A young woman sat in rocking chair
before the stove, fair young woman,
with Coralie's face and smile, and Cor
allies band of dark hair.
But who was the man beside her, who
held her hand in such confident,
lover-like way, and even bent down
and kissed her, right there in the broad
light, before the children, before the
very eyes of the husband whose pres
ence none of them suspected? In
Gods name what did it mean?
Mark Ryder's hand clenched as he
took one step toward the door, but
J stopped as a voice thrilled to his heart,
as it had done 80 many times before,
saying, "come Floyd, Eddie, its time
that little folks were in bed"
The younger came obediently, and
the man standing outside saw this other
man catch her out of her mothers arms
and swing her high above his head,
while the little one laughed and shout
ed in glee, and Coralie said pleadingly
"please don't, husband; it makes me
afraid to see you throw her up So"
Husband
The mystery was growing clearer now
The moonlight fell upon white
convulsed face, and the angels, seeing
it, must have pitied the man. There
was none other to pity; no kindly hui
man face or voice, only the remem
brance of the conductors face which
stayed by him somehow, and the words
that, curiously enough, required to his
mind now" God give you happy
homecoming"
He uttered no syllable of reproach
only the words that were almost cry
"Oh, Coralie! Coralie!"
AS if in answer she turned TOWARD
the window, but the figure that stood
there WAS gone now.
Even in this moment of bewilder
ment and torture, the wronged HUSBAND
saw clearly how a wrong had beer
done. He had been reported dead
and Coralie, timid, dependent woman
always, had married again. She ha'
been married many months-his eye
told him that-and he could not brinl
shame and disgrace on her. Anothe
train would pass in two hours. II
would take it andigo far away, back +
the army perhaps, anywhere, it did nc