The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1897-03-06
TWO HOMES.

From beaatifnl lake nestled close to
the bosom of the high Uranus, the Fan
thus winds its course through mountain
glens and footii.l meadows to the broad
"Xpanse Of Lake Garptne TO which it
gives up its crystal waters. Two differ
ent locations on the banks OF this river
mark the si'es OF the homes belonging
to one family. One is the house Of the
past, the other, the present.
On the southern bank was the former
and happier home. Magnolias, syca-
nores and acacias sheltered it from the
burning rays of the summer sun. Tie
gentle slope to the river was covered
with clean. .shaven lawn. The arbors
with their inviting seats, the hammoeks
here and there, together with the rustic
rockers on the jrssamine trelised porch
were evidences that the home was one OF
peace and prosperity. In this home was
happy, bright-eyed, intelligent vile
and mother. Heaven had showered on
her its choicest blessings, and many
were there less favored than she who
thanked her God for Frightening their
lives by her cheerful words and open
heart. Two little ones blessed her home
and glanced like sunbeanIs round her
Goor. Her husband VAS manly man,
generous, affectonate, noble aud true,
and identifying his little world for Mary
was his especial care. Neither lodges
nor clubs lured him to spend his even
ings in any other place than with his
wife and children.
o, tina, they might have lived on in
the same happiness and prosperity
But what meant that mourniul echo in
the Zanthus? Was it - conld it be
--- yes, = it was the first murmur
of that cruel force which broke the ties
that bound in love and peace 70 many of
our nations homes. 1t was the open
ing of the Great Civil War. "Let the
North aud the South fight their own
bloody battles" thought he when his
home rose supremest in his inind., But
our country's darkest hour, when it
needed men, he bravely marched forth
under the old flag, offering himself as a
sacrifice in defense of The life of the ma
tion. And while, during the four years
of awful war, his comrades succumbed
to the fatigues OF the march, the riyors
of the climate, the leadeh shower Of ball
and shell, the deadly thrust of saher
and bayonet, the resistless charge OF the
snorling war horse. the putrid atmos-
phere and neglect of over crowded hos
pitals, or the inhuman abuses af prison
pens, he, the hero of the home, seeming
ly proof against every instrument or
agency of death or the intrigue OF the
enemy, was reported marshaled out
without scratch or scar.
No tongue can tell the joy that filled
Mary's heart when that message came,
telling her all the care and anxiety for
her husband were at an cni-5hat he,
safe and well would be at home. What
a welcome awaited him at is home
once the idol of his heart
But somehow the Zanthus stil flowed
with that mournful echo and in the
strain there seemed to be q note for
Mary. What was it? Eyes that were
keener than those OF any officer of in
spection or any surgeon of the army saw
that something serious was the matter,
and upon examination found that the
husband had been pierced through the
very vitals with poisoned arrow. Upon
immediate immediate investigation, the
wife learned that he had been wounded
not in any general engagement, but in
the leisure and conviviality OF the camp
life, when no danger was suspected.
Further, and strangely too, it was ascer-
tained that the arrow had been shot
from an ingeniously fashioned and elab-
oratelv carved bow, bearing the stamp
of the government, and that its strings
had been constructed by twisting to-
gether a hundred thousand human
heart strings.
His loving and devoted wife. with all
the strength and gentleness OF her ma
ture summoned for the task, tried again
and again to extract the poisoned mis-
sile but ah +. it was barbed, and every
effort to dislodge seemed to inbed 1t
only the more deeply. The poison not
only completely undermined and de-
stroyed his physical strength and energy
| Lu, .tr,noaIy ufpcfed his mind His