Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-10-20

Il v.
She could broil herbs, or catch fish in
the creek. She thought if she could
only get letter from Ben she could
live through anything.
The cat stopped purring, and Anne,
with her tired head upon her hand. be-
gan to nod from very WEAKNESS. In a
semi-conscious state she crooned soft
| ly lullaby that she sung her chill
dren to sleep with. Then she fell asleep.
Hungry people are prone to dream, and
Anne dreamed of far-off Virginia She
| was with her husband, and yet she was
most unhappy, for she had left her
children behind, and she could hear
them, far away, crying with hunger
| and calling for her.
Suddenly she woke and sprang to
| her feet. What was that? A step on
| the cabin porch. Whose could il be at
this hour? Whoever it was did not
| knock. Instead. the door suddenly
| opened. She shrank back
'Ben-Ben!" she sobbed. and a tat
tered, travel-stained. dripping figure in
confederate gray clasped her tightly in
| his arms.
The next moment she drew her hus-
| band to the fire. and as she heaped on
the wood her trembling and fearful
| laughter was pitiful to witness. She
| could not control herself
"Oh, Anne" cried Latham; "how thin
and starved you look" Then he walked
TO the bed where the children lay.
Leaving the fire she stood beside him.
Don't wake them" he said; and
10, IL L l.
Il hadn't heard from you in three
| months, Ben, and l feared you WEI e
dead" said Anne; land now you are
here-oh, Ben. am so happy"
Latham gazed at his wife tenderly-
"And you-oh. Anne!-you are starv-
ing!" he exclaimed, for Anne's thin
face turned gray, and, Keeling, she
would have fallen had he not caught
her in his arms.
Thank God, there's some bacon left
| in my knapsack," said Latham, placing
his wife in a chair.
In few minutes the frying pan was
suffering on the fire and the frying
bacon filled the cabin with its savory
scent, and a hurriedly-made hoecake
lay baking before the hot Goals.
''Oh, Ben. how long is your fur
lough?" asked Anne. suddenly. as she
sat by her husbands side. with the
color coming slowly back to her hol-
low cheeks. Hunger and sorr..w fer
gotten in the joy of Latnam's return,
The only mote that could mar her hap
piness was the thought of a future
parting.
Never mind about the furlough." re-
piled Ben, moving uneasily in his chair.
1--WE won't talk about il tonight. Aft
er a mans been fighting four years he
has right to kiss his wife and children
without thinking about the dreadful
war;
How long is it going to last, Benz"
Latham had risen to his feet and
was walking the cabin floor.
God knows! But it can't last
much longer unless men learn to live
without food and clothes. It's got
mighty nigh to that pass now. We
can't hold out a year. It's two to one,
and we amt had any luck since Stone
wall Jackson was killed. The men fighi
as well as ever, but how they have the
heart to keep up is wonder, with let
tiers coming from home telling of
wives and children in woeful want"
Ben Latham stopped and looked at
his wife with a reddish light shining
in his haggard eyes that almost fright
ened her.
The men are fighting for their coun-
try, BEL" said the wife, encourag-
ingly.
For their country" exclaimed
Latham. What is country to a man
when wife and children are starving?"
The scant meal was now ready and
the two sat down to eat. There was
much to be heard and told. In answer
to her husbands questions the wife
gave the story OF her struggles and
makeshifts. When she had finished
Latham inquired how much food there
was in the Ca bin, and Anne replied that
there was enough meal for two days.
but when it was gone there was no
more corn in the barn to be ground.
ard the potatoes had all rotted weeks
age.
Then the man said the country was
:ull of game. During the four years
strife between north and south there
had been little hunting, with the re-
suit that the wild creatures, unframed, |
had multiplied almost beyond belief. |
So that Latham told Anne he was sure
he could trap enough game to keep he |
family till garden and field could yield |
produce, and. furthermore. till the /
truck grew he could also weave fish |
traps of white oak splints and catch !
fish in Sipsey river. Oh, he could man
age. said the husband.
But won't you have to go back 10 |
the army before the crops made?"
said Anne.
The little supper had been eaten and |
:he woman was now clearing tie |
table.
Anne" said Latham. with n touch
of Impotence, I've just come: don't
let us talk of my leaving"
I'm sorry 1 spoke of it. Ben; but
I'm so glad to have you back again
The thought of your leaving keeps ris-
ing before me like ghost" replied the
wife, with tears IN her sad, weary
eyes.
We'll. let ghosts alone tonight. I've
seen enough dead men," said Latham.
with mirthless laugh that sounded
dry ard forced.
Husband and wife continued to talk.