The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-19

were all crying and yet we were trying
To look cheerful The regiments marched
along, and the bands played, and Moilie,
standing on the pavement, waved her
coarse, big handkerchief. and Millieent,
standing beside me, waved her tiny lace
trimmed one, and each one meant Goa
bless you wherever you go and bring you
back to us we'll and triumphant"
But. as I said before, we were all cry
ing. and yet we were watching through
our tears for one man, knowing that as
he passed where we stood the heart of
one woman would be made happy for only
one minute Every now and then one
OF US ran into the house and up stairs and
gave her a kiss and a hug and laughed
about the boys coming back and told her
to watch out, that they would soon be
along. and then down whoever it was trot-
ted. and soon again some other one went
to her and announced that the company
was not in sight yet.
Did you ever think that in this war,
where there are lives of many men engag,
ed. for every man some woman's heart
Is aching? But Marion was trying to be
braver than she had ever been in all her
life. When she was tiny girl, she used
to declare that she intended to marry a
soldier boy, that she wanted to be a SOL
dier's wife, so that she might wave him
off to war and welcome him back with
wreaths of laurel and sounds of fine music
Then there came a day when Marion,
looking like an angel in white satin and
dignified, quiet lawyer who had appar-
emily none of the jollity of the soldier boy
and who was an absolute contrast to this
merry, dainty little maiden. No one ever
went into their home the home made by
these two that were one without finding
in it a special joy. 1t seemed as if a real,
true love was over it all and that even
a stranger visiting it appeared as does Il
deyotee who, when kneeling in a Cath
edral, becomes intoxicated with the odor
of the incense, only this stranger knew
the influence of a real love. You know
how short a time it has been since that
day when 1t was demanded that for our
country's honor our men must go out and
fight that base, deceitful nation willing to
Kill in the dark and with the weapons of
towards our brave sailor lads.
Soon after that day Marion's husband
came home, and, leaning over her. kiss
ing her on the brow, he whispered, 81
must 60" and she, replying to his soul.
answered Yes, dear, you must CO."
These two did not need to explain all that
was meant, for they loved so well that
they could read each others hearts And
i11et I1o4 for
ward to such happiness! But now the
master must go to the war-the cruel,
dreadful war. Marion Strengthened her
self up and thought of those men whose
death must be avenged, and she grew
Drawer than ever. The days went by, and
one night the stork flew down the Chin
ney and put a tiny son into Marion'S
arms. There are babies that are express
sionless; there are dimpled babies and
grave babies, thin babies and queer ba-
bes, but this baby from the time he APP
peared suggested to those who had the
pleasure of his acquaintance that he was
a brave baby. 1t seemed as If all the
inclination that his mother had had to
wed a soldier boy had got into his blood
and that even now he was ready to fight.
And his father was going away-going
away to leave the woman he loved so
dearly and the little son only ten days
old
up at the window. bundled in shawls and
with the glass between her and the out
side world was Marion with her baby in
her arms, waiting TO see her husband go
by on his way to fight the enemy A maid
near her said something about Miss Mar
ion waiting to see the last of him., and
Tor the first time the tears came to her
eyes, but she choked them back, grew
brave again, laughed and held the badly
up in the air while she whispered to him
and made him understand, as mothers can
make babies understand, that some day he
was to be great man, a great general.
Directly the company marched along We
all stopped crying, waved our handker-
chiefs and threw roses and elapped our
hands, while a small boy in the street
screamed out in very ecstasy, "There's a
DdDy up at the window waving a fiagr
And, sure enough, in the tightly closed lit
lie hand of Marion's baby there had been
put a small flag, and some loving hand
managing the arm, made the father, who
knew where to look for those he loved. see
MS sons patriotism. So they went away
young and old, each hoping to gain glory
ana each sure of the happy home coming.
Forty-eight hours afterward there flashed
over the telegraph a message to a quiet
shent man. The words told that Marion.
because of the excitement of the day be-
Iore had developed what the doctors said
was a most dangerous fever, and could he
come at once? 1t was impossible for him
to leave. With his company he was wait
ing Tor orders to go on board ship, and even
Il 10 street. death he could not seem to be a
coward. Soon, sooner than we could be-
heVe II, Marion was sleeping the sleep
Whlch knows no awakening here. The lit
tle paby cried as babies do cry for the arms
OF the mother. No nurse can fill her
pace No nurse could touch his little
Dody so gently and so lovingly, for no
nurse was his mother. So the next dav
ne Joined her, for 1t seemed as If he knew
mat She yearned for him. They laid them
away in the quiet country churchyard
"hete spring blossoms looked bright and
gay and birds were singing out the story
OF everlasting love and peace. When
looked at Marion as she lay in her white
satlh gown, with her baby in her arms 7
thought that If she had been beautiful on
now e SAINT
But what of the soldier so far auav9
one OF the many women VINO loved them
noth wrote him tender letter telling him
the truth and incloslng In it a little 5octer
mat Marion had always worn abont her
throat and in which was a picture Of hin,
taken just after they were married We