The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-11
The Girl He Left Behind Him.

bic help, and now, as hitting nnale
TO many tender tales Of devotion and self
abnegation that we have heard from
North and South and East and West. the
story of Grace Med. of Chicago is like
the final wreath OF laurels announcing
the soldiers glory
Some years ago. when Grace's suppos-
eddy rich father died. he left her the
tragic Inheritance OF an absolutely empty
pocketbook and delicate mother 10 be
protected and supported Brave girl that
she was. she laid aside the ways OF her
fashionable life and CALAMITY stepped over
into the ranks Of the workers, becoming
after short probation an intelligent and
expert typist and stenographer.
The story of her early days as wage
Garner or rather a work seeker. is the
same old sorrowful story that so many
women can tell with burning eloquence;
it is the story of privation. of hope de-
ferred. of bills. of the gradual going. Bit
by bit. of every little treasure that had
been the fiotsam and jetsam of better
days. During this period Grace and her
mother parted with almost all their pos
sessions. until their tiny rooms were strip
ped OF every comfort and convenience,
and they had well nigh nothing left save
an untarnished name and dauntless
courage.
The turning of the long lane came at
last however. and one day the brave girl
came home with the glad news Of posi-
ton that promised TO be permanent. 1t
frequently happens that perseverance and
ability win the reward they deserve and
so it was in Graces case, for she was
soon made to feel by her employers that
her position was secure as long as she
continued bringing TO it her splendid
working qualifications
1t is a pleasant theory of mine that
blood will tell. Blood is but another name
for the virtues and for that nobility that
is without fear and without reproach. 1t
tells best in the working world when it
is represented by such one as the wearer
of this proud old Scotch name.
Grace's salary finally reached the state
ly proportions of s12 week, and with
this sum she and her mother rented a
tiny fiat, and by dint of economy furnish
ed 1t daintily and completely; so daintily
that now it is one of the most charming
and artistic abodes in all Chicago. And
is Grace proud of it? Well, rather, as the
English say.
Along with her other acquisitions Grace
acquired a year or two ago a sweetheart,
a gallant. manly young fellow, making his
way in the world and laying by for that
day of days when he and she and the
little mater should set up housekeeping
together in apartments built for three.
When the war broke out her boy was
one of the first to enlist. He was an
only SOM and almost all Grace had, and
together she and his mother, with aching
hearts, bid him godspeed and sent him
away to the war that has been called
holy.
At first all went well, and the news
that came was always good news for the
watching mother and the girl he left be-
hind him, but as the melodrama plot Of
Skaters campaign thckened communl-
cation almost ceased, and all they heard
was through the most unreliable Off
cal sources.
This new Grace Darling of mine also
spent a fortune on her boy, since she
spent all they could rake and scrape and
save out of their $40 a week, for, of course.
just at the wrong time her salary had
been reduced. Sunday was her only free
day, and in order to have a half dollar
a week more to spend on her soldier this
delicate and ill-nurtured girl, her slender
frame shaken by racking cough, did her
own laundry work when she should have
been resting and boarding her strength
Her office duties were over at 6 o'clock
but she always staid later, earning a
UOlldT OF TWO d week extra DY HenQlng
and sewing for her fellow clerks and her
employer.
Was ever gold more precious than this
spun out through the tips of her patient
fingers? A rich mans gifts sink into in
significance beside it, Every week. with
her little hoard of wealth, she sent off
a box of delicacies to her homesick SOL
der boy, and twice when his pay day
came around he sent half of 1t to Grace
with an injunction that she was to buy
a case of beer and drink it to give her
strength. Truly enough we do we'll to
call it a holy war when we remember the
beautiful deeds of unselfishness that have
embroidered its every day and every hour
Five weeks ago a bit of a letter came
to the waiting women, taking from them
almost their last rag of courage. 1t was
just line from their boy, a scarcely leg
ible scrawl. saying how he was in that
place Of horrors, Santiago, and how he
had gone down before the only foe our
soldiers fear. the dreaded fever. He
wrote: Don't worry, for 1 dare say
shall be all right. I mean to pull through
somehow" Like obedient women should
do, they proceeded not 10 worry, striv-
ing thus to telepath some of their own
confidence and courage across the seas
and cactus wilds to that lonely tent, burn
ing in the pitiless pools of yellow sun
shine that makes a hell of the Cuban sum-
mer.
During the civil war the matchless wo-
men of the confederacy testified their I'M
selfish love of the Southern soldier by
the most exalted acts of self-sacrifice
When they had given all there was TO
give, and could no more reach their boys
in the army they refused to partake
zafVac of ar INV
preferring to go without because their
soldiers were without. 1t was fantastic,
womanish unselfishness that makes one
smile at its whimsy, smile with the mouth.
while the eyes tell an altogether different
story.
For one, know that this Grace Daring
OF mine has practiced this divine unselnsh-
ness of living for loves sake, and. he
cause it brought her nearer, in some mys-
ferrous way, TO her heroic soldier boy.
All summer long she has gone without
ice water because she knew that he had
none. Her other sacrifices have been
for the better reason of saving money 20
send things to Cuba. Even since the let
tiers have failed and a long silence has
set In. bleak as an arctic night, silence
that may merge into the neveT-mOre. her
faith and hope have kept UP, faithful as
the stars.
She still practices her little wearing
economies, saving money by the penny.
the nickel. and the dime. BY roboing her
self OF sleep she gains the time 20 walk
70 and from her desks dead wood. The
story Of her faith has somehow spread.
until all her little circle Of friends know
something OF Il and greet her with ten
derer word and an added touch OF respect
in the lifted hat or the offered hand
clasp.
As the su}try, sullen days glide by each
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