The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-12-01

IN. N . ~ uz1uUeoo n0 w. G
wGf1esg the fleos. Meantime de Storm
sagsd outside.
AAsns, DO you have visitors ofteni
y there much passing on ths roedr'
The wife replied tAs< few people
esDs 70 the house. and there were fsw
wayfsrsrA
I'm glad Of that said Latham, IN
. tone OF relief, resuming bis seat By
the fro.
THIS remark. % unlike the Ben La
than Of old, was too much for Anne.
Bursting into tears, she threw her
arms about her husbands neck.
"Oh. Ben. Ben. what Is III I'm 20
frightened. You are not as you used
TO be. Something dreadful has hap
peped, or 10 going to happen. Ten me
tell me what II is?'
Nothing IL going to happen, Ammo.
What nonsense! You've been 90 much
alone you've grown notiony. Whatn
happen 10 that you'll be soelng spirits
and ghosts II you don't rid your brain
Of sueh fancies," said the man, kissing
his wife and laughing.
But the laugh was nervous and hoi'
low, and the next moment he started
10 his feet.
whats that. Anne? Don't you hear
something?"
''Nething but the Storm" said me
woman.
"YeT there's some one at the gate
ITS a mans tread-he's coming 10
the door. Great God" exclaimed La
than excitedly.
Startled by her husbands wfld look,
a dreadful thought came to Anne. Had
hard ship and hunger turned his brain
"Ben-Ben," she cried, wringing her
hands, nobody Is coming to harm us.'
-Anne, mustu1 be seen" ssid La
than. greatly agttatsd.
There was knock at the door.
"Anne, wife," said the man. grsSp
ing the womnn's arm; TIN deserter
when / heard John Rolmes' wife's let.
ter, l deserted. I ran of IN the night
I couldn't stay when know you and
the children were starving"
The knock came again.
III I'm seen I shall be dhsEraced
and the punishment for desert1on Il
DEATH" whispered Lnth am h hoarsely.
Anne Latham hooked al her hus.
band. II he had deserted, II was not
by reason Of cowardlee, nor to 60
over TO the enemy, but for love of her
and his children. Patriotism Is boyn
at the hearrhstoue, and man fights
and dies for II. What Is country but
an asssmMagc Of homes? There was
an enemy far from the front attack.
ing Ben Lathum's home-an enemy
that only ne ecuid battle with. and he
had come home tatterea and war.
worn 10 fight hand-+o-hapd with hun
ger fsr those he loved. These or sfm-
liar thoughts come 10 Anne Latham
and with them food OF affection for
her husband.
-Hush, Ben she SAID, -snd opeu
the door. Most likely It u some trav.
eler who Aas lost his way, and doesn't
know you
The knock rang again for the third
time, aud Is Bon Latham opened the
cabin door Q dripping man IN a cap.
tainS Uniform Of confederate gray en-
tered thA room.
Anne Latham recognized the officer.
It was Den's captain, and with cry
OF alarm she clutched her husbands
arm.
Great Scott Latham, 10 tsyou! ]
was lost and rode for the first light
By Jeve, It's stormy night-as bad rs
soms we had in Virginia In heavc"'s
name, man. why are you staring so!
What's fhe matter
Ben Latham stood. indeed, like a
man fYozen, and gnled at his captain
daaed and speeohless.
who would have believed you'd ha~e
treated your captain 50. md after
fighting under him for four years!
Man, I'm ashamed tf you. Don't for
get you're a s6ldleE.
Stu Ben Latham was silent, and the
captain looked as him astonishsd.
This is your wife, presume, and
these are your children The officer
went TO the bed and surveyed the httle
sleepsrs.
A. he did 30 Latham fell into a chair
and began to sob a. he bad not done
since he was o child. His wife stood
over him filed with be,vildered dis
tress. Che turned to the captain.
Captain" shs said; you have fur
lough, and you are going home TO your
family. Re nereiiul TO a man who
couldn't get furloagh and hadn't
seen his Wife and children In three
years"
Why, never knew that! II had
known the fact he should have had
leave long ago" The captain looked
at Anne thoroughly mystifiod. "but
/ can. understand your husband
strange conduct toward NO."
Captain" continued Anne, my
husband may have done wrong, but he
couldn't help it. I!c board that his
wife and children were about TO
starve, and hq hurried home"
1--WE hurried, too. 1t hasn't been
more than ten days since Lees surren-