The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-26

Ing on the pavement, waved her coarse
big handkerchief. and MiIlicent, standing
beside me, waved her tiny lace-trlmmed
one, and each one meant, God bless
you wherever you SO, and bring you
back TO MS well aud triumphant
But, as | said before, we were all cry
ing and vet we were watching through
our tears for one man, knowing that as
he passed where we stood the henrt OIL
one woman would be made happy u only
for one minute. Every now and then one
of us ran into the house ana upstairs
and gave her d 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
il was trotted, 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 en-
gagged for every man some WomanS
heart IS aching? But Marion was try
ing to be drawer than she had ever been
in all her life When she was a tiny girl,
she used to declare that she intended to
marry a soldier boy, that she wanted to
be 4 soldiers wife, so that she might
wave him off to war and welcome him
back with wreaths of laurel and sounds
of fine music.
BRIDE OF A SOLDIER.
Then there came a day when Marion,
looking like an angel in white Satin AMI
tulle. vowed to love, honor and obey
that digniiied, quiet lawyer, who had APP
parently none Of the joity Of the soldier
boy. md who was an absolute con-
trast 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 ii a special joy. 1T
seemed as If real. true love was over
1t Ill, and that even stranger visiting
it appeared as does a deyotee who, when
kneeling in i cathedral. becomes intoXi-
Gated with the odor of the incense, only
this stranger knew the influence Of a
real love- You know how short 4 time
it has been since that day when II was
demanded that for our comtrys honor
our men must 60 ont 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, II
must 20" and she, replying to his soul,
answered, Yes, dear, you must -.
These two did not need to explain all
that was meant for they loved 50 we'll
that they could read each others hearts
And vet just now they had been looking
forward to such happiness! But now
the master must 90 to- the War-the
cruel dreadful war. Marion straight
ened herself 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 chimney and put tiny son
into Marion's arms. There are dimpled
babies aud grave babies, thin babies
and queer babies, but this baby from
the time he appeared suggested to those
who had the pleasure Of his acqualn-
lance that he was a brave baby. It
seemed as If all the inclination that his
mother had had to wed 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 lit
tie son only ten days olas
BABY AT THE WINDOW.
DO YOU wonder that we were all cry
ing? For up ut the window, bundled IN
shawls and with the glass between her
and the outside world, was Marion, with
her baby in her arms, waiting to see
her husband 90 by on his way to fight
the enemy. 4 maid near her said some
thing about "AIiss Marion waiting to see
the last Of him." and for the first time
the tears came TO her eyes, but she
choked them back. grew brave again,
laughed and held the baby 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 he great man, a great General.
Directly the company marched along.
We all stopped crying, waved our hand
kerchiefs. and threw roses and clapped
our hands, while a small boy in the
street screamed out in very ecstasy,
There's baby UP at the window Wav-
ing Il hag.p And. sure enough in the
tightly closed little 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 his sons
patriotism. So they went away, young
and old each hoping to gain glory and
each sure Of the happy home coming.
Forty-eiglt hours afteTWard there flash
cd over the telegraph a message to a
quiet, silent man. The words told that
Marion, because Of the excitement OF the
day before, had developed what the doc
tors said was most dangerous fever,
and could he come at once? 1t was i'm.
DDNEAbit tbA NM ~ ttdNt W lth itAl
company he was waiting for orders to
go on board ship, and even to greet death
he could not seem to be coward. Soon
sooner than we could believe it. Marion
was sleeping the sleep which knows no
awakening here The little baby cried
as babies do cry for the arms Of the
mother. No nurse can fill her place. Nc
nurse could touch his little body So
gently and so lovingly, for no nurse was
his mother So the next day he Joined
her, for it seemed as if he knew that
she yearned for him. They laid them
away in the quiet country churchyard
where the 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 il
her white satin gown, with her baby
in her arms, | thought that if she ha,
been beautiful on her wedding day sh'
looked like saint now.
THE RITTER AM SWEET