The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-08-12

such desperate murderer in this old
wooden shack.
Mother Revell had a little of wom-
ans curiosity, and great deal OF a
woman's tenderness.
"He must be cold in that dark cell,
she murmured "Won't you give him
mug of hot coffee?'
"He'd only growl and refuse it.
"Let me-" said Mother Revell, with
innate Red Cross proclivities.
She took tho tin cup and filled it
steaming full and took as we'll piece
of pie With these she stepped lightly
along the dark corridor to the farthest
cell, a dark and chilly dungeon, utterly
lonesome, securely barred. She paused
timidly foot away from the grating.
By the smoky light of the oil lamp in
the corridor she made out to see bum
die of blankets in the far corner
"Would you like cup of coffee and
piece of hot pie?" asked Mother Rev
ell.
The blanket was slipped from shag-
gy, gray haired, gray bearded head and
two eyes, red shot, stared olt.
Give brought you cup
The blankets were tossed aside and
the prisoner made spring at the bars.
His lips We're apart in surprise; his
hands shook; his eyes We're eager.
Good Lord! Are you still with the
boys?" he whispered.
The mug of coffee shook in Mother
Revell's hand until much of the draft
was spilled on the wornout boards, but
Mother Reyell had courage and wit and
presence of mind, developed by her I'M
usual training. She neither screamed
nor tainted, but her breath came pant
ingly.
"You againl" she whispered at last,
and they We're silent, staring at each
other, the man with an'astonished, half
pleased smile, the woman white and
dazed. At last she found herself and
pushed the coffee and pie between tho
bars.
Drink it'. she murmured. "Isshall
see you again. J"
He nodded to her and gulped the hot
drink down and took the pie.
Mother Revell had been gone but two
minutes when she came back to the
guardrooIn.
did that brute brighten you?' cried
Martin. you are white as your apron. -
Hush, Martin, said the old lady,
with shiver. "Don't call him that. 1t
was only the dark and the cold of that
lonely cell that frightened me. I"
Ha hal" the troopers laughed. ga
veteran of the war frightened BY the
dark ON, Nfotbo,. 1Sova11I3,
The delicate flush, so readily provoked
on Mrs. Revell's cheek, sa4edsher pallor
from being again noticed.
Has the major seen him?" shefasked
quietly of her son.
ono, only the adjutant; but the fell
lows cute. He won't talk. Nobody is
allowed to see him. Angels Of mercy
are, of course, excepted
He patted his mothers cheeN and she
tried to laugh, then took her baskaat{and
bade them all good night and quiet
guard. She walked, steadily home,
tramping bravcly through the drifts,
answering cheerily enough the Greetings
of a party Of officers she met as they
came out of the club; but, once home;
she locked and barred the dSsr, put out
the light, and sat, her face hidden in
her hands, until morning by the stove.
Before the bugles sounded rexeille
round the white counterpaned parade
ground she was up and busy, poking
into odd corners for something she
frowningly sought At last She found
it, little steel tool, and she slipped 1T
in the bosom of her dress. Sherfed the
stove and made coffee again and filled
her can. Then, while the dawn hung
timorously in doubt and the sky IN the
east was very slowly trembling from
violet to gray, she pulled on her Boots
and took her shawl and once more start
ed for the guardhouse. There the men
We're weary, and those not out on post
We're sleeping. THE young sergeant was
wrapped i'll his blankets, sound and
snoring, and a. drowsy corporal was, in
charge. He Frightened at sightof Moth
er Revell's can.
Begun, Sbut you'll Spite the SER
geant with yer coddlinP he said.
''Shall wake him?''
Mother Revell shook her head and
poured out u mugful for the grateful
corporal.
els he asleep" she asked, snodding
toward the prisoners cell
Mop. Just now he was swearin at
Z the cold.
cit is horribly cold in there, y she
said. wont you give him o dhp?''
'sshucks Mrs. Revell, ye're all Heart.
Twas him killed the.paymaster!
"Thats not certain yet. szad, Moth
er Revell, suddenly shaking.f ABut it
would be cold for dog in there. Let
me. T"
"The corporal shrugged his shoulders.
1t was hard to refuse Mother Newell
anything. So again she slipped along
the corridor The prisoner mastl have
heard her voice. for he was already at
the bars.
Bessie he hoarsely whispered.
"You're the same as ever4a good old
girl. And you haven't forgotten the old
man. A corner Of your iaart for him
still, eh?''