The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-23
| STORY OF TREDAY
A PIECE OF WRECKkGE.
by Augusta Prescott.

IL was glad day. following many that
had been anything but eiad.
When Leonard Lomax had announced
his intention OF enlisting for the war he
had not yet been accepted as q sutton for
the hand OF Miranda BY any member OF
the family except Miranda herself. In
fact. the young man had left his busi-
ness and gone a soldering very much In
the hope Of breaking down parental op-
position with the force OF patriotic senti-
ment He mad two parents to contend
with. and 1t was an uphill struggle for
him. even with the girl On his side.
Then there had been many weeks Of
waiting. while The boys" of the town
had been going through the process Of
being licked into shape In camp hun
dreds OF miles away. during which period
the obdurate parents had gradually
very graduaily-ceased their objections
to Miranda's receiving letters from
Leonard.
BY the time the papers gave out that
Leonard's battalion was to sail for Cuba.
the whole household had begun to take
an interest in his letters But another
period followed when no letters came
and Miranda seemed TO dr0op, and her
mother first, and then her father and
two married sisters, all. one after anoth-
er. became positively sympathetic with
her arxiety.
When the name OF Leonard Lomax had
not appeared IN the lists of killed and
wounded, and the war was over, Miriam
da's mother found her sitting by her
bedroom window one evening, all alone.
and went and kissed her on the fore
head.
Daughter, don't fret any more Your
father and can't bear It. When the
young man comes back we'll let you have
your way. It's your own affair, child"
She did not mention Just then that en-
quiries about young Lomax had been
made I'm the distant city where he had
lived until three years ago. Miranda
haunted the depots and the post office,
taking no notice of the other by-gone
admirers.
SO there was only one thing left to fret
about, and that was the fever, which
was-so the reports said-killing the boys
Off like sheep.
And now. after one last waiting spell
OF three weeks. when there were no let
ters from Leonard, though he was known
TO be at Montauk. a short, feebly scrawl-
Cd letter had come: Il am able to walk.
and they have given me my furlough. /
shall be with you by Thursday"
And this was Thursday.
For all three reasons Miranda was al
ready feeling very happy when a tele-
gram came: 81 shall be with you by
seven o'clock" And that made her stu
happier.
1t was not long after six o'clock when
she left her mother with a kiss and q
or,a 1.xr l., s-ft To.
room TO listen for the door bell.
Two OF her little nephews passed
through the hail. romping boisterously;
Miranda astOnished them by a sharp re-
primafd, for Aunt Miranda was hardly
over cross and did not generally object 70
Juvenile rackets. il the house or out OF IT,
But she wanted to listen now-and TO
think.
She had so many sweet thoughts all
ready TO ruminate. IT was sweet to feel
so sure that her lover would soon be
with her. lie would look pale and bag
gard. OF course, but Il would still be the
same Leonard. and with the glory OF war
still fresh on him. And ii was sweet TO
know that one love was not any longer az
war with another. She could love Leon
ard Lomax now and yet not forfeit the
love OF her father and mother.
AS she sat peeping from behind the win
dow curtains. another thought came 70
her-thOughts, rathcr-memories OF two
other men she had once allowed TO tank
ed for a little. she told herself This one
had been lovable In many ways certain
ly amusing; a good conpan ion-whieh
may have been why she let herself be
persuaded that she loved him. 1t was so
clear 10 her now that she had not known
what loving was until Leonard came that
she smiled 10 herself at the thought of
her own childish ignorance. only languid-
ly wondering what had become OF him
In the four years during which she had
been growing from a schoolgirl OF eigh-
n y a Vt
After all her watching from behind the
curtains she did not see her lover walk
up TO the gate. re had come by another
way than she had expected. The ringing
OF the electric bell gave her shock
A still more serious shock came when
she she, met gaunt, old-lookng man in the
nail He was unshaven and--what she
had least expected he stopped, not in the
least like set-up soldier
But he, on his part. could laugh at all
this. Al this moment death itself would
have almost been Joke to him.
you mustn't be frightened Fairy" he I
said. ITS the malarial fever. I got II in +.
cuba and took It along wish me to Porto |
Rico. II makes YOU feel Ike an old man. !
you know. But the best Of IL IS, ! haven't |
lost my appetite. and am going to be as I
lazy ana comfortable az a parlor cat for |,
= ,, wn9,e month y,r Then you VIII see what
II was llttle-frightened. Miranda !
confessed. "Sit In this long chair and let /
me talk 70 you. You needn't begin 70. tel /
plenty Of time for that"
"A whole lifetime. / hope" said IcmaX |
Miranda smiled consciously and abrupt !
~ turned the conversation TO the frs |
thing. that occurred TO her, which hap |
pened to be the young mans uniform
~ looks very neat and new" she said |
III Is neat and new" BOmax laughed /
i've had II only a week The things /
wore out there have all been burnt at |
except some buttons: and you !
are to have them for war relics
I'm so glad" said Miranda
Look what I've got for YOU" ne went !
ish and American, and little brass and |
ebony cross.
81 picked up the cross in .he trenches |
OF San Juan he said.
pew treasures bending over Them by the |
lamp.
II suppose it dropped out OF the pockot I
OF one Of the Spaniards when they re- 4
treated. He was feeling IN en- inner 1
pocket for something else as he smoke. 4
and ri last he produced 4 small pack |
age done UP in paper. This found on
the ground where a lot Of our fellows
were lying dead But there were some
been busy riiing their pockets-the Span-
iards' pockets. / mean-and l suDpose
they threw this away"
He unfolded little leather cigar case
curiously beaded all over In what looked
Ike en- Indian pattern.
=. This, she said. a. soon as she saw It.
What is The matter. Tairv2"
Don't get up" sha said. 81 don't
But as she spoke. Miranda was as pale
ms the cOnN&lesccnt on the reclining chair I
and was Obliged TO steady herself by
The back OF sofa"
"A man killed there named Brlght?'
NOT IN my company. Nhyy"