The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-05-25

D.
zy9 upon, and that an
-S- internecin n Q war
would ensue, sleepy
little Dunham had not been very
deeply impressed. Nothing less than
O local bombardment would have
caused the lethargic country town to
stir itself. The war seemed to be so
far away, and then, too, Durham was
so comfortable in its secluded lazi-
ness, that its plain country folk could
not realize the general suffering which
must visit even them, before the COM
ing Of that "bitter end"
But many days did not pass before
the magnetic drum-beat of awakened
loyalty was heard even in distant
Durham. Those who had spirited
sons who were patriotic enough to
serve their country on bloody fields
had seen them enlist, and, with
streaming eyes, had bidden their
champions n tender "good-bye," as
they marched away with all the dis
play and pomp of country military
organization.
But these repeated departures COW
cred two long years before Durham
had wearily accepted the burden of
the bitter struggle and had grown ac
customed to such scenes. Homesick
letters had been received with omin-
GUS regularity, and there was even
one young villager, grown desperate
with home-longing, who had managed
by hook or crook to return. 1t wasi
not asked how he returned lhej was
too speedily followed by officers
searching for the delinquent to give
much time for an excho.nge of senti-.
mental condolences.
The officers failed 70 find him; but
every woman's hear beat quick with
sympathy for the agonized mother
who knew where ner fugitive son was
hidden in the ~ stresses Ct the wooded
hills behind Ter lonely home. And
there were IL w, if any, men or women,
who did r.ot hope that young Van
Valkenbv rgh would escape detection.
The ~ ain of blood now obscured
I the vanj shed CLEANS of martial glory.
DunhN n was heavy-hearted.
And 80 it transpired that quiet was
again restored to the little village.
Cou airy folk went their uneventful
wa 70 and 'the war" was only some
+, IT, ing to be talked Of at the store, or
In the tavern, and "the boys" were
nearer the vital interest than the war.
Pipe and mug filed up the hours OF
gossip in the dreamy valley where nc
cannon echoed.
Autumn came, and with it Lincoln
call for the enrolling of vast addi.
ton to the national forces. Several
Of the villagers were drafted for three
years service. The volunteering fe-
yer had fickered, faded and died away.
Then, indeed, was there heart bitter
ness and sympathetic condolences.
Sad-eyed women congregated in
groups to wall over the an-eatine
lines OF battle hidden in the far-away
thunder smoke of war.
Among the residents of Dupham
was family who had migrated years
before from Connecticut. The father
. was one of those easy-going, shiftless
characters, types of which may still bt
found on warm days sitting on the
village store stoop whiting with
greater or less vigor; and on cold days
cunningly shifting their position from
the sunny corner of the stoop to {
barrel in the store.
Occasionally Wagner did few day.
kork. Several spring times he had
Helped make garden around town; ht
had lent passive hand in haying 4 h,
had stacked straw during threshing
with due caution as to over exertion
and he had helped quarry the ston'
for the squire's house when pushed
by need, and had on one occasion O
unusual vigor handled lumber. Blu
these laborious times were only grav
emergencies when he had to "hel]
out" the neighbors. As o regula
profession he chewed q straw, an,
scientifically loafed. His scanty an,
irregular earnings were duly passe,
over the tavern bar, ON Offering :
Bacchus. Wagner loafed ON princi
pie and lived on his family, his pleas
urable society being an offered equiv
alent for his board.
The patient wife had sunk from an
former approach to activity and energ
which may have once characterize
her into the faded, washed-out, tircd
ont woman OF all work, and spent he
time when not employed with her "
terminable household duties in ain
lessly gossiring with . neighbor. Th
keynote OF the home was pitched
accord with the dcspondent parents
There were two sons. The eldel
son &as Ike the fathers IN The laz