Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-10-20

keeping something from her, she was
| sure.
| The latter viewed his wife's sorrow
full face, and his conscience smote him.
He kissed her several times.
| There, Anne; come, cheer up.
Neighbors be hanged! don't want
to think of anybody but you and the
children tonight"
| Anne forced a smile, and Latham hit
his pipe, but it did not seem to soothe
him. In a few minutes he was again
walking the floor. Meantime the storm
ragged outside.
| Anne; do you have visitors often?
Is there much passing on the road?''
The wife replied that few people
| came to the house, and there were few
wayfarers.
I'm glad of that said Latham, in
| a tone of relief, resuming his seat by
the fire.
This remark, so 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 it? I'm SO
| frightened. You are not as you used
! ~ COIhS A44tA4S III III A0S Ao
pened, or is going to happen. Tell me
tell me what it is?"
Nothing is going to happen, Anne
What nonsense! You've been so much
alone you've grown notiony. What'u
| happen is that you'll be seeing spirits
and ghosts if you don't rid your brain
of such fancies," said the man, kissing
his wife and laughing.
But the laugh was nervous and hol-
| low. and the next moment he started
to his feet.
What's that, Anne? Don't you hear
something's"
Nothing but TIE Storm" said the
woman.
"Yes; there's some one at the gate
its mans tread-he's coming to
the door. Great God" exclaimed La
than excitedly.
Startled by her husbands wild look,
dreadful thought came to Anne. Had
hardship and hunger turned his brainE
"Ben-Ben." she cried. wringing her
hands, nobody is coming to harm U.s."
Anne, l mustn't be SEEN" said La.
than. greatly agitated.
There was knock at the door.
"Annc, wife" said the man. grasp
ing the wGman's arm; I'm a deserter.
When | heard John Holmes wife's let
ter, deserted. 1 ran off in the night.
couldn't stay when 1 knew you and
the children were starving"
The knock came again.
"If I'm seen l shall be disgraced-
and the punishment for desertion is
death" whispered Latham hoarsely.
Anne Latham looked at her hus-
band If he had deserted, it was not
by reason of cowardice, nor to go
over to the enemy, but for love of her
and his children. Patriotism is born
at the hearthstone. and man fights
and dies for it. What is country but
an assemblage of homes? There was
an enemy far from the front attack
ing Ben Latham's home-an enemy
that only he could battle with, and he
had come home tattered and war
worn to fight hand-to-hand with hun
ger for those he loved. These or sim
liar thoughts came to Anne Latham,
and with them a flood of affection for
her hus band.
Hush, Ben" she said, land open
the door. Most likely it is some trav-
eler who has lost his way, and doesn't
know you"
The knock rang again for the third
time, and as Ben Latham opened the
cabin door a dripping man in cap
tain's uniform of confederate gray en-
tered the room.
Anne Latham recognized the officer.
1t was Ben's captain, and with cry
L L r.
arm.
Great Scott Latham, is it you!
was lost and rode for the first light.
BY Jove, it's a stormy night-as bad as
some we had in Virginia. In Heavens |
name, man, why are you staring so?
What's the natter?
Ben Latham stood, indeed, like a
man frozen, and gazed at his captain |
dazed and speechless.
who would have believed you'd have |
treated your captain so! And after |
fighting under him for four years! |
Man, I'm ashamed of you. Don't for !
get you're a soldier.
Still Ben Latham was silent, and the /
captain looked a I him astonished.
This is your wife, | presume, and +
these are your children" The officer ,
went to the bed and surveyed the little |
sleepers.
As he did so Latham fell into a chair |
and began to sob as he had not done
since he was child. His wife stood
over him filed with bewildered dis j
tress. She turned 10 the captain.
Captain" she said; you have fur
Tough. and you are going home to your
family. BE merciful to a man who
couldn't get a furlough and hadn't
seen his wife and children in three
years.
Why, l never knew that! If had
known the fact he should have had
leave long ago" The captain looked
at Anne thoroughly mystified. But
can't understand your husbands
strange conduct toward me-"
Captain continued Anne, my
husband may have done wrong. but he
couldn't help it. He heard that his
wife and children were about to
starve. and he hurried home"
I've hurried. too. 1t hasn't been
more than ten days since Lees surren-
der"
What. sir?" asked The wife, eagerly.
Lees surrendered"
Yes; and the wars over. Hasn't
FOUR husband told you?" asked the
captain.
Ben Latham's sobs ceased, and he