The Portland daily press., 1898-03-10

RAYS through the branches of the trees,
making a cheokwork of dancing shad-
ows about the tall, still figure on the
grass. A beard Of many months growth
fell from the man emaoiated chin over
his tatrered waistcoat His cuffiess
wrists were burned to a dark red and
helped to emphasize hfa emaciation by
their prominent joints. Birds sang
cheerily overhead in mockery of the SOL
emn silence below.
Relieved Of her worst fears, Marianne
looked at the man more critically.
Chow dreadfully shabby the poor
fellows clothes are. wonder who he
can be?'
"Some soldier trying to find his way
home doubtless. wish now I had let
you call Vincent back. "
"You mean the man we passed? can
get some one for you. Who do you
want?'''
"Any one will do to help remove this
Door fellow to the house,
Marianne turned upon her with flash
ing eyes.
gu Ctu bllAh VI OfSly Ol1O, So1O AOA
every one, but my poor Reginald
The man on the ground opened his
eyes and glanced about him wildly.
"Who called me? Here' Then ex-
hausted by the effort he fell back upon
the ground.
"Poor fellowv' said Jessica in a voice
of angelic pity. "He thinks he is an
swering to roll call.
"You don't think you will be afraid
to stay here alone while I go to the
quarters for help?" Marianne asked,
anxious to atone for her passionate out
burst.
afraid of this poor, feeble wreck,
who has not life enough left in him to
tell US who he is? Go, child, go at once
and bring two or three men back with
you. Make them fetch cot, please. %
Without waiting to be urged Mari
anne hurried away to do Jessica's bid
ding. They had not left the quarter lot
out of sight, and by cutting across the
fields she was soon within reach of help.
Left by herself. with the Door wreck
that destiny had flung upon her hands,
Jessica piled him as vigorously as she
dared with alternate quantities of cor
dial and milk.
eff only you could tell me who you
are, my poor mani There may be some
mother, some wife or sister, hungering
for glimpse of your face. Try now
just to give me your name-your last
name. -
He had opened his eyes and lay star
ing up at her as if he were trying to
grasp the meaning of her words. Sud
denly his lids dropped, and she could
see hot tears forcing their way through
them. She wiped them away with her
own handkerchief. He seized it and
pressed it to his lips. A choking sound
caused by his frantic efforts to speak
intelligibly made Jessica bend her ears
close to his lips.
Just your name, only your last
name, SO that I may let your friends
know"
He placed his hand upon his breast.
"You mean that will find it there?''
His arms fell apart and his eyes closed.
He had tainted again. Jessica had just
succeeded in restoring him once more
when the crashing OF heavy feet
through the brambles told her that Ma
rianne was near at hand with the men
and the cot.
81 think" she said when the men
had put the cot in position, "that Twill
try to find out who he is. He is entire
ly too weak to talk yet. Oscar, search
his breast for anything you can find.
He motioned me to do So. p"
Oscar obeyed. His search resulted IN
the finding of a bulky package. he
handed it to Jessica.
every we'll now. You boys lift him
carefully and bring him to the house
slowly. Miss Belknap and I will go on
ahead and have room got ready"
"Aren't you going to examine the
package?' Marianne asked, as they got
back into the open road.
Jessica was already untying the
strings that bound it.
"We must find out who he is SO as to
send for his friends - Marianne, walking
a few PAGES ahead of her, was resentful-
ly wondering when Reggie's business
was to be attended to when a cry from
Jessica made her turn quickly.
"Child, your question is answered.
The decision is taken out of my hands. .
"What decision? What question!
don't understand. "
Jessica was holding the parcel out to
! her. "Look!'
And Marianne, obeying, looked upon
a picture Of Jessica Bascom incased in a
frame Of beautifully carved maple wood.
earnest thing since the old Belhaven
days. I feel as if had never lived be-
fore I met my fellow man in mortal
combat, each Of us ready to fling away
existence at the bidding of an unseen
general, who issued his orders to US as
if we We're SO many puppets It makes
ones blood course fast. -
"And you call that living?"
81 did not mean just that. I mean
that one comes to estimate small things
and large ones as they best deserve tc
be estimated. Once perhaps was jack
1-l-