St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-06-07

sturdy specimen of young manhood.
When he came home and broke the
news of his enlistment to Lily and
Cynthy, the little wife's face grew pale
as death, and she clasped her laughing
baby more closely to her, but said never
q word.
But Cynthy-her voice rose to per-
feet shrek as she cried, "You shan't
go, Sam; you mustn't, you can't I'll
never give my consent. Don't you new
er mention it again.
But as Sans resolution did not
waver she left off commanding and be-
gan entreating instead: ooh, Sam, you
won't 60, please don't, I couldn't bear
it; don't gol'
And when to this pitiful pleading
Sam only answered, 81 must, Cynthy;
I've promised, Cynthy arose and,
standing before Lily, who was strug-
Cling with her tears, said, "Beg him not
to go, Lily; he'll hear to you. Tell him
you can't get on without him."
81 can't, Cynthy," was the fearful
reply. eff he's promised to go, any
thing | could say wouldn't stop him.
And, besides, Sam knows best. If it's
his duty, | won't stand in the way. I'll
say, GO, and God bless you'll"
"Brave little woman" cried Sam.
But Cynthy, facing her with blazing
eyes. said fercely: eff you let him 60,
I'll never speak to you again. Beg him
not to- Quick, sayl | mean itp'
"Cynthy" cried Sam.
81 mean it'll" she went on. "1f he
goes, it's your fault. and I'll never for
give you.
Sam, as well as Cynthy, was not pre-
pared for the resolute look on the little
wife's face, as, rising, her baby in her
arms, she faced the angry woman, say
ing 81 shall not bid him stay If he's
given his word, I'll not bid him be a
coward for my sake. He must do what
he thinks is right.
Cynthy turned and left the room,
while Lily burst into tears, hiding them
on Sans broad shoulders.
So it was settled.
But Cynthy moved about like WON
an of stone, never apparently seeing
Lily, but doing all in her power for
Sam Lily decided to go home to her
parents during his absence, to which
decision Cynthy agreed, with satisfied
nod of her erect head.
So Sam went to the war. Lily went
to her old home, and Cynthy was left
desolate.
Before many months had passed news
came to the Corners that great battle
had been fought and won for the Union,
but that among the wounded were many
Of their relations and friends, while on
the list of the dead was the name OF
Sam White, and a few days after hi:
body was brought home to the Corners
and given a soldiers burial, and wei
he deserved his honors, for he had been
brave soldier and true.
So he had lain all these years on the
hillside, and all these years Cynthy hat
dwelt in her lonely cottage, nursing
her grief for Sam and her anger towarC
Lily, who had lived on in the little
house left her by her father.
Her one child had grown up and mar
RED, unbappily it proved, and had re
turned to her mother with two little
ones of her own.
The years had proved cruel to Lily
She had worked hard to keep the vol
from the door, but it had sometime.
been hard struggle, and since hel
daughter and little grandchildren hat
returned to her she had been obliged
to mortgage her little home to procure
ready money, as Susy was an invalid
and must have medicine and nourish
ing food. Lack of work and sickness!
had prevented the earning of money t.
pay the interest, and the mortgage wa
to be foreclosed the 30th of May, an(
there was no place left for them bu'
the town farm, she thought bitterly.
Thus at the Corners there were som,
hearts to whom the coming Memoria
day seemed anything but gala day.
Lily had often thought of going tt
Cynthy and asking help from her; but
remembering how many times she ha(
attempted to make peace with her ant
had failed, she dared not make the at
tempt. And as the days went by he,
heart grew heavier, as no relief coul(
anywhere be found, and nothing re
manned for them but the poorhouse, a
least while Susy remained sick ant
needed her constant attention.
1t was just at dusk the evening be
fore Memorial day when Miss Cynth.
again stepped from her door to look a
the garden, which had improved won
derfully under the spell of the sof
spring weather.
She walked down to the gate AM
stood there, arms akimbo, looking a
the great masses of purple and whit
lilacs that perfumed all the air abou
her.
"Them lilacs hain't got any equal t
the Corners, l know. Seems as if the
bloomed a-purpose for Sans grave.
wonder if he knows how I've Away
carried them ev'ry year since he com
back" And something very like tea
glittered in the corner of her eye
But Just here her reverie was intel
rupted by Deacon Peppers CHEEKY voic
calling out: "How de do, Cynthy
Worshipin them flowers, hey9 S'pos
you We hearn thu news, Cynthy, bein'