Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-16

6ask = ~ fronk AZ would 50 o.,
though. He was penniless ana way
worn. and he wanted sympathy. Per-
haps. after stay Of Z week he would
go back to the army. When he had
told father and mother how he had
been abused they would not blame him.
They would not call it case of deser-
ton. 1t was shutdown when the boy
approached the barn across the fields.
He caught sight of his mother at the
kitchen door, and he heard the father
in the barn. From the hour he de-
serted up to this he had pictured to
himself how he would rush into the
house and take the old folks by sur
prise, but now he changed the pro-
gramme. He went skulking along the
fence until he reached the barn. and
there was shame in his face as he en-
tered and stood before his father.
When the old man heard step he
looked up and stood leaning on the
pitchfork in his hands. He saw his son
William before him. The boy had
been heard of last at the front He
was here and in citizens attire, and
he had no shout of greeting. If it
had been case of furlough he would
have been in uniform, and some news
would have come in advance. Ideas
passed through Farmer Hopkins brain
like flashes of lightning, and after a
long minute his face grew stern. his
eyes had cold look in them, and the
watching son realized that the truth
was known.
"Weil?" hoarsely queried the father
with stern-set face.
"Then-they didn't use me right
down there!" almost walled the boy in
reply.
And so We ran away?"
Eyes. 1t wasn't exactly deserving,
but"
But We sneaked off like cur, never
mindin' the disgrace sure to foller!"
For half minute they looked into
each others eyes. The boys knees
grew weak and his face went white
and the face in front of his was so
hard and cold that he wondered If he
had ever seen it before. By and by
the father sternly said:
Stranger, 1 take it from yer bein'
here an ye'd like supper and lodg-
ms, but I must tell we that we can't
accommodate"
The boy felt chill pass over him.
THAT isl continued the father, "on-
less We was goin' right back to the
army to do yer duty as a soldier, and
to stay until honorably discharged. I
wouldn't let a deserter share the pen
with my hogs! Better come leetle
and if yer moth-I mean if my old
woman comes out We kin get into the
oatbin."
The deserter instinctively moved for
ward a few feet, and as he did so he
heard his mothers voice singing a
hymn.
1--WE got a son down a. the front"
said the farmer in voice which
trembled little. His names William
Hopkins, and he's in company G., of
the Sixteenth. If ye was goin' down
I'd send word to him. I'd send word
that he was expected to be a man
among men, and to come home with a
record as good as the rest I'd hev we
also say to him that if he deserted his
colors he'd never call this place home
agin- I'd ruther hear he was killed
in battle. Did ye say ye was goin'
right back to the front?'
The son nodded his head.
"And to stay there till the end of the
WARP"
Another nod.
Wall then, shall hev to do sun
thin fur ye. I'll go into the house and
git we a bite to eat, and when it comes
dark We kin take the boss there and
ride over to Strongsville From there
we kin take the kyars. We know, and I'll