The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-05-09

>NS$2sl=Sa4EMj there landed
ss$-sS$zgS gentleman who
had been absent
from England for nine years. All
that while he had passed under the
burning suns of India He had suf-
fered as soldiers do. He had fought
as soldiers fight. He had met the SOL
dier's fate of scars and wounds, and
one of them had invalided him home
to England.
1t was the first time he had trod
her shores for nine years, as we have
said, and for the first time in any year
he was going to see his son, the little
boy born after he left home, and
whose birth had been his mothers
death.
Captain Penran had only been mar
ried year when he was ordered
abroad with his regiment. six months
from that day letter had reached him
telling him his wife was dead. The
letter was written by an old nurse, the
only friend who had been with her. 1t
ended thus:
''The baby, fine n child as [ ever
saw, Is thriving, I've done my best
for it. Its mothers last wish was as [
should keep it, audi perhaps, sir, rs
some one must, you'd as leave 1 as any
other. / shan't be unreasonable in
my charges, and I'm very fond of him
already.
with my duty to you in this dread
full trouble, your servant,
Gam GOLDEN "
The poor, broken hearted man al
most sank under the awful news. He
had loved his wife passionately, and
when the baby was old enough to
travel she would have come to him in
India, Drawing its terrible climate and
the life of soldiers wife abroad, be-
cause they could not live apart. Now
he did rot want little baby on his
hands, and he wrote to Ann as soon as
he could command himself to do so.
appointing her as its nurse.
Every quarter since that time he had
sent money to her for the child's
board and clothes. A receipt was al
ways returned with cher duty. and
the young gentleman was doing we'll -
and this Was all he knew of his Ellen's
boy-the child of love that had been
as strong as it was tender.
Now that his foot was upon Eng
lands shores again, and the meeting
was very near, Captain Penran felt
new thrills of father-love through his
soldiers heart and long for his boy s
presence.
He would take him to himself. -
he said. They would live together,
sharing each others joys and sorrows.
He would make man of the boy
not soldier, for ne knew the trials of q
soldiers life too WE'LL but something
very honorable and creditable. He
should be proud of him, and he hoped
-ah, how he hoped!-that Ellen's
child would have Ellen's face.
"My beautiful girl, " he said to him
self, with the tears standing in his
eyes, ''how little | thought of this
hour when I kissed her good-byl"
And then his heart grew even
warmer to the pledge of their mutual
love.
He had the address that Mrs.
Golden had given him in his pocket.
He glanced as it now to freshen his
memory as to the number. A plain.
respectable street in one of London
suburbs; he remembered it well
But my boy shall see better
things, now that ] am here" he said
to himself. 81 am not rich, but ! car
deny myself 20 make him happy. Will
he love me, ] wonder"
Then he thought how his own heart
had been won by toys and sweatmeats
and coming TO store where Che
former were sold, paused before the
gay window, and began 10 make q
mental choice between red and gilt
stage-cOach and horses, and n train o
blue steam cars. He had discarded
both for a box Of scnrlet-coated sol
diers. when suddenly he felt n tug al
his coat tail, and turning suddenly
found 2 gyiny little hand half M, hall
out, OF bTe=pOcket He caught IL nj
once with his handkerchief i'm it. and
ripped IL tight.
Ie was n soldier, and 10 q soldier
keeping Of law and rule is q grea|
ng. To give the little thief 10
Iiceman, and appear against hin
'yt day, was his first thought; but a,
fe creature stood there shaking anc
thinning, the fact of his diminutiv,
Ize struck the captain forcibly. n,
called bis youth, which was ex
RENE, and he saw that, besides beinr
~oung and small, and wan and dirty
nd ragged, ne was deformed III,
queer little shoulders were heaped ur
TO hia ears and his hands were like
'oIona, 80 ling and bony we're they
The captain held the wrist OF thi,
manihu firmly still but not anQrily
What did you mean 10y that, sir?'
he growled slowly, STOPPING down Il
look into the boy'' eyes.
'T'm TO hook 1T, " said tho boy. will
perfect caudor. ooh please. lenv,
me be? oh, please, sir, lem me 90,
oh, please, sir, won't do it no NOR,
never, oh, pleasep'