Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-09-23
AN INCIDENT OF
THE LATE WAR.

The tlnsa was growing snort. lOr III ten
minutes the buSle would sound to fall IN
and the regiment march away to the
depot to embark for Tampa. Among
those on the outside of the armory were
a mother and her soldier son: she pale,
slight body. with the hands of working
woman and the face of Il lady; lie big
awkward boy. still III his teens. but. with |
his mothers heritage of refinement. One, |
however, took 4 more than passing IN
terest in the couple. \ good looking giTl
of 20. gracefully poised and dainuly !
dressed. had watched them ever since |
she first caught sight of them Mother
and son did not converse much; they held
each others hand and fed on each others
eyes as though the time were too precious
to waste in wogds.
Suddenly as She watched them the girl
became aware that the womans eyes
lost their expression and stared vacantly
into space, and almost before she could
tell herself the reason she saw the poor,
frail body totter and fall into the soldiers
arms. At that instant the bugle sounded
to form companies. The boy looked help
lessly around. and. catching the girls
sympathetic glance. his eyes appealed to
her. She nodded quietly and beckoned
him to bring his mother into a nearby
store, whose owner stood ON the steps
| watching the formation of the troops.
Il will take care of her." she said
| quietly You are wanted over yonder.
He looked his thanks and was gone.
To the tune of The Star Spangled
Banner the regiment marched away to-
ward the depot. 1t was to halt at the
| Chamber of Commerce and receive
stand of colors. For more than half an
| hour the poor woman remained in deep
swoon. while the girl and the storekeeper
worked faithfully and patiently with her.
At length she opened her eyes.
My boy" were her first words.
"Hushr' said the girl gently. HE had
to go with his regiment, you know. You
would not have had him stay behind?'
"Oh. no, no." sighed the poor woman.
But did not even say God bless you
to him when he went"
HE understood said the girl sooth-
ingly Il am sure he understood. He
went away so bravely. Now rest, and
presently you shall tell me your name
and address, and I will take you home.
4 hurst Of cheering and simultaneous
music of the band came from the direc-
ton of town, and the woman started up,
but the girl gently laid her back again.
''They had received their colors at the
Chamber of Commerce" she said, "and
are starting for the depot"
"For the depot" echoed the poor
mother despairingly He will go away.
and shall have no chance to say 'Go''.-
by to him. He has no one to see him OH
but me-"
The girl took sudden resolution.
"Listenv' she said, taking the toll worn
hand in hers and stroking it softly "fon
cannot possibly go down to the depot, for
YOU are ill and weak. You shall tell NE
your boys name and the number of his
company, and will go down and say
goodby to him for you and give him your
blessing
The poor mother caught eagerly at the
offer.
Twill Won really?" she cried, with tears
in her voice "Oh. God bless you, my
dear. Go quickly. Tell my boy-oh,
nv dear, tell him all would say to him.
You are young. but you know what a
mother would say to her boy. Tell him,
above all. to be brave, and l will pray
for him until he comes home again. Go
quickly, or you will be too late!
The girl hurried away, leaving the wo'
man i'll the care Of the hospitable store
keeper Half way to the depot 1t sud
denly occurred to her that In the excite,
ment the woman had forgotten to tell
. her, and she had forgotten to ask again
, the boys name and company.
.'There is no time to go back, she salc
|, to herself. Il must ma MN Without
that's all.
She reached the depot as the boys anc
, their friends were saying final goodbys
| l,c
kens. AS luck would have it she quickly
found the object of her search, for ht
was standing apart from the crowd al
!, the farther end of the depot, looking for
, lorn. Several of the soldiers and then
, companions found time. even amid theil
last greetings, to lsok at her as she pass
, ed and to wonder what fortunate blue
coat claimed relationship with the Lowell!
: late conner.
Coloring Il little at the attention sh'
9 attracted, she walked through the crowt
I of soldiers and friends straight up to I'M
disconsolate boy whose loneliness she hat
come to tighten He recognized her.
once and questioned her eagerly abou
his mother.
"She is better" said the girl reassur
d ingly, "but she could not get down to tn
depot, so she asked me to come and sa.
n C,oodby' and God bless you for her."
You are kind" he stammered confus
ediy. Both were aware and each knew
the other was aware that they were D.
q this time the center of observation Dl'
my mother send me anything ne ashe'
:, after au awkward pause.
"She sent you her dearest love, an
e swered the girl, ''and bade me tell yo'
she would pray for you until she saw yo
again" -,
.sDid she send me nothing else!' aske'
e the lad. thinking wistfully of the man
little keepsakes and mementos he ha
"a seen exchanged between the other sol
~ diers and their relatives.
Nothing else that l remember, re
piled the girl. There was SO little Time
you know"
The poor boy, for he was nothing but
hoy. looked disappointed, and she fel
- sorry for him. but could think of nothin
q more TO say to him. Then like has
n into her quick. woman's mind there cam
# an inspiration that staggered her with 1t
audacity. A brazen girl would neve
have thought of it at all; a less thorough
'e bred girl would never have dared to carr
n If into effect. She hesitated momen
% blushing furiously all over her prett
face and throat Then. as the train be
rang. she flung back her graceful hea
- with TIE gesture of Il princess and darte
n look of defiance ut the bystanders.
"Nothing," she said. except this" an'
j., nutting her arm round his neck, she CAV
the astonished boy IL kiss that made I'll
! checks of every soldier within eye an
ear shot tingle with envy, after which 81
AL