The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-07

John haS-an' he's goin' to send Ruth
to the coast, John is. n now his Inter
est comm in. he says i kin have a new
pony-ole John did. Holy liver-pad
! bat Johns goodwill a white star on
his forrard. am a saddle, too oh, but
Johns a ole brick, But Nom she jes
cried when she heard John was gonin,
an saw her pat Johns coat what was
hangin' ahurd the door when she
thought nobody seen her"
"Going?" 1 questioned. What could
he mean. Going where. Bobby"
''Hain't he told We? Holv-liver-pad.
but Johns queer, He was lookin' al
your fortygraph last night-one where
you didn't wear obstacles-'n"-
Where is he going. Bobby-to the
m;nes?"
Now Johns a voluptaire, I told We.
He's jes telegraped to boss the army
to say they got to take him-Spanards
er no Spanards. Wisht | cud go, but
nom she wants me to be a missionary
an make the MATHS wear watch-pock-
cts stead of muffin'-'r"-
Bobby, Bobbyt where is John?'
John? OH said Bobby thought
fully, he said he wuz going to the Of
fee. Guess he's left by this time.
Ever seeS the place where We ketch
fish? Well. Jed Hopkins
TN have to leave you, Bobby L in
terrupted. and left him staring as 1
sped down the street in the direction of
Johns Office.
1t was quite dark. but 1 knew the
way, and the moon would be up in a
little. l tried the door of the office,
it was locked. He was gone, He was
gone!
There was no one in sight and the
lights in the nearby church shone
gloomily. Softly through the sweet
evening air came the voices of the
church singers:
When the mists have rolled away"
/ sank upon the office steps. He has
gone: he has gone. and he will never
know the bitter, bitter thoughts that
crowd upon he. He will never come
back This is to be the end Oh, why
have | been so foolish, / remember
when my dear, dear~motheT died. John
came when 1 could bear to have no
others come near me. And all through
the long dark days John was my pa
tent. kind friend. Never angry at my
most petulant mood. Jack, whom my
mother lOved-with his warm faithful
heart. And I had even compared him
to that coward. Ny heart should have
stopped beating when | permitted the
thought. Perhaps. some day I will
hear he is dead-dead upon the field Of
battle with the dark blood mating his
beautiful hair, Oh, will he know
will he know when the mists have
rolled away?
CWhile this passage was being re-
cited the beautiful hymn was sung by
a trained chorus as if in the distarce.)
Then / prayed. as I never had prayed
before, that God would spart him to
mel
There was a stir down the path lead
ing to the office. Something dark moved
nearer-nearer. Ny heart beat in my
throat and seemed choking me. I tried
to scream and then someone lifted me
suddenly to the light of the moon.
For Gods sake, Pat, what are you
doing here?'
'Oh John. is it you. John? Oh, am
so gladr'
Pat
John. you-you are not going to war,
are you, John?"
There was a silence and | was afraid
he would hear the beating of my heart.
circumstances. he said slowly.
circumstances have turned in such a
way that / am enabled to go. Mother
and the children will not suffer now I
cannot be one of the lacking
But, John. they don't need you.
John. They already have enough men.
They-they won't accept you. John"
Il think they will: I haven't received
word yet. but l haven't telegraphed.
shall tomorrow
Don't. John, why should you. John?
We need brave men at home"
There will be plenty of brave men
at home. Nobody needs protection
here"
we do. John, l do
Mr.. Donahue will do that
Never