Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1900-05-30
before the old Grand Army Han ~.

seen them often before He even farcioi
he could hear Hyperion tuning mn b;,
fife and see the old man handing his h..
to a bystander to be cared for until tho
drum was made go like she ought"
sense Of serenity came over him rs ba
looked down and away, one hand grie.
ping the iron railing
Mark Barriston, turning his team into
the livery barn, looked around at sound
OF his name TO find Edward Thorn m his
elbow.
"How's your father? Where is he?p
up there" He motioned towards tho
hillside.
Thorn turned past the hotel. the lum-
Der yard. and the little lumber Office
Around the sweep by the railroad track
across the lines, up the hill opposition
he went. Through the gateway on tho
right-and across the worn path to where
by the qnadrangular iron railing a man
sat with bowed head
Jack"
1t was the old name that leaped to his
lips. The other looked up
Ned" He rose trembling to his feet
Lets talk it over, Jack. | never meant
to do so. | thought she-she might not
wish It. But | think she'd rather We
would, than that our children-yours and
mine-should suffer"
yours and mine~ Then the old Bar.
riston vindictiveness came back in all its
strength.
mine shall not suffer. Why should I
care for yours? You know what you did.
Edward Thorn. Played fast and loose
...1. H. Il
lovedp
II don't know what you mean," said
Edward Thorn.
''I'l tell you then" He was trembling
still, but his grip on the railing helped
to support him. THE day we marched
forth to fight you told me Annie Lester
had promised to be your wife when you
came back. You knew how | loved her
~
Loved her-thenY' Thorn's voice was
q husky whisper "No-no.'
Barriston stared at him a moment
Then he went on.
That's all right 1t doesn't really mat
ter what you say now. But you know
how you acted down there in Virginia.
The disgraceful scrapes you got into-the
dishonor you brought not only upon your
own name, but upon that of the woman
who has been rash enough to promise to
marry your
YES" Thorn said slowly. Eyes, l did
all you sayEmore. l was young. I'm
not urging this in extenuation. But
he paused, fumbling in his breast pocket.
and extracting one yellow slip from a
package II wish you'd look at this. 1t
was after l had got this that / Hold
on! Have you fnishedT
mot quite. Then you went home-you
remember? l staid away. l couldn't go
back and see Annie and you"
"Well, what then?"
"Then-Jacki Do you think I'm imbe-
cile-or delirious yet? Then you Tilted
her-hung her over as heartlessly as
man filings aside the woman who has low
ed him. There is no comparison to be
made. The whole town was talking of
your conduct when / returned. But you
had gone You coward"
Edward Thorn took one Stephen
stood quite still.
"Will you listen noww he asked. 81
did love Annie-yes. And l did man,
things am ashamed of in those old army
days-that Is true. But that l ever of
my own accord broke faith with Annie
no, John Barriston-no"
Barriston laughed-a harsh laugh
go on" he said.
Perhaps" Thorn rejoined, at would
be better IL you were to read this first"
He held the slip of paper toward him.
Harriston unfolded tread it.
Ned, dear, forgive me. You will, know.
did encourage you-yes | did let You
speak. / was even so wicked as to answer
Tou as you wished. But didn't care for you
Il have never cared for you-in that way.
only did so to make Jack Barriston under.
stand that he-O, don't know what | want.
ID him to understand. Anyhow. he never
poke And now that the war is nearly over
md you are coming back you must give me
ID. can't give you up. because my father
we'll, you know how stern he Is and how he
las set his heart upon our marriage But
IN afraid to oppose him-and I'll marry no
man while Jack lives-so pretend that you
awhile, perhaps Jack-but, no-he doesn't
,are- ANNIE.
1t was a long time before either spoke
ngain. The procession had left the
church, and one could trace its sinuous
progress through the town. In silence
Barriston handed back the letter.
WISH yOu hoo hnOmu IL always,
Jack" murmured Thorn.
THE pride Of woman" muttered Bar
-iston.
THE stupidity Of a man." said Thorn.
There was the roll of vehicles up the
lill-the tramp OF feet. The veterans
lied in the gate. The little doctor came
forward in all his gay regalia. Della
Thorn knelt beside Barriston.
She comprehended the broken sounds he
made.
The letter-with you? Yes-you shall
have 1t always"
The band played on. The doctor put
Professional fore6nger on the pulse of
he PROSTATE man. He rose-spoke. He
,ould not make himself heard.
Men Of the Grand Army of the Repnb-
ic." he essayed again. "Your comrade-'
John Barriston."
The music swelled aloft, martial, tri-
lmphant. But John Barriston did not
lear.
The Grave in My Heart.
hey are covering the graves of our heroes
with the loveliest flowers they can bring
IL