New-York tribune., 1900-12-23

one 10 give them care. The messenger. a negro
ooy asked IL we could not send some TO
'hem' and it just happened that was so situ-
ated that could go. tt was too good an oppor-
tunity to lose. j knew they would be glad TO
see me- Ii was worth the long ride under the
Oroiiing sun and through the choking dust to
meet an honest. heartfelt fervent welcome from
some OF ones fellow creatures. It-was-worth
-the-while-and-more"
Tie repeated the words slowly. mostening his
lips the while. as one does when the memory of
something pleasant fingers
IL was well that ] got there when I did
There were three in the family-a man. a woman
and daughter-a family that had come from
the North for the sake of the mothers health.
Their small plantation was practically Isolated.
and they had not feared the fever. They were
quite unprepared for il. II is not necessary for
me TO tell you OF the struggle we had il is suf-
Gent 10 say that they all lived. And one after
hoon' when they were cOnvalescent and / was
able to remit the care. which until that time had
been constant, seated myself in a rocking
chair with the family photograph album upon
my lap did not remain seated long, for among
the hrst portraits in the book was that of girl
"A girl who looked like one had known-we
had known-at home. rose to my feet ex-
citedly and carried the book to the woman.
pointing with a finger that shook disgraeefuuv
TO the portrait
Who is it?' asked.
My brothers daughter she said
And her name is
Mary Brown
My legs went out from under me then and
my head buzzed. was tired out suppose
collapsed into chair. and the woman, in her
weakness not noticing. went on talking as some
women do.
My maiden name was Brown she said &
haven't seen my brothers folks for ten years or
more but we have never ceased to correspond.
Poor Mary was sick a while ago The doctors
called il galloping consumption But it wasn't
II II had been she'd have died. The doctors
don't always know. begging your pardon. sir
Twas something else like a decline a kind of
plnlns away. that was mystery. Her mother
thinks now twas love for a young felow-one
Of the harum-scarum sOrt-that lived in the viii
lage once. She thinks so because the girl got
into way after a while of talking in her sleep
repeating over and the fellows name
which was Jones. It seems that Jones was her
whole life. and vet. after he'd lirted with her
for time he went away. and has never been
heard OF since. He must have been heartless
scamp. Poor girl!'
And she isn't married yet?' 1 asked MY
throat was so dry that had to exert all my
strength TO make my voice audible.
No
And you think that. bad as he is and shame
ful as was his treatment of her. she'd be glad
TO see J0nes?'
There's no doubt of it. poor girl
Il left the room then. / couldn't stand it any
longer / went and threw myself upon the
ground. and sobbed and laughed and kicked up
my heels like one gone daft. She had spoken
my name in her sleepi She wanted me! She
would be glad TO see met
The quarantine was raised four weeks later
and j went North. IL was all true. She was
glad 20 see me. She reproached me for going
away from her, and sorry clear down to
my feet But after aII-and there's comfort in
il. as told her-Tm more worth marrying now
than was then"
You going to remain in the service?" in
cuired the other
NO. Im going home TO settle down at last
home-hOme!"
There was rapt expression upon his worn
face, and he raised his eyes reverently to the
sky.
Home" he repeated softly. 'home-home!"