The Yale expositor., 1900-05-25
(By Homer Greene.)


was broken for me one April after
noon by the appearance Of doorkeep-
err at my desk with a visitors card. 1t
was simply a scrap of paper on which
was written in a woman's handwriting,
old fashioned and awkward, James
Hopes Widow"
Il think she's a little queer, sir, -
said the doorkeeper, as l followed him
up the aisle.
In the lobby, waiting for me, was a
little woman apparently about sixty
years of age She was dressed neatly
in black, but | noticed that her cloth
ing was faded. and somewhat worn il
spots.
Her face was pale and wrinkled, and
in her eyes, as she came forward to
meet me. was that searching, wistful
look that one always finds in the eyes
Of those who have long pursued a Ger
tain object without success.
I've been a good while getting my
courage up to come and see you" she
said, smiling. But | couldn't make
out to wait any longer. I'm from W., "
naming small village in one of the
counties of my congressional district.
People were pushing heedlessly past
her, and pressing about the door. I'D
like to see you alone, If | can" she
said, looking timidly about her. ITS
so noisy here it kinds of upsets me-"
led the way to one of the alcoves
in the House library, and gave her a
chair at one side of the small table,
while l sat at the other. She came at
once to the object of her visit.
MY husband was killed at the bat
tie Of Charlottesville" she said, "or
died of his wounds,I don't know which.
Or maybe he was taken prisoner and
died in the South. | never heard any
thing from him after that battle. But
anyway, he's dead | know Jim's dead,
and | know he died fighting for his
country; and I'm Jim's widow"
l supposed, of course, that she had
made application for a pension, and
had found difficulty in establishing her
claim. So said to her:
81 presume the department requires
more exact data concerning the time,
place and cause of your husbands
dealt" Is it SOP"
NO she replied, at isn't hardly
that. They won't acknowledge that he's
dead at all. | can't seem to make them
believe It, Not dead" she exclaimed,
softly, mot dead! and l living for 30
years in the old home He thought
the world and all of me. Jim did"
Eyes but. my dear lady" said /, you
must prove his death in the way re-
quired by the department before you
can hope to receive a widows pen
sion"
Il don't want any pension!" she ex-
claimed. 81 don't need it; l wouldn't
take It, They all make that mistake
But that's not what I'm after"
You don't understand" she contin-
ued, rapidly. II ought to have told
you before. Can any one hear me?'
She glanced nervously around the
alcove, and ont into the aisle. as
sured her that no one was listening,
and then she bent over the table and
whispered to me:
"Well you know, down here in Wash
ington they've got Jim marked on the
books as a deserter. But it's not so!
It's false! Jim was no coward He's
dead. He died fighting. l know it! /
know it,"
well" I said, a little YEARLY
what can / do for you? AS the case
stands, don't see how | can be of any
assistance to you.
She relapsed into her former timid
manner as she replied, why, they told
me-they told me that | must see my
congressman. and maybe he could get
1T all changed for me-
l now comprehended her object in
seeking my aid, and further question
ing drew from her the facts.
On the books of the war department
her husband was set down as a deser-
ter. She wished to have that record
blotted out.
"If you could only make out to do
that for me-" she said, rising to take
her leave, "if you could only make out
to do that, Fd-Td-I'm not rich. |
haven't got money. There's only my
little place up in w, but you can have
IL and welcome"
The next day went down to the war
department, and with the help of the
data she had given me, looked up her
husbands record. Sure enough. there
opposite James Hopes name, found
the hateful entry. Deserted April 20,
1863"
1t appeared also that there had been
some correspondence on the matter un-
der a claim that the entry was incor-
rect, and the clerk produced from the
files. and showed to me. afiidavits of
men of Hopes company and his regi-
mental officers, which left no room for
doubt that he was a deserter.
went out from the Office with a sad
heart dreaded to meet her again.
When she did come saw pleasant an