The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-01-12

One day after hard battle the boys
returned to camp. Some were bleed
ing, some dying, and | was afraid my
Andy had shared a worse fate, but
my heart leaped with Joy when | saw
him coming towards me. His head
was bound and his face haggard and
drawn with pain.
Are you hurt?" l asked anxious
ly.
Not bad. Only a cut. Where were
you during the fight?"
Il hid in the woods"
He laughed, but not the free, merry
laugh that used to ring out so joy
ously.
One morning they were preparing
or battle, and l was helping Andy
q, it'll his things.
Look here, Kid; if get killed you
must go back to father and little Amy.
Tell them | died thinking of them.
on the field of battle. There, don't
cry. You know l am liable to be
shot, and again | may be spared. If
| don't come back with the rest you
must come and find me. Take this
chain-it has loeket on the end with
Amy's picture and lock of her hair
take it to her. You'll find little
Bible in my inside coat pocket; take
it to father. You may have the ring
on my little finger. Be sure you find
me If | don't come back You can get
to the folks before a letter could, so
you must go right away. The boys
will help you-they said so. Now,
must go Goodbye, Kid. Perhaps
I'll not see you again"
He was gone. The sultry day came
to a close The weary men came
back, all that was LETT, but no Andy.
| looked in vain for him.
One of the boys told me he was left
on the field. Was he dead? He didn't
know.
ran to the ambulance and clam
bered to q seat beside the driver. We
drove to the field in silence. | jump
ed down and began my search for the
judges son.
Still, cold faces were turned up to
my anxious gaze and my heart ached
when | thought OF their loved ones
who were waiting for them. Would
Andy be dead? ! stumbled over a
soldier in my haste A groan came
from him and l stopped beside him.
Mother" he feebly moaned. Give
me water"
put my canteen to his parched lips
and he drank eagerly He looked up
into my face and tried to thank me.
His eyes spoke instead, then the poor
fellow breathed his last.
| continued my search and at last
found the one l was seeking.
One limb had been shot entirely off
and his poor body was riddled with
bullets. | sank down beside him and
washed the blood OF his face. He was
dead, of course, b!it | called him by
his name, entreating him to speak to
me. | Unclasped the chain, removed
the ring from mis- finger, but didn't
find the little Bible where he said it
would be. | found it on the ground
with a note pinned to its back. He
had been able to finish it, and only the
words, written in scrawling, wander
ing way and smeared with his life
blood, Father and Amy, have been
called to go. Goodbye. / died"
were on it.
| watched them bury him; then true
to their word the men sent me home.
No word could have gotten there as
soon as did, so | knew ! would have
TO tell the news to the old judge and
Amy
As | entered the little post Office
saw the judge and Amy coming from
the window. Amy saw me first and
ran towards me.
Have you news from Andrew?
Tell me quick. Is he alive?"
The judge came up to us and hard
ly knew him. He looked ten years
older and his face was pale as death.
"Ah! You have come back but
where's my SOM" he asked, hoarsely.
He read what / would say in my
face and staggered against the wall
A crowd gathered around us and |
saw Mrs. Gleason supporting her
daughter.
Tell us. boy. tell us. Is Andy Scar
rift dead?" some one asked.
| pulled the chain and Bible out of
my pocket, and gave the note to the
Judge. He grabbed and read the few
words then fell with groan to the
floor
shall never forget that scene. The
Judge and Amy were taken home; /
went to the Scarritt mansion, but
could not see the Judge. Days after
ward he sent for me. told him all.
The old Judge is an altogether
different man. He goes around in a
dazed sort of way and say he's half
crazy. Poor old man. ! reckon he is.
He lived for his son and now he's
gone the old gentleman cares for no
one or anything.-Farmer Advocate.