The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-04-10

after the small hoy sitting quite still
at a short distance from them, watch
ing the soldiers who passed and re-
passed them. "Oh, If YOU should be
killed.
I'm not going to be-" The mans
/ tone was firm as ne smiled down on
! her. I'm coming home when INV
/ time up-safe and strong-and You re
/ going 10 be on hand-you aud johnny
! to welcome me. As we march along
| Market street you must stand on the
| edge oil the sidewalk, and must wave
this for flag" he pulled gayly col
ored handkerchief from his pocket and
handed it to her, $50 that will know
! just where to look for you. And
Johnny'll be much bigger than he is
now, he went on, putting his arm
| around the child who had come up TO
them. "And he'll be so good that
he'll be soldier, sure, and may be
the next time L go to fight he'll go
with me-" He talked on in that hope
ful strain to cheer the little girl be-
side him, for she was crying and had
seized his handkerchief eagerly, to
hide her face in it. When he finished
speaking she got up to leave him, but
the smile with which she tried to an
swer his was dismal failure.
\ few days later good-bys had to be
said. God bless you, little Aunt
Margery," were his last words after n
| little talk, for which he had managed
to steal the time in spite of his hurry.
and the memory of which stayed with
her long afterward. She was his
friend, and he was grateful to her for
all she had done! Why, she had done
nothing, nothing at all, and yet he had
said she had helped him, and that he
wonld never forget her! She stood
watching him long after lie had been
called away, and his words rang In her
ears. God bless you, little Aunt
Margery!"
She tried to see him the next day
as the troops marched down to the
bay. but people pushed the two small
| figures impatiently out of their way,
and all they saw was a brief glimpse
OF him, and even then Margery was
not sure it was her friend. so her last
recollections of him were always rs he
had looked that last morning when he
had called her his friend and promised
never to forget her.
Nor did he; for when his regiment
had served their time in the tropical
islands, and after tho long ocean voy.
age which made all so glad to set their
| feet on land again, and all dnring the
long march back TO the old camping
| ground, his thoughts wero full of the
children OF whom he thought 30 often
during the long months he had beeu
away. 1t was not, however, until
nearly tho end of the march that his
search for The trophy by which he was
to know them was rewarded. And
even then 1T was only to see one-and
that ono johnny, and not the little
aunt for whom he had been watching.
He found himself wondering about
her absence several times that day.
and the next morning went eager.
| ly forward, when word reached him
that some one wished to speak to him.
lie recognized johnny at once, but the
frowsly haired woman who accom-.
panied him was unknown to Brown.
and he could hardly believe that she
was the sister of his little friend, even
after she had so introduced herself.
He wanted to see you" she said.
abruptly. "And so + came CHASING
out with him, though I couldn't see
why, and she moved ungraciously
away, leaving the two together.
Something kept Brown from asking
any questions as he watched the child
tumble in his pockets. and finally
draw forth lock of brown hair tied
with scrap of blue ribbon. "She
told me to give you this, Aunt Mar.
gerry did" he said. "She cut it off
herself just before she died. 1t was
all she had, she said, and she wants
you always to remember her." There
was no grief pictured on the child's
lace, only certain awe that seemed to
increase as Brown took all that was
left OF his little friend with trembling
fingers.
She told me to say she knew
you'd come back" tho boy went
on. Evidently he had gone
over his message many times
"And she wasn't afraid to die. and
she said l was to tell you I'd been
good, and she thought you'd say I
could be n soldier now aud fight with
you next time like you said" He
had gravely delivered the whole
speech, then his mouth qUiyered.
wish she wasn't dead" he half
whispered. 81 miss her awful lots. "
Brown bent over him. but did not
speak. There was something so tragic
in the half told tale that words seemed
worse than useless. TO think that he
had gouo away, had faced the dangers
OF warfare aud climate and had como
back strong and well, while the little
woman Who had only waited had been
taken away from these two who had
loved her! There was nothing TO
sayl
The womaus voice came ringing
harshly 30 them. johnny" abe
called. "fts time to be going You
shouldn't he keeping the gentleman
weitiug." And. in answer TO the call.
Johnny enthusiastically put out his hand.
which Brown claspcd warmly.
Wen not forget all she taught ma.
will we, JChnny?" The mans voice
was husky, but nc was not ashamed
Of that, nor Of tho tears that came 10
his eyes "WeIl both DO soldiers
that she could be proud Of that she
viii be proud Of when she looks down
ON az 20 see what we are doing. You'll
not forget know and r." but be
auTIar1v uf,tw,T ttft....- .-