Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-05-24
h.scre the old Grand Army Hall merge

IN 4 close, black phalanx. tie cOuio see
the farm wagons piling down. as he had
seen them often before. He even fancied
he could hear Hyperion tuning up MS
fife and see the old man handing his hat
TO a bystander to be cared for until the
drum was made go like she ought" A
sense of serenity came over him as ne
looked down and away, one hand grip
ping the iron railing.
Mark Barriston. turning his team into
the livery barn. looked around ut sound
~ his name to find Edward Thorn at his
elbow.
"How's your father? Where ia hep
"J'p there" He motioned towards the
hillside.
Thorn turned past the hotel. the lum'
her 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 the
right-and across the worn path to where
10y the qnadrangunr iron railing 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 ii over, Jack. l never meant
to do SO. I thought she-she might not
wish it. but l think she'd rather we
would, than that our children-yours and
mine--should suffer"
"Y0urs and mne." Then the old Bar
riston vindctiveness came back In all Its
strength.
milne shall not suffer. Why should l
care for yours? You know what you did,
Edward Thorn. Played fast aud loose
with the woman you loved-the woman l
lOved!"
II don't know what you mean," said
Edward Thorn.
"l'll tell you then" He was trembling
still, but his grip on the railing helped
to support him. 1.-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 l loved her
-"
Loved her-then?" Thorn's voice was
a 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 yOu!"
yes" Thorn said slowly. Eyes, l did
all you say-more. 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 had got this that / Hold
On! Have you finished!'
Not quite. Then you went home-you
remember? l staid away. | couldn't 90
back and see Annie and you--"
"Well, what then!'
"Then-Jack. DO you think I'm imbe-
cile--or delirious yet? Then you Tilted
her-flung her over as heartlessly as a
man filings aside the woman who has low
ell him. There is no comparison to be
made. The whole town was talking Of
your conduct when l returned. But you
had gone. You coward"
Edward Thorn took one Stephen
stood quite still.
xviii you listen now?" he asked. II
did love Annie-yes. And l did many
things am ashamed OF in those old army
days-that is true. But that l ever of
NV own accord broke faith with Annie
no. John Barriston-no!'
Barriston aughed-a harsh laugh.
"Go on" he said.
"Perhaps." Thorn rejoined. ut would
be better II you were to read this first"
He held the slip Of paper toward him.
Harriston unfolded tread 1t.
Ned, dear. forgive me. You will, ] know.
did encourage you-yes. | did let you
speak. was even 80 wicked as to answer
you a. you wished. But didn't care for you
II have never cared for youth that way.
only did 80 to make Jack Barriston under
stand that he-O. don't know what l want.
I'd him to understand! Anyhow. he never
spoke And now that the war Is nearly over
and you are coming back you must give mo
ip. can't give you up, because my father
we'll. you know how stern he Is and how he
has set his heart upon our marriage. But
man while Jack lives-so pretend that you
couldn't have me- q, do, Ned. And after
awhile, perhaps. Jack-but. no-he doesn't
care ANNIE.
1t was long time before either spoke
again. The procession had left the
church, and one could trace it's sinuous
progress through the town. In silence
Barriston handed back the letter.
II wish you had known 1t always,
Jack" murmured Thorn.
1.-THE pride of woman," muttered Bar.
! ristOn.
1.-THE stupidity OF man." said Thorn.
There was the roll Of vehicles up the
hill-the tramp Of feet. The veterans
filed in the gate. The little docto- came
forward in all his gay regala. Della
Thorn knelt beside Barriston.
She comprehended the broken sounds he
made.
1.-THE letter-with you? Yes-you shall
have it always"
The band played on. The doctor put a
professional foretinger on the pulse OF
the PROSTATE man. He rose-spoke. He
could not make himself heard.
"Men Of the Grand Army Of the Repub-
lic," he cssayed again. "Your comrade-
John Barriston."
The music swelled aloft, martial tri-
umphant. But John Barriston did not
hear.
The Grave in My Heart.
They are covering the graves OF our heroes
win, tho IovoIinst NOWara they can bring.