Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-12-07
TIE SACRED
ARMCHAIR.
s;oss Of 9 solder, nstura.

PROGRESSES. H65c :%&45*Sas$
Captain carus Bentley Of the Elev-
, tn artillery regulars llmpcd down the
anyway fran the transport gnd step
pad on pier 10 svia, kl'a vague, lhdenn.
ollie satisfaction that after { yesr In
The tropics he was getting back to
Gods country. lie a;-aycd a moment
~ lie reached the dccL and booked Up
10 the sampaI.3 CT buildings along the
liver. No net him at tic dock OF
Tie stca.icr. There were no tenrful
eyes brilliant With JOY ind tender arms
10 crush hin with happiness. There
were 10 i.:t!c feminine piGudits and
gTiish .Ar,eks Ter greeting. How diff
ftrent vas lis coming tack from his
going away: Che lsd chung On his arm
egI sighed littie h~eeFtlrokcn sobs.
Etc Tcs sad then. Ifc had beeh e&uit.
ant. ga, happy. carried away with the
enthusiasm CT war and mans love Of
notion. re !sd gone end won his spurs
gnJ got wounded and then las fer six
ihoht.,s n the military hospital at San
tIaSJ siuittcl down by fever. wavcring
between i.fc AID death. not knowing
then 81 Tie asony which he Indicted On
his leaf one with silence G%ibcoken by
a letter or message Of any kid.
Regularly ana faithfully, with the
devotion of her Sex size had written to
him. and NJ the end Of ten months,
having received no reply, she bad
ceu:.cd Some Of the letters which she
hrI ArFtafa "a lp gnuffgV Vsfff. Liz, Nrg.
hospital nufSe had lot him have them
%h'h she thought That he had the
strength 20 comprehend their contents.
each was aa unhappy, passionate cry
from u wounded soul. an unconscious
rc..t" . l,-i, and each revealed the
tr' ys;.a- .-aiily In the bottom Of a
.f c.ect.1 woman's heart, the pain
which shp cochl not help express when
the hatGrai warmth OF her heart was
rcpr,scd by persistent silence.
Dtnticy crawicd into n cab and drove
20 his rooms lie had cabled his house.
keeper from Cuba before the transport
had sailed. and he knew that his apart
h-Shls would be In trim order when he
arrived. that his bath would be pre-
pared. the Gre burning glyiy In tie
eystwhile deserted hearth and dinner
bot aud stcam!ns when he waited T..
When be reached the door. he fumbled
Ia the pooset OF his blue Uniform for
his latchEey. Gad be felt puzzled when
he found that Il Eas gone. He touched
the electric button. II seemed funny
to him to have to ring his own door.
bell before he could got In.
Presently the housekceper opened
tn door, and Bentley's collie was alert
at her heels. Mrs. Blossom could only
calculate %incOhcrcnt sentences Ia the
exubeinncc OF her surprise and joy
anil look ut her returned soldier with
an the tenderness Of her devoted old
age. "'IIappy and Improving your
Eursc wrote last" she said, so I had
no fear for you"
Happy and improving" Bentley
echoed under his breath. II wonder
II she. too, heard that" lie had sunk
down iato n big armchair before the
trc. lie was depressed and silent and
still weak from the wound In his arm.
lie me alone TO think now" he said
10 the woman. who stood waiting for
orders. So she quietly and uncere.
mUntousiy withdrew and loft Bentley
Alone with his dreams. The collie, too
little noticed after the long separation,
lcaped on his knees and wLiued pl(l-
fully and lay her gentle head against
the faded. shabby sleeve OF Ills coat.
Bentley took her head between his
hands and IA lac looked at the quiet,
faithful eyes two tears came into his
own.
Little cid woman" he said you've
been lonesome. haven't your SO have
1. I've wanted to be back here mil
lions OF times. Yes. ! have. little wo-
man. And I had hoped when | did
CONT thar W. might not be alone any
moro snd that the hearth might not be
90 dirary Yes. less. | actually began
~ Imagine that some one would sit In
that ciair opposite and would answer
rue when I spoke and understand ire
when ! wa silent and love the al
ways.
"Why. little woman. that empty chair
has stood there opposite mine for ten
years now. Yes. ten years. You
hiven't krpi such close watch OF the
time 81 I have" lie drew the collie
close into hb arms and she lay there.
e~ompinccntly. blinking Into the Gre.
I'VE nscd TO think that she came
and sat there and made us happy with
her laughter and her bright talk. She
was always q Kind OF airy Ideal u curs.
wasu'i sho JESSE But she was reaf
for as yellow hair. blue eyes. low
tolcc. SLENDER figure gul all. ana she
nEed 10 como and sii there ana rrsi
hor clhows on h3r knccs and talk non
sent' "a ~ AMI Contemplate the burn
Ink e~r5l,cr5 Just IKE a real oma
And ihra sln us.d 30 Jump ~ suddel-
~ IN her sweet. 5isl;l. SO way and
some and t.ss Us. Jp'Bi q On ii,at
queer white fDoi nri E,f tlEii on tho
fop w!lrrc ~" .'glas -r,Yvd thin-aud
dlL-pIcar 81 fan Yes. less. u
AnH 81 -. iaar. east d-eca
aDi thai
@Sn~ ea..'a.r'