The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-04-11
Every well,'' said Jones. And then,
with a,suggestion of hungerin his eyes,

he said goodby.
Six months later the two men met |
AGAIN. Jones bore the appearance of |
One TO whom physical rest has been |
long unknown, but there was sparkle |
in his eyes that the other had never be-
fore seen there, and he carried his chin
high, as one who is satisfied with him.
self. He greeted the other with some
thing like effusiyeness, and the other
and said so frankly, whether
he was in the habit of assuming new
character twice each year.
God is very good" said Jones, in
of the lightness of his
heart. ''Those people down there were
more glad to see me than had expect
ed. They actually showered me with
blessings-regularly honest blessings,
that entered into my life and lifted me
up. l shall never look upon yellow
fever with horror again. don't know
when l have enjoyed myself as / have
during the last six months. There
would be little to dread-little of sor-
row-in the world were it not for hui
man ignorance. Possibly it is better SO.
Man would be wild, dangerous sort of
animal if his spirits were not Subdued
with occasional hot irons. The keenest
delight known to us is that which comes
with calamity unrealized. Yes, yes, it
is well that we are ignorant"
You are philosopher JONES'
Don't call an old friend names,' said
Jones gravely. Zone day down there
word came from out in the country tina.
a family-a whole family-was down
with the fever. There was no one to give
them care The messenger, negro boy,
asked if we could not send some one to
them, and it just happened that was so
situated that / could go. 1t was too
good an opportunity to lose. knew
they would be glad to see me. 1t was
worth the long ride under the broiling
sun and through the checking dust to
meet an honest, heartfelt, fervent wei
come from some of ones fellow Great
ures. th-the-while-a
more"
He repeated the words, slowly moisten-
ing his lips the while, as one does when
the memory OF something pleasant
fingers
at was well that | got there when l
did. There were three in the family
a family that had come from the North
for the sake of the mothers health.
Their small plantation was practically
isolated, and they had not feared the
fever They were quite unprepared for
it. 1t is not necessary for me to tell
YOU of the struggle we had; it is suffi-
Gent to say that they all lived. And
one afternoon, when they were GONZALES
cent and l was able to remit the care,
which until that time had been constant,
[ seated myself in rocking chair, with
the family photograph album upon my
lap. l did not remain long, for among
the first portraits in the book was that
of a girl-a girl who looked like one |
had known-we had known-at home.
| rose to my feet excitedly and carried
the book to the woman, pointing with a
finger that shook disgracefully to the
portrait.
"'Who is it?' I asked.
"'My brothers daughter she said.
And her name is
Mary Brown
''My legs went out from under me
then. and my head buzzed. | was tired
out, | suppose collapsed into chair,
and the woman in her weakness not DO
ticing, went on talking as some women
do.
"'My maiden name was Brown, she
said. ! haven't seen my brothers folks
for ten years or more, but we have
never ceased to correspond. Poor Mary
was sick a While ago. The doctors call
ed it galloping consumption. But it
wasn't. If it had been she'd have died.
The doctors don't always know, begging
your pardon, sir. Twas something
else, like decline, kind of pining
away, that was mystery. Her mother
thinks now twas love for a young fell
low-one of the harum-scarum sort
that lived in the village once. She
thinks so because the girl got into a
way after a while of talking in her
over and over the fel-
lows name, which was Jones. 1t seems
that Jones was her whole life, and yet,
after he'd hirted with her for a time he
went away, and has never been heard
of since He must lave been a heart
less scamp Poor girlH
'"And she isn't married YETI" | ask
ed My throat was so dry that l had to
exert all my strength to make my voice
audible.
"'No.'
"'And you think that, bad as he is
and shameful as was his treatment of
her, she'd be glad to see Jones?'
"There's no doubt of it, poor girl
Il left the room then. l couldn't
stand it any longer. l went and threw
myself upon the ground, and sobbed
and laughed and kicked up my heels
like one gone daft. She had spoken
my name in her sleep. She wanted me!
She would be glad to see me!
"The quarantine was raised four
weeks later, and l went North 1t was
all true. She was glad to see me. She
me for going away from
her, and l was sorry clear down to my
feet. But after all-and there's COM
fort in it, as l told her-I'm more worth
now thanI was them
GU are going to remain in the ser
vice." inquired the other.
mo, I'm going home to settle down
at last-home- home"
There was rapt expression upon his
worn face, and he raised his eyes rever-
emily to the sky.
Home" he repeated softly, "home-
homen'
CAsToEIA.
s ssa,s 'as n ' IT, ~, =; ~: 2:-'. ''''