The National tribune., 1901-11-07

non, waving of handkerchiefs; but with
their return il was different.
They came mostly by twOs and threes,
scattering to their homes, for 1t could not
be known, always, when they would come.
Joseph Linden had not written for
some weeks, but they daily expected him.
1t was an afternoon in June when he
stepped from the train, and with only
hurried greeting for the few he recognized
at the station, started out the country
road for home.
The few miles walk seemed nothing to
him now. and the old road was so fa-
miIiar, so unchanged. The lane that led
up to the house, however, seemed shorter
and more narrow than of old, and the
house lower and the front yard smaller
He opened the gate nOselessly and
walked around the house. The milk-hOuse
door stood open and just within, with her
back TO the door, bending over her milk
crooks, his mother
| How often had he come upon her thus
| as he had carried in the pals of foamy
milk or brought back the empty slOp-pails
| from feeding the pigs. Many times even
| within the later months he had pictured
! his homecoming, even to his mother $
arms about his neck, but he had never
pictured himself sObbing like a great baby
upon her shoulder. She was the first to
recover herself.
Go into the house, Joe. and surprise
| Margie; she's in the parlOr."
He stole in quietly. The room was
dark to him, atteE&iS long walk in the
bright sunshine.
Margie was il when he went away,
with short dresses and two long braids
down her back. Two young ladies arose
with startled exclamation. and one, he
! didn't know which one, put her arms
around his neck with ',Oh, Joe; Brother
Joe"
His mother came in wiping her eyes
on the corner of her apron, and then he
was introduced to Miss Blair, and for the
first time in his life Joseph Linden found
he had too many hands and feet, and did
not know what to do with them. As soon
! as possible he made his escape to the
back field, where his father was at work.
Who are those Blairs?" Joe had asked
his father some weeks later, as he came
in to supper, passing his sister and Miss
Blair at the gate.
The BIairs are mighty nice sort of
people, came over here from Kentucky
Two years back; got pretty hot for them
down there-sO hot, in fact, they were
burned out root and branch"
And "Oh, joe" broke in Margie who
had come i'll from her leaye-taking, 1T
was perfectly awful just because Hattie 5
two brothers were in the army, the Union
army, you know, Of course-sOme men
came-spme of them their own ncighbOrs,
tOo-aHd told them they could have -
hours to move out and get away; and,
just think Joe, before they were half
moyed-they couldn't move in 24 hours,
You know-they came back and burned
their house and barn and every building
on the place, and Hattie said she was
just scared to death; and. oh, Joe, you
never heard Of anything so dreadful
anJ Of enIJinrc +r,rbI,l
themselves very little over the great prob
lem of reconstruction. Their part was
finished, and now they gave themselves
To home and home pursuits, and every
ncighborhOod, village and city grew fes-
tive i'll their honor; and even those whose
loved ones had gone, but had not re-
turned, made pathetic efforts to join in
the general merry making.
The neighbOrhoOd of the Lindens was
not behind IN any Of these things, and
: parties, picnics, and all manner of cee
/, bratiOns followed each other in quick sue
cession. And in all of these handsome
Lieut.. Linden was notable figure, and
much to the chagrin of few other girls
his sister and pretty little Hattie Blah
We're always his chosen companions, and
this was the way il came about: Al
though he had stood without a tremor il
the very jaws OF death, and had no,
swerved nor stepped aside to escape the
for love of country, now he fell down ans
wOrShiped at the shrine of II common
: place, little black-cyed Kentucky girl
: And she-she laughed ut him, twineC
him again and again about her smalles
= finger; led him many wild chase; mad,
| him fetch and carry to her hearts con
5 tent; but ended by putting both her tru'
5 little hands in his and gave herself body
+ and soul into his keeping.
After many a hair-breadth escape il
= siege Of fire and battle. he had lifted hi
e heart in reyerent gratitude to God 70
t deiiyerance and safety, but never had hi
e prayer been so fevent, so deeply thank
n ful, as tonight, when he walked home un
n der. the stars-stars that from all eter
$ nifty were made to shine this one nigh
e and glorify his pathway.
He must tell his mother; he stole softl,
e to her bedside, and on his knees whis
n pered his love story. She did not seen
g surprised, at which he wondered a little
S and if she was pleased she did not say
[ hut said she hoped Hattie would max
him good wife, calling after him
: Joseph, | wish you would see if the ca
@ has been put out"
o ''Humph, eat, indeed" He walked I'D
d stairs little more noisily after that.
!, rs that you, Joe?' called Margie, hal
: awake. Yes; and oh, Margie," and tn
sweet story was told again.
h 'Oh, Joe, for goodness sake, why dom
y you tell us something we don't all know
{ | have my white dress half made thi
very minute to wear to your wedding"
IL lie went to his room strangely defect