Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-19
CHAPTER II.


A LIGHT SHINING IN DARKNESS.
In the rear of Mrs Gaston's place,
there stood in the midst of an orchard
a log house of two rooms, with hall
way between them. There was mud
matched wooden chimney at each end,
and from the back of the hallway a kitch-
en- extension Of the same material with
another mud chimney The house stood
in the middle OF a ten acre lot and
woman was busy in the garden with a lit
tie girl, planting seed.
Hurry up, Annie, less finish this In
time to fix up a fine dinner er greens and
turnips an taters an a chicken. Yer pap
py'll get home today sure. Colonel Gas
toms Nelse come last night. Yer pappy
was in the colonels regiment an Nelse
said he passed him on the road comm
with two one-legged soldiers. He amt
got but one leg, he says. Butt Lord, II
there's a piece Of him left Wen praise
God an be thankful for what we've got"
Nav, how did he look? mos forgot
it's been so long since I seed him?" asked
the child.
Look! Honey! He was the handsom-
est man in Campbell countyi He had
tall fine figure, brown, curly beard and
the sweetest mouth that was always smil-
in at me- an his eyes twinklin' over some
thin funny he'd seed or thought about
When he was young ev'ry gal around
here was crazy about him. I got him all
right an he got me- too. oh, me! can't
help but cry to think he's been gone so
long! But he's comm today! jes feel 1t
IN my bones"
Look a-yonder, NAV, what a skeer-
crow ridin' er ole hoss!" cried the girl,
looking suddenly toward the road.
"Glory TO God! It's Toni she shouted,
snatching her old faded sunbonnet OFF her
head and fairly flying across the field to
the gate, her cheeks afiame. her blond
hair tumbling over her shoulders, her
eyes wet with tears.
Tom was entering the gate Of his modest
home in as fine style as possible, seated
proudly on a stack of bones that had
once been a horse, an old piece Of wool
on his head that once had been hat, and
wooden peg fitted into a stump where
once was leg. His face was pale and
stained with the red dust of the hill roads,
and his beard, now iron gray, and his
ragged. buttonless uniform were covered
with dirt. He was truly sight to scare
crows, If not of interest to buzazrds. But
to the woman whose swift feet were hur-
rying to his side, and whose lips were
muttering half articulate cries of love, he
was the knightliest figure that ever rode
in the lists before the assembled beauty OF
the world.
"Oh. Tom. Tom, Tom, my ole mani
You've come at lasti" she sobbed as she
threw her arms around his neck, drew
him with kisses.
Look out, ole woman, you'll break my
new leg!" cried Tom, when he could get
breath.
at don't care; I'll get you another one"
she laughed through her tears.
Look out, there, again, you're smash
ing my game shoulder. Got er MIME ball
in that oner'
'"Well your mouths all right see,"
cried the delighted woman, as she kissed
and kissed him.
Say. Annie don't you be so greedy. give
me chance at my young one." Toms
eyes were devouring the excited girl who
had drawn nearer.
"Come and kiss your pappy and tell him
how glad you are to see him. said Tom,
gathering her in his orms and attempting
to carry her to the house.
He stumbled and fell. In a moment the
strong arms of his wife were about him
and she was helping him into the house.
She laid him tenderly on the bed, petted
him and cried over him. MY poor old
man, he's all shot and cut to pieces.
You're so weak, Toni can't believe 1T.
You were so strong. But Wen take care
of youl Don't you worry. You just sleep
a week and then rest all summer and
watch us work the garden for your
He lay still for a few moments with
smile playing around his lips.
Lord, ole woman, you don't know how
nice II is 10 De peIted IKE tnat' 10 near
woman's voice, feel her breath on your
face and the touch of her hand. warm and
soft, after four years sleeping on dirt
and living with men and mules, and fight
in and runnin' and diggin' trenches like
rats and moles; KILN men, burryin' the
dead like carrton, holdin men while doc
tors sawed their legs off, till your turn
came to be held and sawed! You can't be-
lieve It, but this is the first feather bed
I've touched in four yearsr'
well WE'LL Bless God it's over now"
she cried. ''S'long as I've got two strong
arms to slave for you-as long as there's
piece of you left big enough to hold on
TOLL work for you" and again she bent
low over his pale face, and crooned over
him as she had so often done over his