The National tribune., 1902-01-02

them up 70 see how it hung. Her wasted
hand was unequal to the effort, and the
Deacon took it Clumsily by the band
around the waist, or where he sSpopsed
that the waist ought TO be, and tried to
initiate her way of holding il up. How
perfectly stylish it hangs, and it's so well
made" She fingered over the springs
with tender. admiriug appreciation, and
then went off into another paroxysm.
When she recovered, she said as shd
wiped her eyes:
20, dear, I've wanted one Of just that
kind so lonEi Eve been very sick, but
now I'm going back to my old home on
top Of the mountains, where III get well
by the time Jim comes home. Jim, that's
my husband. il in the Union army. He's
in the LIST Virginia Volunteers. He went
out under Col Kelley. and was then uu-
der Col. Thoburn, till he was killed .jim'S
a Sergeant. now, and they all speak well
| of him. He is going TO bring me skele-
ton from the city. when he comes home
Dear jim; he's always so thoughtful of
me-"
The Deacon's eyes filled with tears. as
he watched her frail form wrcnched by
another awful cOnvulsion Of coughing.
Poor thing he murmured to himself.
shell never see Jim again. She'll never
see the leaves come out. She cant last
| but 4 few weeks. She has more need Of
a shroud than n hoop-skirt, but her
| hearts set on having one, and it'll make
| her days easier to have it. I'm going to
| give one to her"
Mum" he continued aloud. al wish
you'd take that one. I'm going on I"
| Washington, and it's bothersOme to carry
| about town, and mebbe III see Jim, and
he can pay me for it. If you'll just take
! it now, it'll save me packing it there aai
around with me. III buy another for our
| folks with the money Jim gives me-"
80. will you? You're so good" she eX.
claimed, with a joyful light coming into
her eyes, and fonding the skeleton loving
| Is. You can easy find Jim. Everybody
knows the LIST Virginia Volunteers, and
Jim's 4 Sergeant in it. He will be so
| glad to see you. just tell him not to be-
worried about me. I'll be all right as
soon as ! get back home, and have some
of mothers cooking, and III be looking
| like rose again by the time nc comes
home"
When the train stopped az Grafton for
| breakfast, the Deacon saw the wOman'S
| friends waiting for her. They lifted her
| into pillow-lincd seat in a buggy, and as
she was driving away he saw her holding
| the skeleton close to her as her most val
ued possession.
We'll, that'r do her more good than a
| gallon Of medicine, and I'm glad | gave it
10 her." he said to himself, as he made
| his way into the eating house, to lay in
breakfast that made the keeper turn
| pale. Him deserves it. Wish I'd thought
to ask his full name"
He now entered what he felt to be his
| toric country.
| From the very beginning of the war the
/ line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad had
been the scene of stirring events, and the
name Of every station they passed re-
| called some fight, some raid, some mo-
mentous incident, which had filed col
rmns of the newspapers, and stirred up
| bTeathless interest in the community. Ris-
| ing in ponderOus majesty from q deep val
| ley on the left was Cheat Mountain, where
some Indiana regiments had spent the
| Winter of 1S61-'62 Then came the first
| appearance of the historic Potomac. GER
! tainly quiet enough there, where it rippled
| III q slender creek down laurelfrnged
| gorge, and gave as little hint of the lOrdly
! breadth it should attain hundreds of miles
away as of the mighty history that would
he forever associated with its name. Far
tier on came New Creek, Piedmont, and
| Cumberland, with their frowning forts,
their thrOnging garrisOns, and the mem
ories of many sanguinary contests around
| them.
As the Potomac broadened, and wide.
| fertile valleys spread between the tower
| ing mountain ranges, came Martinsburg
| and Harper's Ferry, each the center of Il
| stupendOus network of Notifications,
great strategic bases, sYarming with all
the activities of war.
''Jim's probably in there, somewhere"
said the Deacon. with a sigh, as he
watched the marching regiments. Poor
Jim. He will have a sad homecoming.
The Deacon was full of excited interest
over the approach to Washington-the
great center of his universe-the Capital
for the safety Of which 100000 meR
had been fighting terrible battles for four
long years-the city of President lincoln,
hn Gab fha hNl
Government of the great countIy-the
city toward which all mems thoughts had
gone out every waking hour. in keeneSt
anxiety, in high hopes, in glad exulta
ton. in desperate humiliation. He had
confidently expected to be astOnished
every minute as he approached the great
city, anu L hnd On arriving there some
thing phenomenal at every step. He
braced himself up in his seat, as the train
left Harper'S Ferry, to take in every
thing to be seen. But he so strained his
eyes and his senses over the many Won
derful sights along the route-over Mary
land Hights, Bolivar Hights, John
Browns Fort, the historic Shenandoah.
and the thousand other things at Har-
pers Ferry, that tired Nature demanded
a rest, and before he knew it he was fast
asleep.
He was awakened by terrible hula
baloo, and opened his eyes to see the
train stopped in dingy shed.
Outside was n regiment of newly-ar-
rived soldiers. all yelling at the top of
their voices. with their officers vainly try
ing to outyeil them and make their orders
heard. ThrOngs of other soldiers, without
arms, were adding to the din by their
yocferous shouts. NewsbOys were dOdg.
ing about. screaming:
''Star-yuh,"
washington Chronicle
''N'Yark an Philadelphia pa-a-pers"
Scores of apparently savasely insane
cab drivers were hrandishine their whips.
bursting their lungs with inarticulate
yeIS. and rushing furiously upon every
civilian as he descended from the train,
snalching away his baggage, and fight
ing among themselves for its possession.
'Washington, sub. All out TO- Wash
ington," said the train porter to the dazed
Deacon.
TO be cOntinued.l
EHERGE~CY MEN.
Senator Quay has introduced the follow.
ing bill: