River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-07-16
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By ADA c. SWEET
roprrlgh,, lsos. By Dally story rue. O.,
By D C. SWEET

fields and their encircling acres, here
and there, shaded by trees and shrubs,
and thickly planted with the Dead.
Abner Hull stood aimlessIy looking
about him. The street to which he had
just walked from his cheap boarding
house, was one of those which led
through the town. The old man
walked aimlessly on in the direction
taken by the overlooking electric
cars. His face, lined and weather
beaten, was serious, almost grim. The
corners of his mouth dropped, his
shoulders were bent, his feet dragged,
his clothing hung loose upon his gaunt
frame; he looked, as he felt, forgotten
and alone in the world.
Suddenly a sbrill, family heard, but
persistent strain of music came borne
on the soft south wind, the thin stream
of sound upheld by the throb Of
drums. Old Abner Hull stood still.
Nearer came the music, and around a
corner "A square away wheeled a double
line of blue-clad men. Old Abner
hurried to the cuFbstone, and stood
awaiting the little band of veterans.
Hello, comrade," called a hearty
voice from the passing G. A. Z. post.
From the double file of men, one
dropped out and grasped Abner's hand.
Where have you been? Haven't
seen nor heard of you for ten years."
said the friendly veteran. Come on,
fall in, let's see if you have any vim
left in you! You've grown a little the
worse for wear since siXty-four-like
the rest Of us"
Abner was hurried on after the blue
streak in the street, and was soon
marching along in step with the some
what slow pace of the veterans
march.
Bring the good old bugle, boys,
Well have another song"
Chantcd the war music.
There it is! Coed old tune!" said
Abner, and he stamped along Justify
with the others.
AS they waited at the railway sta
tion for the train which was to carry
the t~hronging people to Rose Hill
cemetery, the old friends chatted,
standing a little aside from the other
comrades, after one or two introduce
LiOuS Oh the ueN~COluSI 10 UHlS VI IhdC
veteran.
you don't ask any questions,
Asher" said Abner, at last, just as the
train was backing in. and l know
why; but 1 am going to tell you, all
the same"
"AIl right" replied Hills, "but wait
ill we get settled in the car"
When they were seated side by side,
and the dingy houses began to fly past
them as the train pulled out, Asher
his arm laid along the back of the seat,
his hand touching Abner's shoulder,
spoke:
Now out with it. And first-you
left home looking for work, and never
came back, never wrote. That much L
know. How about it?'
The broken old soldier sat in silence,
for a time, embarrassed by his com
Tade's scrutinizing look.
Married soon after the civil war to
a woman of strong will, rugged health,
and coarse grasping nature, the gentle
warrior had fallen an easy victim to
petticoat government of the absolute
despotism type. Four strapping
daughters in time became assistants to
their mother in the business of carry
ing on the family affairs. His fifth
daughter. Mandy, looked like him and
was like him in ~gentleness and refine
ment of nature, and she came to be
the one ray of sunshine in Abner
Hulls dull and sordid existence. All
this had not to be told, anyone could
see it, though no one could understand
the misery Of it, looking from the out
side.
Again and again the returned wan
derer essayed to speak, but at last.
recognizing the impossibility of the
attempt, he turned his wrinkled, still
old face, and looked resolutely out of
the car window.
Then Hills spoke:
Your wife-she's been dead more
than a year, hasn't she?"
80 they say-I've heard it from
strangers. l haven't let any of the
girls know l am back want to find
Mandy, though. l believe she'd like to
see me"
"Of course she would! The others
are all married and living away from
the city, but Mandy boards with
Comrade Williams wife, and works at
the milliner's trade. Know that?''
Hull's face turned toward Hills, now.
and glowed with pleasure.
Come urged Hillis-"teIl your
story, Wen soon be at Rose Hill. and
there won't be any time. Then I'll tell
you more about Mandy. My wife
thinks a lot of her"
OF curse 1 amt got any excuse"
returned Hull, in a husky voice, land
l shan't try to make any. 1t was the
moving, mostly, the everlasting NOV
ing from house TO house. The eternal
restlessness and fault-finding l could
stand, but the moving-Why. Ash. in
the 27 years we lived together we
moved more than 60 timeS-I kent
count, after the first five years. got
kind of crazy-sort of unreasonable
over it-moving, always moving. l
worked-just a day laborer l was. YOU
know-and l brought every cent 1
earned home, and twas never enough.
And after awhile when the girls grew
up they went to work, ard then was
less than nothing-used to sit out on
the back steps, there wasn't room for
me in our little place-too many big
strapping women"
But" said Asher, there was
Mandy"