The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-03-19

had seen the boy enter with the message
and followed him in. When she saw the
effect upon her mother. she sat down in
her rocking chair, threw her apron over
her head, and began to weep loudly
| Annabel, coming down from her room
took them in at glance, sat down by the
table, laid her head upon it and gave way
to mute despair.
Maria. cheerfully hymn-singing in the
kitchen over her bread-making, caught
the wall of Amanda's voice, paused and
came in. Her sleeves We're rolled up
above the elbows of her full, plump, white
arms, on which We're daubs of -four.
There were little flecks of the same on
her strong, fine face, now radiant with
exertion and satisfaction with the way her
work was progressing.
! Now, what's the matter. 'Mandyv
she inquired, sympathetically. Caught
another early bee out among your bulbs
and shrubs! Well, bees will banker after
sweet things, and you catch it. Don't cry,
Don't cry. Come out in the kitchen and
let me put some vinegar and brown paper
on the place. That'll take away the pain
directly"
.'Oh, Maria gasped Annabel, pointing
at the envelope. "a dispatch from father,
from down near where that awful fighting
was"
'.How do you know it's from Pap?" de-
manded Maria, marching toward the table
to pick up the envelope.
''Why. 10 one else would send dis
patch to us, and we knew he's gone down
there where al the men were killed in
/ that terrible battle" sobbed Amanda
He wouldnit send a dispatch except that
81 and all the rest were killed"
| Lets sed If, that's what it says" said
Maria. decisiyGly. though her face grew
as white as the flour. as she pulled out n
hairpin to rip open the envelope.
SIT is from Pap" she announced slowly,
but in firm voice. isis not dead-nor
-nor-Will;Y Both are very low, and he
wants mother to come on"
''Of course, I'll go at once" said Mrs.
Klegg, rising resolutely. ''Let me get my
things. Which way will i go. east or
west? When will the train be along?"
We'll gO'east. of course-to Indianapo-
lis first" said Maria decisively. 'That's
the way Pap wentY
wen goF'' asked Annabel liftins her
head with aa.inauiring look in her great
i'lue eyes t.'YOu mean your mother and
mef'
Mrs. Klegg opened her eyes and looked
at her daughter-in-law. She needed con-
slant reminders that another woman than
herself had a very deep interest in her
son.
You want to COZ she asked quietly.
81 want to go? I must CO." replied
Annabel. ''My place is beside my hus-
band, if can reach him."
Il hadn't thought of your going" muir
INJURED Maria, taken aback. 81 intended
10 go with mother"
'And leave me here. with ST longing to
see me? Him perhaps dyipgT' exclaimed
Annabel, with more indignant irmness in
her tone than seemed possible in one so
sweet and gentle. "Never! Never in the
world"
Mrs. Klegg looked at her again in sur
prise. and then came swift memory of
her own far-away girlhood. when she
had followed her boy husband to the dis
tant Indiana wilds. you shall go with
me, Annabel," she said with gentle de-
cisiOn. $50 at once and get ready"
Il suppose we can take her along with
out much trouble" Maria thought aloud.
''Three can squeeze along wherever two
can CO."
.'Three. Maria:'' calculated Mrs. Klegg.
what three?'
''Why, she'll make three. You me and
her," answered the young lady, with quiet
certainty, beginning to unite her apron.
Mandy, you'll have to go into the
kitchen and take care of that bread. |
guess you won't have much trouble with
it."
"Yon want to go along, too, Maria?"
asked Mrs. Klegg. in surprise. "You
can't go, daughter
Il not only want to go, but I'm going"
answered the young lady, with settling
it voice, as she tossed her apron over to
Amanda. Run along and tend to the
bread, Mandy. 1t needs watching. Will
needs me as bad as 81 needs you or Anna
bel, mother, and it's my right to go'
"But you're not married to him, Maria"
suggested Annabel, with Il touch of that
matronly superiority that she had never
been able to keep from occasionally parad-
ing before Sis sisters.
'"That's matter that can be attended
to almost any time. It'll only take few
minutes. 1t hasn't anything to do with
his needing me terribly just now"
''But you've never said that you were
even engaged to him." suggested Annabel
and Amanda, almost in one voice, and in
a tone Of the deepest surprise and Curl
osity. "Are you?"
"Young fbitx shouldn't ask so many
questions" answered Maria loftily
"When you'ne.oider you may be wiser, and
then you'll probably know more. Better
run along ,aana tend to the bread.
Mandy; itliiran over in a few minutes"
Annabel lift the room to get ready and
Amanda waAtltO the kitchen.
Daughter! ",3said Mrs. Klegg, after
they had left, ARE you engaged to Mr..
Elliott?" m
mo, MOTHER
"Has he PROPOSED to you?"
"No. mother"
"And yet ispp feel call of duty to go
to him."
81 do, mother"
"Do you think it is the proper thing to
go away off there after young man who
has not even proposed to you?"
Indeed, do, mother. Now, mother,
listen to me for minute. We hayn't |
much longer to talk, for we must get
ready. This is matter between Will |
Elliott and me and our God. Though he
has never proposed to me, nor have I, in |
so many words, promised to marry him. |
we love each other, and there is nothing |
1 am so sure Of in this world as that i |
am going to marry Will Elliott, if he |
lives, and I'm going there to make him
live. If mortal can do it, I can. MY
going may-probably will-save his life.
! know him better than any one else in
the world does-better even than 81 or
father. I'm going 20 him, even though the
whole world should question it."
81 don't know about this thing of young
girls going away off to see young men
whom they are not even engaged to-" muir
INJURED Mrs. Klegg, hesitatingly. "With