Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-07
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 ! A MYSTERIOUS 1
 DISAPPEARANCE
Copyright, 1908. by Daily Story Pub. CoS
By ADA c. SWEET

Copyright 19US by Da1ay Story Pubs CoJ TT HE hot May sun was shining down
 l upon the city. Men, women and children surged out from streets, al 1eys and courts, intent on reaching the fields and their encircing acres, here and there, shaded by trees and shrubs, and thickly planted with the Dead.
 Abner Hull stood aimlessly looking about him. The street to which he had just. walked from his cheap boarding house. was one of those which led through the tAwn. The old man walked aimless1y on in the direction taken by the overfiowing electric cars. His face, lined and weather beaten, was serious, afm ost, grim. The corners of his mouth dropped, his shoulders were bent, his feet dra gged, his clothing hung loose upon his gaunt frame: he looked, as he felt, forgotten and alone in the world.
 Suddenly shrill, faintly 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 corner square away wheeled double line of blue-c1ad men. Old Abner hurried to the curhstone, and stood awaiting the little band of veterans.
 Hello, comrade," called a hearty voice from the passing G. A. F. 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 youi You've grown a little the worse for wear since sixty-four-hke the rest of us."
 r 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. n-
 Bring the good old bugle, boys,
 We'll have another song.'' chanted the war music.
 There it is! Good old tune!' said Abner, and, he stamped along lustily with the others.
 You don't ask any questions, Asher" said Abner, at last, just as the train was backing in. '.And I know why; but I am going to tell you, all the same"
 'All right, replied Hills, ~but wait till 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 frst-you left home looking for work, and never came back, never wrote. That much I know. How about it E ~sssss
 The broken old soldier sat in silence, for a time, embarrassed by his com rade7s sscrutinizing look. ss.
 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 1despotsm type. Four strapping in time became assista nts 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 Hull's 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.
 Then Hi1lis spoke:
 "Your wife-she's been dead more than year, hasn't she?''
 ''So they say-I've heard it from strangers. I haven't let. any of the girls know am back-I, want to find Mandy, though. I 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 nnRiner's trade. Know that?''
 HuH's face turned toward Hills, now, and glowed with pleasure.
 Come" urged Hillis-s tell your story, we'll 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 course I ain't got any excuse '' returned Hull, in husky voice, "and l shan't try to make any. It was the moving, mostly, the everlasting nov ing from house to house. The eternal restlessness and fault-fnding could stand, but the moving Why, Ash, in the 27 years we lived together we moved more than 50 times-I kept count, after the first five years-I got kind of crazy-sort of unreasonable over it-moving, always moving. I worked-just day laborer I was, you know-and l brought every cent I earned home, and twas never enough. And after awhile when the girls grew up they went to work, and 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."} .s,... =.