The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-07-08

were the words 1.-THE War in Manchu-
ria," and underneath in smaller type
Casualty List" No ned to look any
further. Here was a home stricken
and heart stunned by one line In this
column. A few short hours ago that
heart had been alive and happy, thrill
ing with the joy of life. Now it was
dead to outside influences, aching with
the uncomfortable pain of a hopeless
struggle to understand what had hap
pened. -
1t seemed such a little while ago
that she had sat on that very chair
and played with her baby, and now
she sat there again-while he But
not even a shudder crept over her as
she pictured to herself the nameless
grave on the snowclad field in far-off
Manchuria and tried to realize the
great pathos of n soldiers death.
The door opened and the old family
doctor entered, followed by the father.
The sight Of the fearless, unmoved
face Allied him with alarm. "She will
go out Of her mind If this state con-
tinues," he murmured to himself.
The strong, burly form of the father
was bent with grief. Kneeling by his
wifes side he drew her head down to
his shoulder.
my little wife," he whispered in a
breaking voice. 1--WE have each other
still; we must bear up-fOr his sake
don't look like that, dearest Just let
the tears come. ard God will help
you"
She put her arms around his neck
with little sigh, but the wildness
was still in her eyes and the hard lines
around her mouth did not relax.
Another visitor entered. Father
Serge, the family priest, an old, saint
ly man, his face beaming with love
and sympathy. He did not speak to
the grief-stricken mother for several
minutes, but stood there in silent pray
err. e.
my daughter" he said at last,
your sorrow is great, but God will
give you strength to bear even this"
"Oh, yes; l believe in God" she
said, "a hard, cruel God; but where is
His love and mercy2 Why has He
taken my greatest treasure from mel"
The apathy and Indifference were
gaining on her, the weight on her
head was becoming still more terrible
to bear. She was physically unable to
listen to the spiritual consolation of
the priest. At last he, too, left her
alone.
my boy, my boy she moaned,
where are you? Come back to me
oh, come backW
Her eyes, anguished with pain, fell
listlessly on the antics Of a little pup
by which was gamboling round the
room after It's own tail. Suddenly he
stopped short beside huge oak cup
board which stood against the wall.
He began to dig curiously for some
thing which was Jammed between the
cupboard and the wall. One tremend-
GUS dig, a struggle, and the puppy
brought to light some object which he
carefully deposited on the nursery floor
and regarded proudly.
His mistress thoughtlessly picked
up the dirty, shapeless object. What
did she behold? Why did her memory
travel back to twenty years ago2
What was 1t that brought so clearly
to her distorted vision a little white
cradle and happy, kicking baby? Oh.
she knew, she knewl
For brief space her reason totter-
ed and the doctors fears were almost
realized. Then with wall of pent-
up grief. pathetic in its utter weari-
ness and abandonment, she sank down
In the low nursery chair.
In her hand she held the long-lost
blue shoe, What doctor. husband and
priest had failed to do the sight OF the
little blue shoe had accomplished. The
healing tears had come at last.-In-
dianapolis Sun. zFtE