Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-05-26

were the words 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 a soldiers death.
The door opened and the old family
doctor entered, followed by the father.
The sight of the fearless, unmoved
face filled 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
wife's side he drew her head down to
his shoulder.
"My little Wife" he whispered in
breaking voice. "We have each other
still; we must bear up-for his sake
don't look like that, dearest. Just let
the tears come, and God will help
YOU"
She put her arms around his neck
with a 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
" 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
en-
"My daughter" he said at last,
eyour sorrow is great, but God will
give YOU strength to bear even this
"Oh, yes; 1 believe in Cod" she
said ''a hard, cruel God; but where IS
His love and mercy? Why has He
taken my greatest treasure from me-"
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
Iisten TO the spiritual consolation OF
the priest. At last he too, left her
alone.
"My boy. my boy she moaned,
"vhere are you? Come back to me
oh. come back!'
Her eyes, anguished with pain, fell
1,s+1ossIv on the antics of little pup
nv which was gamboling round the
,oom after its own tail. Suddenly he
stonped short beside a huge oak cup
hoard which stood against the wall
Ha hogan to dig curiously for some
thing which was damned between the
cupboard and the wall One tremend-
Gus dig, struggle, ana the puppy
brought to light some object Whlcn nc
corafullv deposited on the nursery moor
and regarded proudly. 80
His mistress thoughtlessly plcheu
nm the dirty. shapeless ob1ect. nae
did she behold? Why did hef nieiiioi.
travel back to twenty years ago.
what was it that brought so clearly
to her distorted vision a little VINE
cradle and a happy, kicking BABY! On
she knew, she knew!
For brief space her reason 'o''el
ed and the doctors fears were aillos'
realized Then with wall OF pen,-
nm grief. pathetic in its utter wear,
nass and abandonment, she sank uo"h
in the low nursery chair
In her hand she held the long-los,
h,ua shoe. What doctor, husband anu
.,rsos+ bad failed to do the sight OF Tue
little blue shoe had accompiisneu -
healing tears had come az ias'-i
dianapolis Sun.