Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1907-11-15
Tracks In the Snow.
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Icopyrigbt. 1907. BY G. D. DanieIs.I

D Edu4E Du a llflu - tiNN9 81 LII 04AN ~
I The tracks had been made in the might
and lei to an old barn. 1t was plain
that the party who had made then
I knew Of the old barn and had it in
mind when be left the highway.
went into the barn Presently
] heard the snore Of a sleeping man.
and a minute later ! found him cover
ed up in the hay His face was ex-
posed. and l saw his sandy hair and
then I knew who it was. Six months
previously our nearest neighbor on the
west had enlisted and gone to the front
in the civil war He was not much
thought Of as d man, being considered
shiftlcss and without ambition. 1t
was the large bounty that had induced
him to enlist If the man had no
standing in the community, his wife
had. She was an energetic little wo-
man. far too good for such a man. and
was universally respected. She lived
quite alone after his enlistment, and
the FIJI crop, such as i was. was gath
cred Cor her by the neighbors. They
had also seen that she had Il store Of
winter fuel 1 uncovered the man
without awakening him and found that
he was sure enough Dan Scott | was
about to arouse him when it struck
me as a curious thing that he should
have come to the old barn instead Of
going to his own house. l covered
him I'D again and left the place and
quarter of an hour later was knocking
on his door,
"Well. John, what is it?" asked the
CHEEKY little woman as I entered.
How long since you have heard
from Mr.. Scott?" I queried in reply,
hardly knowing how to get around to
my subject
"Why, showed your mother the last
letter. That was three weeks ago"
Did he say anything about coming
home?"
Goodness, no, He couldn't get a
furlough as soon as this if l was dy-
ing! Have you heard any news? Has
there been another battle? Has Dan
been killed."
Then I told her Of my discovery. She
turned pale and shut her lips and trem-
bled a bit Not word did she reply
until she had got on her things to go
out Then she said
Come. John. We are going to the
barn"
Not n word was spoken between us
On the way We found the husband
still asleep, and as she stood and sur
7eyed him she flushed with anger
Then she gave him smart kick, and
le opened his eyes and sat up.
Give come home, Jennie he said. /
"Yes?"
Il was so homesick to-see~ you that /
ust had to come. l believe l should .
AVE died if l hadn't come
Then you got a furlough?" she ask I
ID in a hard, metallic voice her blue
yes looking right through him.
IA sort of a furlough- that is.
God many of the boys were coming
ONE You see. it's got so late that
here won't be any more battles this
all. and there was no use hanging
round the camp. l hope you amt mad
bout it, Jennie
You came away without leave, did
ou?"
There were others too"
"To come away without leave makes
OH deserter. You will be hunted
own and taken back. The papers will
ny you deserted. We shall be dis
raced. Not q decent person for ten
tiles around will speak to U.S..
"Oh. come. now" protested Scott as
: reached his feet and brushed away
/. the hay clinging to him. you see,
)u don't understand. | was homesick.
Id it was no use for me to stay there
hen there was no fighting to be done.
was midnight when l got along here.
Id so l didn't go to the house. Let's
, now. I'm hungry for breakfast
clio. John. Glad to see you. Come
'er tonight, and I'll tell you some war
Ories. Why don't you kiss me. Jennie,
ID tell me you are glad to see meT
Mrs. Scott was a gentle little woman,
It her face grew as hard as steel.
w her bite her lips until they were
aimed with blood The look she gave
e man was so full of contempt and
sgust that he fairly writhed under it,
lie held him for a long minute and
en- reached out and took the shotgun
ray from me. l had been leaning up
ainst a beam and saying never a
,rd. She looked to see if the gun /
is loaded and then turned to her hus-
nd with: --sA-ro~-sss-- I,-..-~ .s-.sls
There is no house for deserters to
to- There is not a family in the |
tie that would give one of them
,akfast. You cannot sit under the
ne roof with me. You are going
* TO the army
But, jennie
You are going now"
Say, now. but you can't mean itT'
he stepped back and brought the
to her shoulder, and on my life
eve she would have shot him dead
his tracks if he had not moved He -
st have believed so. too, for after a
seconds he turned away and took
trail TO the highway. We both
ID and watched him. ana he never
.ed back Five minutes after he 4