Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-08-06
Tracks In the Snow,
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HE1H%:Y
Copyright. 1901. by c. D. Daniels,
One morning In November wbiIo -,
bit hunting near my fathers FAR
came on a mans tracks In the snou
The tracks had been made in the nio%.J
and led to an old barn. 1t was nIoI.
that the party who had made tboa,
knew of the old barn and had n -
mind when he left the highway.
l went into the barn. Preso,.-
I heard the snore Of a sleeping man
and minute later found him eovor
ed up in the hay. His face was oy
posed, and saw his sandy hair and
then knew who 1t was. Six month
previously our nearest neighbor on tbot
west had enlisted and gone to the front
In the civil war. He was not much
thought Of as a man, being considered
shiftless and without ambition. II
was the large bounty that had induced
him to enlist. If the man had M
standing In the community, his wito
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 full crop, such as 1t was, was gath,
cred for her by the neighbors, They
had also seen that she had a store OF
winter fuel. uncovered the man
without awakening him and found that
| he was SIRE enough Dan Scott, Twas
about to arouse him when 1t struck
me as a curious thing that he should
have como to the old barn instead Of
going to his own house covered
him up again and left the place and
quarter Of al hour later was knocking
on his door.
"Well John, what Is IT." asked the
CHEEKY little woman as entered.
"How long since you have heard
from Mr.. Ecott9" 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"
Ibid he say anything about coming
homer
Goodness, no! He couldn't get a
furlough az soon as this II was dy.
ing! Have you heard any news? Has
there been another battle? Has Dan
been killedT'
Then I told her of my discovery She
turned pale and shut her lips and trem.
bled a bit. Not a word did she reply
until she had got on her things to 60
out. Then she said:
"Come, John. We are going to the
barn."
Not a word was spoken between US
on the way. We found the husband
still asleep, and as she stood and sur
veyed him she flushed with anger
Then she gave him a smart kick, and
he opened his eyes and sat up.
live come home. Jennie" he said
"Yesf'
II was so homesick to see you that
Just had to come. l believe / should
have died If 1 hadn't come"
"Then you got furlough?" she ask.
ed in a hard, metallic voice, her blue
eyes looking right through him.
ga sort of furlough-that Is,
good many of the boys were coming
home. You see, it's got so late that
there won't be any more battles this
fall, and there was no use hanging
around the camp. hope you amt mad
about 1t. Jennie"
, "You came away without leave, did
you2" !.
) "rhere were others too"
, ITO come away without leave makes
you a deserter. You will be hunted
, down and taken back. The papers will
: say you deserted. We shall be dis
/ graced. Not a decent person for ten
: miles around will speak to U.S."
"Oh, come, now" protested Scott as
! he reached his feet and brushed away
} at the hay clinging to him. You see'
you don't understand. / was homeslcK'
and it was no use for me to stay there
/ when there was no fighting to be done
: 1t was midnight when got along here
and 81 l didn't go to the house. Let's
go now. I'm hungry for breakfast
Hello, Johnl Glad to see you. Come
I over tonight, and I'll tell you some wal
B stories. Why don't you kiss me, JENNIE
and tell me you are glad to see mef
| Mrs. Scott was gentle little woman,
. but her face grew as hard as steel !
saw her bite her lips until they wefe
stained with blood. The look she gave
!. the man was SO full Of contempt anu
D disgust that he fairly writhed under u
: She held him for a long minute anu
q then reached out and took the sno'suu
away from me. I had been leaning w
: against a beam and saying never :
a word. She looked to see II the suA
: was loaded and then turned to her due
band with:
4 There is no house for deserters y
j. go to- There is not family ID ".
state that would give one OF them
breakfast. You cannot sit under .n'
same roof with me. You are gums
t back to the army"
: But, jennie
: lyon are going now" ,.~
e Say, now, but you can't mean Ni