The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-05-30
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Copyright: 100 81 q Mills.

cd by his fathers death. But his moth /
er's heart seemed buried out In the
lonely grave on the hillside with her /
husband. and, though she gave Henry
gunbounded love, she cared for little |
else till Mary came and Henry went
Then she talked OF Henry and found In
Mary a ready listener. SO the two be- !
came fast friends with one hope--tho
safe return OF Henry.
~ The weeks went by. and together
i they read the papers telling OF the war.
Henry. toe. 4 wrote sometimes a to his
mother, but more often to Mary. His
letters told of the weary waiting mud
]! the seemingly useless marching and
countertnnrching, yet he was always
the same brave. loving Henry. Soon
the war would be over. and Mary
would meet him. and they would sit by
, the rosebushes again.
In her dreams She saw him, her SOL
I der. her boy in blue amid the roar
& and smoke OF battle. "Thcy win the
crest; lie takes the flag: he is a hero"
| The dream changed. and she saw him
! nlight from the train at the village
; station. The neighbors had read Of his
brave deeds in the papers and had
come to cheer him. Once more the vi
sion changed. and hand in hand they
/ sat by the rosebushes. He placed n
rose In her hair and, gently kissing her
:. cheek, whispered: Il
&!"Mary, We won't part any more"
r And, looking to his well beloved
face to rend the love his voice cx-
pressed; 1t seemed the face OF Henry.
but old, SO old, and his hair so gray.
One day there came news of Lees
swift advance northward in July,
1903. There would be battle. Mary
wrote a long letter full OF love and
cheer to Henry. But TO answer came.
In the papers were rumors OF great
battle being fought. 1t was at Get
tysburs. Would Lee. win7 The sus-
pense was awful to millions OF north
ern people MS they waited with bated
breath for news from the front. a Lee
retreats!'' This was the report that
came on the fourth day, and the drawn
faces relaxed. Then followed columns
Of 'killed." ''wouudcd." "mlssinS."
Thousands of homes were plunged in
gloom, for many a husbands name
/ aud many sons name and MANY a
lovers name was there: 4 y
A. neighbours boy brought the papers
that evening. Though he came on
Z swiftly, Mary couldn't walt. but ran
out to meet him. Together Mary and
Henry's mother looked down the lone
list of killed" Not there! THINK
Z God! ThclI the list of wounded
Not there! Then missing Henry
Maynard! x
There is hope" said Mary. But
she snt with the paper tightly clasp
ed. AL night she sat thus and needed
not the time nor saw the neishbor:
who came to comfort her. AS the sun
light stole In the east window they
gently lifted. her and placed her OH thu
bed. n n
R After a time she slept and dreamed
of Henry He was on the crest of .
] hill behind IL low bank Of eurth. Hun
dreds OF mcn were at his right Saut
;. left. Before him. advancing up tn
hill, were thousands OF men with gra.
y uniforms. Then began the roar of nj
!. til!cry. and the smoke OF battle ROLES
n over nll. and she saw him no more. Vel
d half waking, half sleeping, she scenes
}. to hear him say, ins OIL that day o
8 parting: watch for me! I'll com
r. buck to your
IS Then began the years Of waiting
y weary years. In the, afternoon whe
]. ,,.e-- the work wa
"a - go r5a-i Il ~. - fIonn rnnnV nm