The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24
MERCHANT JOHN BROWN stood in
 the middle of his little room at the o Soldiers Home looking forlornly

MERCHANT JOHN BROWN stood in
 the middle of his little room at the o Soldiers Home looking forlornly about him.
 "There'n be another grave to decorate this year. To think of Josh's being gone after we'd roomed together all this time. Same initials, same last name same looks. just like brothers, everybody said so; same room, same disposition, everything the same, till now and everything's diff ferent He's lying out in the graveyard without a stone to his head or name to his grave, not even a general monu- ment to the place-Josh always set store by sech things; and I'm here. alone and wishin I wasn't" The sergeant sighed and sat down in the cane-seated chair between the two little iron beds.
 'If l could only go a-vistin' now for a spell, seems as if it would kinder take the edge off the lonesomeness. I'm sure Sophronyd be glad to have me come to see her. even if she is moved way out west But l can't go, of course-it's too expensive" The sergeant shook his head helplessly.
 
 and a man thrust his head around the side of the open door.
 Say, sergeant, there's woman here inquiring for Josh Brown. She says shes his sister, and she seemed so pleased to think she was going to see him that some how couldn't tell her he is dead. You'll have to. I'm going to bring her up here to see you.''
 The sergeant rose from his seat in agi- tation. "Oh, dont!' he cried. 'I don't want to see her. I couldn't-please don't!" But the man had gone and the sergeant sat weakly down again.
 In moment there was another step and there was ushered into the room a woman, an old woman, with gray hair and tired, anxious Mace. The sergeant rose and she smiled, looking up at him. "Oh!' she cried, holding out both her hands. Its been almost 20 years since I have seen you, Joshua"
 The sergeant figeted neryously. Wont you sit down?"
 She sat down on the edge of Joshs little bed The dim, brown eyes were shining placidly on him and the thin lips were quivering with emotion
 The sergeant cleared his throat. T want to tell you" he began, and then he paused Did he want to tell her?
 She took the long black pin out of her plaid shawl and let it slip back from her narrow shoulders. 'I can't stay but a minute." she said. But it's so warm in here"
 "Oh!' apologzed the sergeant, '.Pd oughter have asked you to take off your things 3a That's all right. Why havn't you i, written to me oftener, Joshua? I'm your sister, ain't I? If it wasn't that the chill dren had such queer notions, maybe we'd see and hear about each other oftener tell 'em they'd oughter be proud to have an uncle that was soldier But I don't know" She sighed little .sThey don't seem to. want me to write nor nothin
 Its some your fault, too, she went on. "I guess it's been as much as three months since I've heard from you but mebbe I didn't get your last letter cause we've been movin. Sometimes 1t kinder seems as if we're forgettn' each other. but we ain't, are we? You don't feel hurt do you, Joshua?" She beamed up into the sergeants face, and he shook his head violently he could not trust him self to reply.
 You see they're makin' little visit to the city and they brought me with 'em; 1t was real good of 'em. I havn't been anywhere for years. But today I just ran away from them and came out here" She chuckled softly. T expect they'd be pretty provoked if they knew where I'd gone, but don't think I've got to tell 'em, do you?"
 The gentle stream of her talk triclxled away and the sergeant realized that she awaited an answer.
 Got to tell?" he repeated vaguely. '.No. ma amv' he shouted, with unex-