The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-08-15
Copyright. BY shortstory Pub. COZ
By ALGERNoN TAsslN

A young woman sat writing by the
light OF a kerosene lamp. The table
was drawn up near the wood fire
which flickered on the brick hearth,
and gave glimpses of the corners of
the room which the lamp light could
not reach. The walls and floors were
bare, but the boards were shining, and
still smelt warmly of a recent scrub
bling. The table, three chairs, a cup
board, and bed were the only furni-
ture. Asleep on the bed lay little
girl. The meager flame from the lamp
fell on the young woman's face as she
bent over the paper. 1t was common
enough face, pretty neither in feature
nor In coloring, but marked by GER
tain expression of set amiability that
told Of tender effort at kindness. Her
hair was brushed tightly back from
her forehead, giving to the head its
only mark Of character, although it
showed not so much weakness as lack
of significance. She was copying Ia
boriously, on sheet of foolscap, a let
ter, which, as several sheets lay
around her, had evidently taken much
time to compose. At last, with sigh
OF accomplishment, she picked up the
finished page, and with pen in hand,
read over what she had written, paus-
ing here and there to consider posi-
BILE correction, or to make additional
punctuation. The letter read as fol-
lows:
TO the Secretary Of the War Depart
ment. Washington, D. C.-Honored Sir:
I take the liberty of writing you to ask
if the war department know anything
about my father. William L. Callahan.
who deserted company K of the Ninth
Infantry stationed at Fort Logan, Col,
In May. 1884. He did not really desert,
at least intend to desert, but the case was
very hard one. sir. and I want to bring
the particulars to your notice. The last
or April In that year he got a furlough
to come to us out here in Freehold, Is
miles from the fort. MY mother was
very i'll with typhoid fever, and he came
to help me with her. In eight days she
died, and my little sister was taken i'll.
We were nursing her, my father all day,
and at night, when his two weeks were
UP. He did not know what to do; he did
not want to leave the little girl just at
the brink of death, and he had not got
over the shock of mothers loss. There
was no way to send word, so he stayed
over his time. In four days she was out
of danger, and he started at once to join
his company. On the way he met the
men who were coming to arrest him.
There was a fight and he was shot at.
and in self-defense he shot back and
wounded a man. He escaped to Findley,
a little town in the mountains. He hid
there safely for three months. and sent
down word by friend Of his. Then he
disappeared. and has not been heard
from in seven years: I write to you be-
cause understand that there Is kept at
the war department description of all
deserters, and trusting that you may
know something about him; even to hear
that he 10 in prison for deserving, and
resisting arrest. would be relief to me
after all the anxiety of these years. And
thought II you knew the circumstances
me to flnd him. have one hundred and
nifty dollars $3.50 saved up to help him
out, and pay his fine If there is any.
Please look up his case for me, and par
don my great liberty in addressing you,
but I am so worried that have been
driven to writing. Do something to bring
him back to us If there is any way.
Respectfully yours,
ELLEN CALLAHAN,
FxGeHOlQ, COL, May 20, 1891.
She addressed the envelope and laid
down the pen. Until midnight she
sewed upon some calico she was max
ing into dress for the child. Then,
after attending to few duties in the
room adjoining, which served as
kitchen and dining room, she blew out
the lamp and went to bed,
In two weeks she began to expect
some word from Washington, and from
then on she looked twice a day for a
letter. Each day brought the old hope
and the old disappointment At last
the regular inquiry met with an an
swer; in fact, the postmaster was
waiting at the door with an official en-
velope. She took 1t quietly, though
her heart and mind were on the Jump.
If he expected her to open it and sat
isfy his curiosity, he was disappointed.
She dragged herself YEARLY home,
feeling SO weak that she could hardly
stand, and olutching the letter violent
~ under her shawl.
After resting some time on the step
to get her strength together, she
opened the door and went in. The fire,
which she had made all ready in the
morning to light when she came back,
was blazing brightly, and bowed over
1t sat a man with grizzled hair. He
turned as she entered; it was Gala
han!
"Father!" cried Ellen, falling into
his arms with a burst of hysterical
sobbing. He soothed her without a
word. Father" she said. when she
could speak, have you come home for
good?"
NO." said Callahan, Il have come
to get you and Mary and take you
with me. When left Findley made
for Chicago, and now have q home
there waiting for you"
"Oh, father!"-Ellen began to weep
again-"and I am to keep house for
your"
mot exactly keep house." he re.
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