Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-29

DREAM.
wife. Love her as you love me, and
don't let her be lonely. for tomorrow |
go to the front; but, God being willing.
I'll come back
On the following day earth and sky
seemed blended in perfect harmony.
The roses doomed in splendor On
the grassy bank they sat, Mary and
Henry, beside the clustering blossoms.
Henry had picked one of the roses
and lovingly placed it in Mary's hair.
Fair was she then, in all the freshness
of youths bright morning. Tenderly
she placed her hand on Henry's shout
der and with loving, pleading eyes
whispered:
Henry, please don't co.
Sadly, slowly, he replied: MARY,
must. But watch for me. I'll come
back to you"
SO they parted on that fateful day,
and the birds sang, the breeZeS crept
softly by, and the roses scented the
air. But Mary alone on the doorstep
and Henry marching out of the valley
needed them not.
Those were trying days for north
and south. The nations best were
Staying each other in terrible battles.
After Burnside's defeat at the battle
of Fredericksburg in December, 1862,
there had been call for more men to
fill the broken ranks, and Henry May
nard had enlisted. Dearly as he loved
|, Mary Harper, he could not resist the
nations call any longer. At first Mary
| pleaded with him. Then she realized
the need and bravely gave her con-
sent, only requesting that they be mar
| ried before he went. When on that
| last day as they sat together by the
/ roses, though she whispered him to re-
| main, she knew he would go-that
/ above all the sorrow at parting she
| wished him to go-wished him the
/ brave, true soldier of her dreams.
A Thus it was that Henry went, and
Mary came to live with Henry's moth
er-just those two in the little farm
house, for Henry's father had beer
killed years back while hauling log.
from the wood lot. The sled had over
turned coming down the steep hillside
Henry's mother had seen it from tn,
window where she sat knitting and
calling Henry from the wood shed
went to his aid. Crushed and bleed
ing, they brought him home just a
the close of the cold winters day, ant
he died In half an hour.
After this they had toiled on, Henri,
growing stronger and more manly
overcoming gradually the sorrow caus
cd by his fathers death. But his moth
er's heart seemed buried out In tn
: husband. and. though she gave Henr
unbounded love, she cared for littl
else till Mary came and Henry went
Then she talked of Henry and found il
Mary ready listener. So the two be
came fast friends with one hope--th
safe return of Henry.
5 The weeks went by, and togethe
they read the papers telling of the wal
} Henry, too, wrote sometimes to hi
mother, but more often to Mary. Hi
} letters told of the weary waiting an
I the seemingly useless marching an
} countermarching. yet he was Away
I the same brave, loving Henry. 500
! the war would be over, and Mar
I would meet him, and they would sit b
] the rosebushes again.
In her dreams she saw him, her so
} der her "boy in blue ANIL the roa
I and smoke of battle. The win til
crest; he takes the dag; he is hero.
I The dream changed, and she saw hill
) alight from the train at the villag
( station. The neighbors had read of b
] brave deeds in the papers and ha
1 come to cheer him. Once more the v
! sion changed, and hand in hand the
sat by the rosebushes. He PLACED
rose in her hair aud, gently kissing be
cheek. whispered:
81 sMary, We won't part any MORT "
Il And. looking to his well bdlove