The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-10-15
BEHIND THE GREEN PEAS.

faint, rises again stronger, then suddenly ceases
just il rose on that July morning when the earth
trem0led under the tread of the armed hosts that
marched towards Gettysburg
There was time when the widow neglected her
flowers; when she sat in her porch with her sewing
or knitting unnoticed her hands lying motionless
in her lap, while she seemed to be gazing at 10th
ing, unless it the line where the earth and sky
met in the west
The broad road crossed the hills there Perhaps
she was thinking of her son, Jack who was away
somewhere. She never knew exactly where. Jack
marching with the hosts that swelled the ranks
of the Union armies. But one day the widow re-
celred letter that brought, tears and brightness
to her face again.
Jack was promoted. 1t wasn't the higher pay
he priced he wrote. 1t was the honor He was the
Youngest captain in the division. But above every
thing else, it was the certainty that he would OBJ
tain few days furlough If it was for only one
day he would come home to her.
SO the widow resumed life again where ii APP
parenty had snapped off when Jack marched away.
Everything appetizing and healthy grew apace in
her garden. Her flowers were the envy of all her
neighbors. But her sweet peas! They were the
marvel of all who passed that way. In height
thickness, and beauty they surpassed all that eyes
ever witnessed.
1t was Archie Ray, an old fame of the widows,
who said one day:
Dashed if | ever see anything like them vines,
Mrs. Lacy! Must be uncommon growth you We got.
Why, man coming along the lane there can't see
your house till he gets right up against it. I'd
give all that | paid for fighting in Mexico just
to get behind screen like that at Monterey. Why,
it'd mask battery nicely
Twenty good yards across the end of her lot the
sweet peas stretched. The travellers Oh the great
thoroughfare mass, blaze of lovely, varie
gated color. The widow senses told her that they
were as delicate, those flowers as sweet and fra
gle as the babes that had lain in her arms brief
time nd then were recalled by the Giver of all
bounty. She rejoiced now that Jack had laughing
ly put the trells higher even than she had desired
One morning (it was about month after Jack
was promoted), his mother STOPPING, scissors
in hand, in front of her sweet peas As she looked
lovingly on the wall of green dashed with the spray
of unfolding buds and full blown flowers. low
runbling sound fell upon her The widow
listened attentively The meaning of the sounds
she had heard dawned upon her. The mighty
armies had bet in battle.
A strange sound, a mufled sound like the faint
swapping of sticks waited across the hills to
groups of listeners gathered on the knoll opposite
the widow house Then fringe, the merest
fringe. of men appeared on the horizon.
Fifteen minutes later a stream of wounded Fed
erals limped through the village The villagers
we're beside themselves with fear, when the adj
jutant of brigade, handsome young man In
new uniform, rode through the village ordering
the inhabitants TO retire or be 'cought between two
fires
The widow looked on composedly. She refused
to leave her house. No arguments. no remon-
strances no inducements threats affected her
resolve If the Federals were coming perhaps she
would see her son.
Wave after wave of men passed in undulating
pillows with muffled tread in dust ankle deep. The
sheen of bright buttons. the glitter of scabbards,
The glare of steel marked the advance OF infantry
and cavalry. 1t seemed as if the coil steadily
rounding the hill would never end.
Suddenly fash split the air in line with the
widows vision shrek that rent the heavens
startled her She stood on her feet. Two more
lashes-two awful shrieks. followed by crash
hat seemed to life the house from It's foundations
succeeded so swiftly that the widow shut her eyes
And then-his presence was simultaneous with the
iashes-a man with angry eyes and beaded face
pushed her out among the soldiers now rushing
past in trot
They paid no attention to her. They were look
ing forward; every man there had his head well up
Their eyes were fixed on something distant. The
bursting she'll high overhead solved the riddle.
They were moving in the direction of the enemy's
cannon. The widow cast one look at her house.
An immense hole was torn in the gable The root
yawned over cavity a shell had made in It's muir
derous mission. In terror the widow sped to her
low summer house. She strove to regain her self
command The Glamour of the battle filled the
Out Of the dmness and vagueness of confused
masses twisting in tangled lines wherever she
looked. the widow slowly discemed stream OF
wagons returning with the Federal wounded. They
moved slowly at first. so slowly that the road be-
came blocked Then were borne in upon her the
cries and oaths of the suffering. the awful groans
and means Of the dying.
Snc could hear and distinguish voices now as
question and answer followed. Vague apprehen-
slons Of defeat communicated themselves to the
throng Of men gathered the roadway near her
house single expression aroused her Battery
+. With strained ears she hung on the responses
that followed
Captain Lacy battery will be here IN an hour
Our orders arc 10 remain here and support him.
us Lacy all rightn'
he widow clenched her hands. Oh for the |
strength to pierce that crowd of men and horses.
lie was all right fifteen minutes ago.
aek-her Jack was alive!
suddenly cannon shot fairly cut its way