Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-04-22
Three Liars
A Story For Easter
BY F. A. Mitchell

held them were thronged with persons
who had come to find relatives or
friends. One of these, an old lady
with an anxious look on her face, stop
ped at tent before which sat an Off
Ger in a camp chair and asked in a
tremulous voice:
Can you tell me If my boy has
Gomez"
The officer rose. took of his hat re-
spectfully and said:
What regiment did your boy belong
to. MADAME;
HE was with the til Pennsylva-
MIA"
Come with me, and | will see if
can get the information you wish"
He led the way TO a tent wherein an
officer was writing.
Make your inquiries here" he said
and left her.
I'm trying to find my boy. Henry
Ashurst," said the old lady.
The officer looked serious He re-
membered having the name of Henry
Ashurst on list of killed and wound
ed He hunted in his desk for Ger
tain paper and when he found it ran
his eye over the list of names His
expression became still more serious.
but he bent his face down so thar il
was concealed under the rim of his
hat He had found the name of Hen.
ry Ashurst, but had not the heart to
tell the mother what list 1t was In.
Your son hasn't come up from Cuba
yet, madam. He wasn't very well
when the last transport sailed"
do you know what his trouble
wasf" asked the old lady. tears start
ing into her eyes.
Some of those fevers they have
down there. | believe"
as he very illf'
well, | couldn't tell you about that.
There's the regimental surgeons tent
over there; you might inquire of him"
The old lady walked feebly over TO
the tent designated. found the surgeon
and asked the same questions she had
asked the adjutant. The doctor looked
down upon the anxious face and turn
ed coward just as the other had done.
Henry Ashurst!' he said as If try
ing to recolect There was a soldier
in the hospital of that name. | think,
but can't exactly recall bis case"
WAS be very sick?'
"Oh, no: not very sick. | think II
was a simple flesh wound In the leg
do you think he will come on the
next transport
NO doubt of it madam; no doubt
of it"
The old lady went away The ad-
jutant saw her go and walked over
to the surgeon.
II couldn't do my duty by that old
lady, could you? | found his name
on list of MORALLY wounded. | told
bis mother he had fever"
II remembered him In the hospital
as one for whom there was no hope
of recovery. / lied about 1t too. |
told his mother he had slight flesh
wound ! only know what have told
you, SO took the benefit of the
doubt"
Every day the old lady visited the
camp. and every day the adjutant and
surgeon either told her more lies or re-
peated the old ones. The ship bearing
her son never came TO Montauk Point.
and when the last tent was struck she
ceased her~visits and her inquiries.
The winter passed and no one had
the courage to tell the mother that her
boy would not come back to her They
all excused themselves on the ground
that no record of the death and burial
of Private Henry Ashurst had been
found But when the war closed ev-
cry one connected with the army was
In a hurry TO get away from the heat,
the sickness. the death attending an
army in tropical climate in summer
Until some one would assure her
that her son was dead the poor mother
hoped She was very religious and
prayed fervently that her boy might
be restored to her One morning in
April when the sun. shining warm.
was opening the leaves typifying the
resurrection shortly to be celebrated
at Easter the old lady went to her rec
tor and said she had feeling that
Henry would come home on Easter
Sunday.
''Do you think" she said, that this
feeling has been sent me by Provi-
dence:"
Quite likely" was the reply, 81 be
lieve that Providence often sends us
forecasts of what is about to happen"
He had no more doubt that Henry
Ashurst's bones were moldering In
Cuba than that the earth turned on lbs
axis
I'm so glad you think sou added
the mother, moving away, while the
clergyman looked after her, not know
ing whether to consider himself liar
or one who had done a kindness.
At dawn on Easter morning there
was loud rapping on the door of
Mr.. Ashurst's house
Hes come" she said. getting out of
bed, and without stopping to put on a