The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-24

| Private Richard DOubledick.
| "A stranger now, hut not stranger
once" it said in tones that thrilled
him. Richard dear Richard. lost
through SO many years, my name
He cried out her name. Mary" and
she held him in her arms. and his head
lay on her bosom.
81 am not breaking a rash vow, Rich
ard These are not Mary Marshalls
| lips that speak. / have another name"
! She was married.
Il have another name. Richard. Did
| you ever hear it?''
Never
He looked into her face. so pensive-
ly beautiful. and wondered at the smile
upon it through her tears.
Think again. Richard. Are you sure
you never heard my altered manner"
Never
Don't move your head to look at
me. dear Richard. Let it lie here
while / tell my story. i loved gen
erous. noble man, loved him with my
whole heart. loved him for years and
years. loved him faithfully, devotedly..
loved him with no hope of return. low
ed him. knowing nothing of his high
est qualities-not even knowing that
he was alive. He was brave soldier.
He was honored and beloved by thou
sands of thousands. when the mother
of his dear friend found me and show
ed me that in all his triumphs he had
never forgotten me. He was wounded
in a great battle. He was brought.
dying. here into Brussels. came to
watch and tend him. as l would have
joyfully gone with such purpose to
the dreariest ends of the earth When
he knew no one else he knew me.
When he suffered most he bore his
sufferinSs barely murmuring. content
to rest his head where yours rests now.
When he lay at the point of death he
married me that he might call me wife
before he died. And the. name. my
dear love. that took on that forgotten
night
II know it nowi' he sobbed. THE
shadowy remeln prance strengthens. 1t
is come back. l thank heaven that my
mind Is quite restored. My Mary, kiss
me. Lull this weary head to rest. or
1 shall die of gratitude. His parting
words were fulfilled. l see home
again.
Well, They were happy. 1t was
long recovery. but they were happy
through it all The snow had melted
on the ground and the birds were sing
ing in the leafiess thickets of the early
spring when those three were first able
to ride out together and when people
focked about the open carriage to
cheer and congratulate Captain Rich
ard Doubledick.
But even then it became necessary
for the captain. instead of returning to
England. to complete his recovery in
the climate of southern France. They
found spot upon the Rhone within
q ride of the old town of Avignon and
within view of its broken bridge. which
was all they could desire. They lived
there together six months. then return
ed to England. Mrs. Taunton, growing
old after three yearS-thOugh not SO
old as that her bright. dark eyes were
dimmed-and remembering that her
strength had been benefited by the
change. resolved to go back for a year
to those parts. So she went with a
faithful servant. who had often carried
her son in his arms. and she was to be
rejoined and escorted home at the
years end by Captain Richard Double
dick.
She wrote regularly to her children
(as she called them now. and they to
her. She went to the neighborhood of
AK. and there. in their own chateau
near the farmers house she rented.
she grew into intimacy with a family
belonging to that part of France. The
intimacy began in her often meeting
among the vineyards Il pretty child. a
girl with a most compassionate heart
solitary English ady's stories of her
poor son and the cruel wars. The fam
lily were as gentle as the child. and at
length she came to know them so well
that she accepted their invitation to
pass the last month of her residence
abroad under their roof. All this in
telligence she wrote home piecemeal
as it came about. from time to time,
and at last inclosed a polite note from
the head of the chateau soliciting. on
the occasion OF his approaching mis-
sion to that neighborhood, the honor of
the company of Get homme 81 juste-
ment celebre. NJ. lie Capitaine Richard
Doubledick
Captain Doubledick. now a hardy.
handsome man in the full vigor of life.
broader across the chest and shoulders
than he had ever been before. dispat ch-
ed a courteous reply and followed it in
person. Travelling through all that ex
tent of country after three years Of
peace. he blessed the better days on
which the world had fallen The corn
was golden. not drenched in unnatural |
red: was bound in sheaves for food. !
not trodden underfoot by men in NOR
tai fight. The smoke rose up from