Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-10-13

| prospect Of being fifty miles nearer
home before nightfall lightened their
hearts and they laughed freely while
Abe told of his adventures In the cam.
paign. To him it was all wild COM
edy with tragic scenes dragged into 1t
and wOefully out of place. Indeed he
thought 1t no more like war than Dig
sticking and that was the kind of thing
he hated.
Harry had not heard from home
since he left it. Abe had had a letter
from Rutledge which gave him the
news Of Bins elopement. The letter
said:
II was over to Beardstown the day
Kelso and Mcneil got off the steamer.
brought them home with me. Kelso
was bigger than his trouble. Said that
the ways of youth were a part of the
great plan. 'Thorns Thornsy he said.
They are the teachers Of wisdom and
who am that should think myself
or my daughter too good for the like,
since 1t is written that Jesus Christ
did not complain Of themY"
"Have you heard from homer" Abe
asked as they padded on.
Not word" said Harry.
You're not expecting to meet BIN
Kelso?"
That's the best part Of getting
home for me-" said Harry, turning
with a smile.
Let her drift for minute" said
Abe. '"I've got q letter from James
Rutledge that want to read to you,
There's big lesson in 1t for both of
us-something to remember as long
as we live"
Abe read the letter. Harry sat mo-
tionless. Slowly his head bent for
ward until his chin touched his breast.
Abe said with tender note in his
voice as lie folded the letter:
This man is well along In life. He
hasn't youth to help him as you have,
See how he takes it and she's the only
child he has. There are millions Of
pretty girls in they world for you to
choose FROM" e
Il know 1t, but there's only one BIN
kelso in the world" Harry answered
mournfully. "She was the one 1
loved"
Eyes, but you'll find another. It
looks serious, but it isn't-you're so
young. Hold up your head and keep
going. You'll be happy again SOON"
Maybe, but don't see how" said
the boy.
There are lots Of things you can't
see from where you are at this present
moment. There are good many miles
ahead O. you. l reckon. and one thing
you'll see plainly. by and by-that it's
all for the best. I've suffered lot N.Y.
self but l can see now it has been a
help to me. There isn't an hour of it I'd
be willing to give up"
They padded along in silence for q
time.
1T was my fault" said Harry pres
emily. Il never could say the half I
wanted to when she was with me. My
tongue Is too slow. She gave me q
chance and wasn't man enough to
take 1t. That's all I've got to say on
that subject"
Some time afterward in a letter to
his father the boy wrote:
II often think Of that ride down the
river and the way he talked. to me. 1t
was SO gentle. He was q big, power.
full giant of man who weighed over
two hundred pounds, all Of it bone and
muscle. But under his great strength
was a woman's gentleness; under the
dirty, ragged clothes and the rough,
brown skin grimy with dust and
perspiration, was one of the cleanesr
souls that ever came to this world. I
don't mean that he was like minis.
ter. He could tell a story WIN pretty
rough talk in it, but always for pur-
pose. He hated dirt on the hands OF
on the tongue. He loved flowers like
q woman. He loved to look at the
stars at night and the colors Of the
sunset and the morning dew on the
meadows. never saw man so much
+, In love with fun and beauty"
They reached Havana that evening
, sAAu cOAu lACAA CduOc W b man WHO
kept boats to rent on the river shore.
They ate a hot supper at the tavern
and got a ride with farmer who was
| going ten miles in their direction.
From his cabin some two hours later
, they set out afoot in the darkness.
"GOing home is the end Of all Jour.
neys.' said Abe as they tramped along.
did 1t ever occur to you that every
live creature has its home? The fish OF
the sea, the birds of the air. the beusta
Of the field and forest, the creepers In
the grass, all 60 home. Most of them
turn toward it when the day wanes
The call Of home is the one voice heard
and respected all the way down the
line Of life. And, We know, the most
wonderful and mysterious thing In ma.
ture Is the power that fool animals
have to 60 home through great dis.
tances. like the turtle that swan from
the Bay Of Biscay to his home of Van
Dieman's Land. Somehow, coming over