Year: 1866

Diu OUUOuCLUI I1AuCc huOu dlA
that word meant 10 the man sitting there
so quietly? he thought he did; thought
he could understand his feelings, for be
himself had served three years as sol
dier, and well remembered the home-sick-
ness, the weary waiting. the longing that
grew almost insupportabIe sometimes for
one glimpse of dear faces left behind.


Something of this he said in his earn
est way, still standing there, his hand on
the back of the seat. The soldier grasped
it, and the two looked steadily into each
others eyes


Two faces, so very. very unlike. One
pleasant to look upon, though Swallowed
little by the cares and responsibilities
Of middle life. The other showing worn
and white under the lamp light, grey hairs
acout the temple. lines upon the forehead
deep lines around the mouth. The face
of an old man, and yet he was but thirty
His very voice had curious, unnatural
tone IN it as he said, still looking at the
kindly eyes. Its three years since saw
my family-two years since | heard from
them | have been prisoner eighteen
months at Salisbury"


What a story was outlined IN those few
words. OGly outlined the details will
never be known ill the great day Of Re
membrance, when the secrets of all prison
houses shall be revealed, and black record
of Southern cruelty be shown up to the
gaze of angels and men. Eighteen
mouths They had done the work OF
eighteen years on the once powerful frame
of this man whose whole heart seemed
centered now on the one thought Of get
ting home.


Home Who can tell how blessed mem
cries Of it had steadied the soldiers brain
and kept him from madness during those
DAYS. and weeks and months Of lingering
torment wher hope and courage and
manly forti'ude alike gave WAY before the
horrors Of the situation, and brave men
who bad looked death in the face many a
time without blauchiOg shrank now when
it came in the form of slow starvation -
But they lived through It-some Of them
this Mark Ryder among the rest.
| He stood pow on the platform of the car
as the train stopped along side lowroofed
dingy Iittle building. dign,ded by the
name OF a station. The station master
stood there his lamp in his hand, aud be
side him man and boy waiting to get
on the train. The mau on the p piatform
did not glance once at them nor at the
coup Of dozen houses on hill side 70
the left, though he had r.any friends
there when be went away. He was look
ing off across the fields to where mlle
away, single light glowed steady as a
star.


"Christie's up get Likely enough
she's thinking of me this minute" voice
and hand both treubed with excitement
as he turned up the collar of his oVercoat
for protection against the wind that came
sweeping bitterly cold, across the bit Of
open couutry.


A, friendly hand was laid on hts shoulder
as he turned away, and a friendly voice
said Good night c0mrade God give you
a happy home coming" Then the hand
was gone from his shoulder, the train
dashed on, and the soldier struck out
cncellpily the fields steering straight
for the light which glowed steadily in the
distance. The air was still biting cold,
bat he did not feel it. How should he
when bis heart was s-g low?


lbs early yet-hardIy eight. | shall
find them all up Dear Christie wha;
will she say | wonder"


No shadow of doubt or fear dimmed
the eager joy emancipation DO thought
of change. Aud yet two years is such
long time. This was his home he was
coming to--his and Christie sand Chris
tie loved him. 1t was Christie he thought
of. always Christie.


How familiar the old gate looked and
tho bars beyond He would not 90 10
that way though the gate used to creak
he remembered, aud he wanted to sur
prise them wanted, too, to get one look
at them all before he made his prlseuoe
known. The blinds were up. and the
| ghtshone fulIln his eyes as beapproached
the window, stepping lightly that no foot
fall might betray him. Nearer aad
nearer TIL he stood close to the sill.


What pleasant room it was with its
pretty carpet and FURNISHED stove and
the pictures on the walls. \ little
boy sat with his book and slate be-
side the lamp. That was Eddie. stniious
Eddie, and the pink-cbeeked child who
leaned on his knee was baby Floy. A
woman sat in rockiug-char before the
stove-a fair young woman with Chris
ties face and smile, and Christie's band
Of dark hair.


But who vas the man beside her, who
held her hand in such confident, lover
like Wav and even hent down IN kiss her |