Show r y ry f w s ap X MY Y iaea ITH his hands in his pockets packets hla his shoulders rah squared capt austin was wing pacing the forward deck of his trim craft pausing now nov and then to talk to his bis brother john who sat ir the rail smoking N capt austin was the owner of the descote We Z propeller of some 2000 tons his friends often jokingly remarked that nothing was quite so dear to the captains heart as his bis boat but they always excepted his bis half brother broth er john johll there was an unusual degree of affection between these brothers IL a tender loyalty and regard that was almost touching john was nearly twenty five years older than his brother he was a physician a man of broad culture possessing that rare faculty of making all feel that be was waa their friend in the sick alck room he was at his bis best his presence was watched for and loved he always left his bis patients better them than he had found them only at great intervals could he spare the time to take these little trips with his brother they were numbered among the chief pleasures of his life he loved the water with the enthusiasm thusia sm of a soul that understood the majesty and simplicity of nature 1 I ht hi u too she ahe had loved the water As he looked across the waves tipped with silvery crests his thoughts turned to her with all the passion of his manhood he had loved abr although nearly thirty years had passed a deep regret I 1 a passionate protest always rose in his heart as he th ought blought of her she was very beautiful a southern girl that he be had met in tennessee while stationed there with the federal army she was tall and slender her bearing reminding one of the pines on the mountains her hair he remembered as he puffed the smoke from his cigar was soft and brown her eyes like the blue water he so loved her brother had been wounded and lay dying in the camp of the enemy they sent tor for her and she came alone over the rough mountain road so long and perilous he would always remember her as he saw her first in her clinging habit with her tired face and brave young eyes together as the days passed they worked over the wounded brother but no skill could save the ebbing life with anguished eyes the loving sister watched him he was all that was left father and brothers had been killed in battle her mother sinking beneath the blow had left her alone to dr john she turned with a confidence and trust that was touching but then every one loved john one had V r s J STRUCK WITH A STRAY BULLET but to look into his honest eyes to know he could not do aught than the right as he knew it to be right the young southerner southern br had realized this when he took the doctors hand and looked into the boyish face which even then showed its strength of character look after nell doctor then he smiled and died they burled him there in the shadow of tho the tennessee mountains A friend offered erid helen a haven so she tarried awaiting the termination of the war her heart was steeled it against the north but some way dr john was always an exception to every rule they grew to love each other in those troubled timm times when mens thoughts were busy with a nations fate there was no promise exacted none given when the regiment was ordered away she knew he loved her he told her so and nothing would ever keep him from her when the war was over she went north after that and in the awful convulsions that shook the heart of at the country he lost sight of her for a little while but he trusted her in bis big eyes she could do no wrong she was cotrue so true so pure and womanly one day in a skirmish while attending a wounded dun ded comrade john was struck with a astray stray bollet ballet he lay cideon unconscious lor for a long time and when he recovered was in a prison about him were halt balf starved starred mm men with lothes clothes in tatters misery anawalt and want had their faces beyond recognition even here his cheerfulness did not forsake him sib coming was to them uke like a barof ray fit northern sunshine nab fue it schooled jol johns m heart to suffering tring at aaa tast last bo however wever he succumbed to iad he awful Tn in isery poor food fiti thy water no exercise no friends nausea caused ails health to tail W and ana the weary vis pris mneri massed the ll right caeg face alth i a sewa one daynes aacen aadahl oki eby ir w ty jsu A 41 f sk Ss aksys maa with those cultured culture manners thai are irresistible by some come strange we at she was in the town where he was VU born beautiful fur helm helen aalthe aa the soldier spoke of hiir hajohn took she W was a 3 alive and aie well U and walting waiting tor for him he be knew A ne new light came to his eyes he be moved once more among his bis stricken brethren with words of cheer he could do so little 1 fortham and andels his heart yearned and rebelled in turn tam at last he be was exchanged hut but a fever contracted in the vile prison prevented bla big going gain north at once they thought he would wo id die his father came to him when he opened his big eyes his fathers face met his questioning glance to his bis hosom bosom his father drew that curly head bead he smothered the sunken cheeks as aa tears tell fell on the face of nf his only child all his life john was thankful for those days that drew the them so close together in such tender love some one Is waiting for us in the old home john dear I 1 have been married dear boy bay are you glad john smiled he was glad his own wn mother he could not remember and when he went away from home Ws his father would indeed be lonely they took him right up to bed when they brought him home he lay there sleeping when suddenly he heard a slight rustle near him he opened his eyes and saw alady a lady bending over him A A tall graceful lady with brown hair and blue eyes that rivaled her own southern skies helen john whispered you were good to come his father entered before she could speak awake jackle jackie how is the boy this Is your new mother he threw his arm around her and drew her toward the bed john looked at her and turned away we are going to have a blow john you better turn in capt austin came forward and threw his arm about johns shoulders starting up john looked into the face he loved best on earth it was the face of her child why my she had bad married his bis father no one but john ever knew she had told him the night she laid her baby in ia his arms when with her head on his breast leaning against the heart that loved her so ao she sobbed forth her story As john stooped and kissed her she knew he understood thus she had died with his bis name and his kiss upon her lips |