Show MY iff hamm john ITH his hands in his pockets his shoulders square squared 4 capt austin was pacing the forward deck of his trim craft pausing now and then to talk taik to his brotha john 1 who sat i r the rail smoking capt austin was wall the owner of the We descote Wese ote a propeller of some 2000 tons his friends often jokingly remarked that nothing was quite so dear to the captains heart as his boat but they always excepted his half brother john there was an unusual degree of affection between these brothers 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 ot of broad culture possessing possessor g that rare barr faculty of making all feel that he be was their friend in the sick room he was at his best his presence was watched for and loved he always lert left his patients better than he had found them only at great intervals internals 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 I 1 ht L too she had loved the water As he looked across the waves tipped with wih silvera crests his thoughts turned urne to her with all the passion of his manhood he had loved loed her although nearly neal nea l thirty years ears had passed a deep regret egret a passionate protest always rose in his heart as he thought of her she was very beautiful a southern gl g arl rl that he be had met in tennessee while stationed taio ned there with the federal army she was tall and elende her bearing reminding one of the pines on the mountains mount airs her hair he remembered I 1 as he puffed the smoke from his cigar was as soft and brown bron her he eyes eves like the blue water he so loved her brother ad been wounded and lay dying in he c camp amp 0 of f the enem they sent for her and she came alone over the rough mountain road so long and perilous H he would always algas s remember her as he saw her first in her clinging habit with her tired face and brave brae young oung e ec together as tie days passed they worked over oser the wounded brother bother but n ro 0 s skill kill could save saie the ebbing life with a mevi ig dished shed eves ees the loving sister watched hm him H he e w was as all that was left father and b brothers ro had bad been killed in battle her mother sinking beneath the blow had bad left her alone to dr john she turned with a confidence and trust that was touching but then every e er one loved loed john one had s N STRUCK WITH A A STRAY BULLET but to look into his hangst eyes to know be could not do aught than the right ight as he knew it to be right the 5 young oung southerner 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 the tennessee mountains A friend offered helen a haven so she ghe tarried awaiting the termination ef c the war her heart was steeled rt the north but some way dr john was always alwa s an exception to every rule they grew to love each other in those troubled times when mens thoughts were busy with a nations nation s fate there was no promise exacted none given when the regiment was as ordered away she knew he loved loed 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 the country he lost sight of her for a little while but he trusted her in his eyes she could do no wrong she was so true so pure and womanly one dry day in a skirmish while attending a wounded comrade john was struck with a stray bullet bollet he lay unconscious for a long time and when he recovered was in a prison about him were half starved starred men with clothes in tatters misery and want had drawn their faces beyond recognition even here his cheerfulness did not forsake him his coming was to them like a ray ed northern sunshine it schooled johns heart to suffering at tast last however he succumbed to the awful misery poor food water no exercise no friends his health to tall fail and the weary prisoners missed the bright face with a new relay of prisoners he be one day mat me a boyhood wend friend from his old home they were well at home his father was very busy with the sick in the elty city john sinned in recollection a little sadly ma his fathe was vw a handsome man with those cultured manners that thai are irresistible by some som e strange tat fate she was in the town where he was V born bom beautiful helen As the soldier spoke of her ber john took heart she was alive and win well aud and waiting tor for him he knew A ne light came to his eyes he moved once more among his bis stricken brethren with words of cheer he could do so little for them and his heart yearned and rebelled in turn at last he was exchanged but a fever contracted in the vile prison prevented his going north at once they thought he would die his father came to him when he opened his eyes his fathers face met his questioning glance to his bis bosom his father drew that curly head he smothered the sunken cheeks as tears fell on the face of his only child all his life john was thankful for those days that drew them so close together in such tender love some one Is waiting for us in the old home john dear I 1 have hav e been married dear boy are you glad john smiled he was glad his own mother he could not remember and when he went away from home lils hla father would indeed be lonely they took him right up to bed w when hen they brought him home he lay there sleeping when suddenly he heard a slight rustle near him he opened his bis eyes and saw a lady bending over him bim 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 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 nave have a blow john you better turn in capt austin came forward and threw his bis arm about johns shoulders starting up john looked into the face he loved best on ezrah it was the face of her child why she had bad married his father no one but john ever knew she had told him the night she laid her baby in his bis arms when with her head on his bis breast leaning against the heart that loved her so she sobbed forth her story As john stooped and kissed her she knew he understood thus she had died with his name and his kiss upon her lips |