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About Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930 | View Entire Issue (May 29, 1902)
[ * , IRENE'S VOW . . CHARLOTTE M. BRAEME. { ' CHAPTER V. ( Continued. ) * * Alas. my darling , there irf none. I knew that you would not send me away from you. 1 knew how much you loved ane. Now the only thing is for both of s to yield a little. Promise to marry ae quietly , unknown to everyone , and 1 .iwill take you anywhere you like to go to France , Italy. Spain to the other end f the world , if you will , and , my darling , jou shall be so happy : you simll be a fiiecn. I will deck you with rarest jew els , with richest dresses ; you shall have 11 your heart can desire for a year or two , and then you will be at liberty to proclaim your marriage if you wish it. One or two vears' silence is not much , is It , Irene ? " "No , not much. * she answered. "But , Bir Hulbert. if you can make your mar riage public then , why not now1 "I shall have arranged all my affairs fcy theil , " he replied , "aud it will not mat ter who knows it when that is done. " Half shyly she asked : "Would it not be better for us to wait ntil that time comes ? We could see" each other sometimes , and write often. .Would it not be better. Sir Hulbert ? " "You know that it is uncertain. Irene. 1 cannot tell you whether it may be one jear , or two. or three. Shall we part with this uncertainty before us ? Ah. Irone , yon say you love me ; love do * s aot stop at sacrifice : the proof I ask ot jou is small ; if you really love me , you .will not hesitate. " She looked up at him with child-like faith and love that might have touched heart , but which did not. "Tell me , " she said , "exactly what you me to do. " "I will. ' he replied. "To-day is Tues- Jiay. Meet me here early on Thursday anorning > We will walk to Hiudlea rail- yf'&J.station , then we will take the train to London. I will place you in safety .while I am making arraugemeuts for our marriage. When we are married we "will give one day entirely to shopping , and you shall purchase a trousseau fit for a grand duchess ; and then we will go wherever you choose. The wide world is open to us , aud a beautiful world we .will make it. " She hesitated one minute. "What will they say at home , Sir Hul bert ? " she asked. "They cannot say very much. You lave a perfect right to please yourself , " lie answered. "Leave a letter , telling them you have gone away to be married , and that iu two years' time your husbaud will bring you home again. Will you con sent to that ? " "Do you think it will grieve them very uch ? " she asked. "I should think not. " he replied : "if they love you very much , they will be pleased to know that you are happy , aud you must not forget to tell them yon are " " , happy. Again the sweet , clear eyes were raised to his. ' - "Do"you think it right. Sir "Hulbert ? " he asked. "Right ? Yes. Why , my darling , what a simple question. You love me and I love j.ou , why should we not choose each other from all the world to be happy with each ether ? It would not be what you call right to part and be miserable. In my saint ] all is fair in love and war , and not * nly fair , but right. " "I wonder , " .said the girl , simply , "if aoy mother will know when I am Ladv Bstmere ? " "Irene , " he said , quickly , "although I am so strong , do you know that I am nervous and and talking of those who axe dead distresses me. You do it so sud denly , you startle me. " "Do I ? Then 1 will not do it again , " * he said , and before they parted every thing was arranged for Irene to leave "borne with Sir Hulbert on Thursday. CHAPTER VI. On the , to her , fatal Thursday Irene walked through the fields , listening to the music that came from the soft throats cf a hundred birds ; so soon she should see ihose green fields again , so soon she should retrace her steps , and return the iappiest and most euvied of women. There , hi the far distance , were the © ulton Hills , where Santon Darcy had first seen his beautiful wife , coining to iim , as it were , from the golden cloud- land. She walked quickly lest her lover should be waiting for her. There were 20 words when they did meet ; he clasp ed her hands in his and kissed her beuu- iiful lips : still holding her haud. they .walked together to Branlea. It was all a novelty to Irene , the lux urious traveling , the first-class carriage , which , by dint of a goideu key , Sir Hul- ! > ert kept for themselves , the care , the respect , the attention shown them , her delight when they first saw the streets of London , her surprise at the magnificence the hotel where he placed her. and Seft her. Before he went , he drew her to the window , and they stood for some arinutes watching the crowded street. "Irene. " he said suddenly , "you do not iaow niuch about the Jaws of marriage. I should imagine. " "No , not very much , " she replied. "You think , without doubt , " he contin ued , "that all marriages are solemnized In churches. " "I thought so , " she said , looking up at him , but his eyes were turned from iier , and seemed fixed on something in 8 the street. si ? "That is a mistake , " he said , hurriedly , e need be no going to church ; every t < * nc , you know , does not believe in it. There is a marriage , quite as legal , quite vt acsbinding , as though it were solemnized t ( Ifey a bishop. One has merely to pur- ase a special license , and go to the cler- y jyman ; everything goes well then. It yK saves a great deal of trouble. " K "Sir Hulbert , " she said , "must I be 1 saarried without a white wedding dress , and a veil ? I always thought that a f ( and wreath of orange blossoms were ssential. " w wcl He smiled at the simple , girlish ques clfc tion. fc "Never mind the dresses until after fhe wedding. " he said. "This that you rear will do a pretty lilac muslin that 01 ways reminds me of spring-tide. We buy dresses enough for a duchess af- Cll . Will j'ou be ready by to-mor- * ? at tea ? " , There was something like a shadow that lay on her beautiful face. He saw it. "Wait let me think , Irene. After all. you shall not be married in that dress ; I will send you a dress to-night. Will that please you ? " "Yes. " she answered , with the gay , bright smile he always liked to see. " 1 did not think it , was very nice to be mar ried in this old muslin dress. " He bade her adieu , and went at once to purchase a wedding dress for her. The purchase did credit to his taste. He bought a pale gray costume of rich silk , and a pretty bonnet , with gray drooping plumes a dress at once rich , quiet am : distingue. It was sent to her at the ho tel , with a note from him. asking her to wear it on the morrow. He sent at the same time a beautiful bouquet of white and crimson flowers. After thar it was all like a dream to her the long , sleepless night , wht-u dreams of home came to h > r , the slow waking , when the noise of the distant city was so strange to her. She could not at first remember where she was rising ami dressing , looking at * herself in her new dress with a startled , half-shy wonder , sitting down and trying to drink the warm , fr.igraut tea prepared for her. 4 For y rs afterward she remembered the fierce , wild heating of her heart as the carriage drove up to the door , and she heard the sound of her lover's voice on the stairs. Her first thought , pool- child , was a prayer. "Mother. " she cried , "you are among the angels , and I am all alone. I am go ing to be married ; send me a blessing from heaven ; there was no one to give me one here. " The next moment hejlover was in the room , and everything was forgotten in the delight of seeing him. He was bewildered wiili surprise. The [ toet who sung that "beauty unadornad was adorned the most" made a mistake in this case. The costly , shining silk , the rich lace , the drooping plumes made n wonderful difference , * "My darling , " he cried ; "why , you look ike a queen. Why do I say a queen ? S'o queen ever looked so fair. How proud 1 am of you. my darling. All the world .vill . envy me the possession of that fair- ; st face. " "I am glad you are pleased with me. " ; he murmured. "Pleased. ' hesaid , laughingly ; "that is lot the word , sweet : I am proud. I won- ler at my own fortune. For me life holds lothing. the world nothing half so fair , 'leased ! why. my darling , can you not ice that your beauty drive.me mad ? " The rest was like n dream to her ex- : ept that .she trembled with fear , with i we. with revereiuc. Site remembered low Sir Uu'bert. ' holding her hand with i loving clasp , led her to the carriage ; hat. as they drove in silence through he sunlit streets , his arm was thrown ouud her. as though he defied death even 0 take her from him ; that they drove for long way until the.x rdeuched a tall. ; loomy house in rhe midst of a gloomy quare. "It does not look like a clergyman's ouse , " she said , and theu wondered why is face grew so deadly pale. "You must not expect to see n country icarage , covered with flowers , " he said. Irene ; throw this black cloak over your boulders ; I do not want everyone to now what is going on ; and , my darling , on do look so much like a bride. I be- eve you would look just the same , sweet , lir and blooming , if you were dressed , 1 black crepe. " , "No , not quite the same , " she said , rawing the black cloak round her shoul- ers. "Where are my flowers ? Oh , Sir [ ulbert , give me my Hewers ; there they e , on the seat. I could not be married ithout my beautiful flowers. Other girls tive sisters and friends on their wedding ay I have none , save my flowers , and ley seem to understand. " "You have me , Irene , " he sadi , half proachfully. "What more do you want ? oti have me. " For long years afterward she reiuem- n-ed every detail of that scene. They itered a large , square , gloomy room , ainly furnished , yet with every evidence lat a clergyman inhabited it. She re- euibered every detail of it. Over the autelpiece hung an engraving of the .Jood Samaritan : " opposite to that huug wretched copy of Leonardo da Vinci's -ast Supper ; " a few good steel engrav- gs of various subjects finished the list works of are. The greater pait'of the alls was covered with books : there was reading chair , a writing table , one or ro bronze statuettees ; a few large folios y open on the table ; the dark blinds id dark curtains gave a somber aspect the room. The door opened and the minister en- red. She gave one keen , ha If-f right- led glance at him. He did not impress ; r favorably ; he was tall and thin ; he [ > re a long coat and a white collar , but mething was wanting iu him. She uld not tell what. He bowed to Sir ulbert iu a distant , cold fashion. "You appointed half-past ten. ' ' he said , ud now it is eleven. My time is val- ble ; it is as well to be careful and inctual in these matters. " "I am sorry. " said Sir Hulbert care- ; sly , "but the drive was longer than thought. " t "That may be , but it has nothing to do th me. Have you the license ? Give it is me. Sir Hulbert gave him a folded paper , lich he read from attentively beginning n : end. 'That is right , " he said. "Now , have si u the wedding ring ? " Iu 'Yes , I did not iorget that , " said Sir nlbert , as he drew the little gold ring m ) m his pocket. it 'Take this lady's hand and stand be- itP re me , " said the stranger , briefly. y < iVnd then he went over the beautiful > rds of the most solemn service the , urch knows. "For richer , for poorer , r better , for worse , in sickness or in nlth , until death do us part. " inbi Irene remembered no more , it was like bid confused dream. CHAPTER VII. it seemed to Irene that she never M 'oke properly to life until Bhe opened bi her eyes in that bright , gay city of Paris , where life is all festivity and death seems impossible. Sir Hulbert had laden her with pres ents : he had taken her to the best shops in' Paris ; he had lavished hundreds of pounds on her dresses. She had satins and velvets and furs , laces and silks that many a duchess might have envied ; she had jewels and ornaments ; he never seemed tired of buying for her ; he sel dom came homewithout a valuable gift of some kind. As she passed along the streets people would turn again and again to look at that wondrous face. As she drove through the Bois de Boulogne , every man who passed her wondered who she was. "La belle Anglaise , " they called her , and many hundreds of inquiries were uinde as to who "La belle Anglaise" was. Her history seemed simple enough ; she was Mrs. Leigh , and she lived with her ' husband , an English millionaire. it was commonly supposed , at the Hotel de Bourbon , close to the Tuileries , one of the finest hotels in Paris. That was all that the most curious could learn about her. The lovely Mrs. Leigh was fond of balls , fondof the opera , enjoyed driv ing out , had splendid taste in dress , and was altogether the loveliest woman in Paris. , / After some quiet observation they be gan to perceive that , although Mr. and Mrs. Leigh went to nearly every public ball , they were never at private onus. That although the carriage of "La belle Anglaise'was always surrounded by gentlemen , 'she had no huh friends. Among their visitors no ladies came. The pretty silver card basket was tilled with cards , all belonging to gentlemen. One- day she said to STr Hulbert : "Yon know a great manj gentlemen in Paris. Hulbert , but no ladles. How is 'it that you have no lady friends ? " "It seems to me the most natural thing iu the world , Irene. I do not know that I cared much about the society of ladies , until I saw you. " She interrupted him. "Major Caniden. who was driving with you yesterday , said rhat his sisters were staying near here. I wish you would in- I rod uce me to them. " He looked away from her , slightly con fused. "You would not care for them. " he said. "They are very tiresome quite old : naid.s. " "I should not mind , " she replied : "you lo not know how strange it seems always : o be with gentlemen , and to see no la- lies. " "You cannot be lonely , Irene , when , -ou have me , " he said , gently. "No , it is not that. I am h'ot lonely , lot at all ; how could I be with you , Hul- > ert ? It is something quite different. Perhaps 1 want to discus the latest fash- ons , or the prettiest bonnet. You could tot talk about those little matters , could ou. Hulbert ? " " 1 will talk about anything ln.the world hat pleases you. " he replied ; "but if I vere in your place 1 would try not to : now the Misses Camden they are both roud and disagreeable. Make yourself mppj with me , my darling : never mind 'ithur ' the spinsters , matrons or maids ; hiiik of me. and of no one else. " The.were . sitting together one morning rheii the English mails came iu ; there rere ( several letters Sir Hulbert read b rough quickly and laid aside. "I am not in the humor for letters this lorning. ' " lie said ; "nor for my news- apers. " Irene answered laughingly : "That means you are lazy and want me u read to you. " "My clever little darling , .you Lave tiessud the exact truth. " he replied. "I m lazy , and , above all , I should like the ( a rest voice in the world to read to me II that is most amusing in the news- apers. " "I understand , " she replied. It was wonderful to see how quickly lie attended to all his wants. Another ? w minutes , and the most beautiful oman in Paris sat by him , one white and lingering in the dark curls of. his nir , the other holding the paper from hich she read to him. There were sev- -al amusing paragraphs , several tidbits I the week's scandal , which were all a ead letter to her , then she said : "We are informed that the Earl Ge- int , with his lovely and accomplished uighter. the Lady Lira Gerant , iiiteud ending the next few weeks in Paris. " She read the words clearly and distinct- : to her they were the same as any her ; then shu was startled by a low y from his lips. "I I I did not hear , Irene. Kead-thar me agaiu. Earl what who ? Read again. " Ireneread it slowly , carefully , word > r word. Before she had quite finished he had sen from his comfortable lounging , i air. "What is the matter , Hulbert ? " she iked , gently. "Do not read any more , Irene. Either nm irritable this morning , or I am not [ ? 11 ; I cannot tell which. " Yon are'never irritable , " she answered. yon going out , Hulbert , and going une. too ? " Ho bent down and kissed her. "I shall not be long , my darling. I am ing out on business , or I would take Hi. " He was absent some time. When he c turned the sun had set and the hotel taps were lighted. He went to her * om , where she was dressing for dinner. 'You will make me play truant again if u give me such a warm welcome home , e ene , " he said. o She was so delighted to see him. He i d never been absent from her so long fore since the day in London when he . . d made her his wife. * 1 have been very busy , Irene , and I o ve something to say which will astou- c i you. Shall you mind if I ask you 1 : give orders for the packing of your e irdrobe , as I wish to'start for Italy to n-row ? " 'I will gladly do so if you wish it , " ti e said ; "but this is a very sudden reso- : ion , is it not. Hulbert ? " 'Yes , " he said ; "I met someone this > rning who told me that Italy was look- ; superb. If you want violets from rma , and roses from Modena , now is sio ur time ; let us start to-morrow. " o 'I am sorry to leave Paris , " she said ; \ \ e have been very happy here. " a 'We shall be happier there , my darl- j : this is a life of gayety , that will a life of art , and you love art best , you not , sweet ? " tlk > he looked at him suddenly. k 'Hulbert , " she said , "I have noticed 01 it you seldom call me 'wife , ' you say , rliug. ' You use many loving words , t you seldom call me wife. " t < "It always seems to me to be am old- fashioned word , " he replied , "and by no means a pretty one. " Her beautiful face fell. "Do you think not. " she said , "I am sorry to hear it. I think it the most beautiful and impressive word in the English language. " * He smiled , as he said : "Do you , beloved wife ? Then I will try to use it a little oftener ; you never told me before how often you liked it Now will you give orders about the bores ? " - ( To be continued. ) EXISTS UNDER TWO FLAGS. Postofiice that IB Partly in the United States and Partly in Canada. "The man without a country" is gen erally regarded as an anomaly , but there is something far stranger a post- office that does business under two flags. It is located in Beebe Plain , a town tbat is half in the State af Ver mont and half in the Province of Que bec. The building was erected some seventy-five years ago exactly on the line between the United States and Canada , so that it stands in two coun tries and serves in the postal service of two nations. The cellar of the building cou-nects the tvro countries , and some years ago wlion the postofflce was a general store whisky was known to be sold in.one country and delivered in another with out everhaving gone out from under the roof 'of the old structure. This combination postofflce is now being run by parent and child , the father being postmaster for Canadian Quebec and the daughter postmistress for Ver mont. Standing in front of this strange post- office is a large post which marks the boundary line , and it is said that one time a man who wanted to get a road way to bis premises moved this post , and many thousands of dollars and no little time were spent in establishing the exact line again. Until a short time ago a very pecu liar postoffice was used in Argyllshire , England. It was situated in the lonely hills between Drimuin and Barr , three miles from any habitation , and consist- efl of a simple slit in a rock , closed up by a nicely fitting stone. When any letters arrived at Drimnin for the district of Barr they were con veyed to the rock by the first shep herd or crofter going so far. Having been dropped in and the slit reclosed , rhey were left until a shepherd or crof ter from the other side happened to come along , when they were taken up find delivered at their due destination. No letter was ever known to get lost \t this primitive postoffice. At Burra. Shetland , an old tin can * " ister , made water tight"with newspa pers and pitch , was once picked up on : hc shore. It contained ten letters , vith the correct cash for postage. With : hese was also a letter for the finder , | urgently requesting the posting of the iccompauylng missives , as they were mportant business communications. Vfter the letters Had been carefully Iried they were at once postedto their lestiuatious , which they reached with- mt further adventure. Searching Alter Amber. A , pleasant form of idling is wander- ng along the edge of the sea in quiet , iut-of-tbe-world spots , and searching t > r amber , says the London Daily Mail , ately a fair amount of amber has teen washed ashore on the sands and ieacb.es of East Anglia ; a gale from he east and northeast and a strong ea usually bring up the amber in Es- ex , Suffolk , Sussex and elsewhere I aresay in "parts of the Lincolnshire oast , too. Even some of the professional fisher- icn and. boatmen search for amber fhen they ha.ve no more important rork on hand , and sell , In a rough tato. the scraps they find to local iwelers and dealers in curiosities and dds and ends. I find some of these fishermen with horn I have talked take quite the ac- epted view of the day as to the or- jin of amber. They call it gum from ie trees ; but perhaps they are a little stray in regard to the age of this jsin ; the "fly in the amber" is not ex- ctly our modern blue bottle ; in fact , ie foreign substances found in amber enerally belong to species extinct ges ago. Amber is no longer used in icdicine : formerly oil of amber was igarded as a cure for various coin- laints. Tiled with Tin Cans. A remarkable % little building stands [ i the lawn of Dr. Naamau H. Key- ; r's house in Church lane , Germau- > wn , Pa. If was erected by Dr. Key- : r himself when a boy. some addition alteration being made to it each ? ar during his vacation. The archi- cturp is old English. The lower part wooden , and the tipper part has the feet of tiling , the tiles being made it of old tin cans. The youthful arch- set persuaded the boys of the neigh- > rliood to collect cans from the va- DUS dumps , 1,000 of them being used i the building. The bottoms of the LUS blocked over wood formed circu- r tiles , with which the roof is cov ed , and the remainder of the tin.be- g beaten out flat and also blocked , ade square tiles for the upper part of e walls. Chicago Record-Rerald. Loose Ways of Turks. EJorses , mules and donkeys go loaded marker in Turkey , but the road is rewn with grain leaking from the 1 sacks , and thousands of turkeys , liich may be bought at 12 cents iece , feed on the dropping grain. A Remarkable Record. . . Modern steamship travel is so safe o tit the English government has not jl st or injured in transit a single man jln the 250,000 sent to South Africa. n Che dividing line between smiles and p ' ira io a very narrow one. c SOLDIERS" AT HOME. THEY TELL SOME INTERESTING ANECDOTES OF THE WAR. How the Boya of Both Armies Whiled Life in Camp Foraging : Ex periences , Tiresome Marches Thril ling Scenes on the Battlefield. "I was in Crook's division at Appo- mattox , " said Capt. Henry , "and when ever the Oth of April conies around the scenes of the week before the surren der come up vividly before me. We were twenty-five miles away when a scout brought an intercepted dispatch from Lee's commissary general order ing four train loads of provisions to Appomattox depot. This gave Sheri dan the information he wanted , and soon the divisions of Custer , Crook and Merritt were galloping toward Appo mattox. . "The trains were captured , but what I most clearly remember is the scene that followed the capture. Locomo tive engineers jumped from the saddles in our division and took charge of the locomotives deserted by the rebels , ami ran the trains back and forth through the great masses of cavalry lining both sides of the track. They tooted the whistles , rang the engine bells , while the cavalrymen yelled and tho horses prance : ! and neighed. It was a wild scene and I have never witnessed an other like it. "We knew that at last we were across Lee's line of retreat , and looking at the heavy columns of cavalry mov ing into line , I thought we could check the enemy , no matter how stroug. I felt different during the night , but was reassured when the infantry came m at a double-quick and formed behin < us in the woods. When the heavy line of Confederate infantry advanced on the morning of the Oth to brush Sheri dan's cavalry aside , a great double lino of infantry in blue arose to meet them. "Some one saw an old towel on a stick and the word went down oui line. 'A flag of truce ; don't fire. ' But Sheridan said to those about him : * is this a "makeshift to gain time ? I have lost too many men this morning to be put off by any game. ' Gen. Gordon aud other Confederate officers explain ed that Gen. Lee was in correspou dence with Gen. Grant as to surren der , and they asked a suspension of hostilities. In a minute it seeme 1 to me the cavalry dismounted and the in fantry lay down in line of battle. The men bad marched all night , but their eyes were .bright and their faces eager : md expectant. It was Sabbath day ind the end had come. And. while the commanders talked thousands of the men doze 1 and slept in contentment. " "After the surrender. " said the Ser geant , "a comrade and myself went aver fnto the camp of Walker's divis ion to see how the men of the old Stonewall brigade took the surrender. The regiments marched out. stacked arms , and were moving off quietly in splendid order when their brigade ban'l struck up , 'Ain't I Glad I'm Out of the K'ilderness. ' and all stopped to listen. Chen the band played 'Dixie , ' but there ; vas no cheering. Later came 'Home. ? weet Home , ' and a cheer swelled irouud the Confederate lines and was larried into aud around the Union ines. It was not a cheer of exultation , mt of common sympathy and rejoic- " 1 have carried from that day to this i square inch of the apple tree of Ap- ) omattox , which came to me in this vay : There was a general impression hat Grant and Lee met under an apple ree for their first informal talk over he terms of surrender , and the partic- ilar tree was guarded by both Union- sts antl Confederates * But. as soldiers lassed , twig after twig was broken off , nd finally cavalrymen broke off large Imbs as they rode by. At this junc- nre a squad of cavalry rode down on be crowd about the tree , dismounted , nd two raeu proceeded to cut it down. be chips flying out among the men , 'bo stood near. One of these chips I ut iu my pocket , and 1 have it yet. "When the tree had been cut down lie cavalrymen cut it in sections , nud. lounting their horses , carried all off 3ward headquarters. In five minutes very chip and scrap had disappeared , ud the next day there was a great ole where the tree had stood , the . > lic hunters digging down to get even le smallest root branch. And. after 11. Lee ditl not surrender under the ve. but rested under It while waiting ) bear from Grant , and was met there y Marshall and Babcock , who carrTed rant's mc&sage to him. "I was standing near the famous ap- le tree when Jenkins' rebel artillery , loving to the point where the guns ere to be parked , stuck in the'mud. 'bile the men were striving to extri- ite the guns I asked' Capt. Jenkins 3W he felt. He said : 'I am like my utery , stalled , stuck. I am like the wer side of one of those wheels , as w as I can get , and am waiting. If ie Yankees come along and pull the in up lull or down , the part of the a heel now on the ground is boun-1 to I : 11 up. So I am bound to roll toward 1 , e top , no matter what happens. Any tl tlti lancre of position will be for the bt- ti r. ' And most of the Johnnies seem- ii I to feel as did Capt Jenkins. " iiti iiP "The flag of truce at Appomattox , " ti tisi id Sii'-geon Kitchen , "was brought to si sif aj. George F. Morgan of the One f ( undrcd and Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania , tl ie One Hundred and Fifty-fifth was tlsi the skirmish line , when a rebel ma- si sib r came up with the flag , and said to b ; organ , 'For God's sake , have your ft ftti en cease firlvg. ' Maj. Morgan re- ti iel : 'Why don't you have your men tiU ase firing. You come here with a U flag of truce , and yet your me I up their fire. ' The bearer of the passed to the rear to report to Gea. Griffin , and In the meantime the Colo nel commanding the Alabama brfgad * in front of us came forward and. n * rendered. "His men threw down their arms Im the streets of Appomattox Court House and came forward In a body. Maj. Morgan , still maintaining bis skirmlsfc line , sent the Alabama colonel and bi men to the rear under guard. AU these men had surrendered and vrere prisoners before orders were received to cease firing and were not included Jn the forces surrendered by Gen. Lee. but were , paroled with the Confeder ates captured at Sailors' Creek and Farmville. Because of our advance * position our brigade was designated in general orders to receive the surrender of the arms of the Army of Northern Virginia. & " "At first the rebs. as they turned over their arms , were sullen and reticent , but when they were informed that they were to return to their homes witn their horses and mules , they wer eager to secure their paroles , and buoy ant over the thought of going homo to stay. When the first division of Gor don's corps inarched past our camp go * ing home Maj. Morgan assembled , tn brigade band on the road side and In structed It to play 'Home , Sweet Home. ' Gordon's men straightened up. caught step , swung their hats , and went away from us cheering. "Their spirit had an effect on our boys and as we marched back toward C'ity Point there was much shouting to the effect that the war was over and much singing of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home. " By the way , th last man killed in the army of the Po tomac was Corporal Montgomery of Company I. One Hundred and Fifty- fifth Pennsylvania Zouaves. He waa shot on the skirmish line a moment be- fore rhe flag of truce came to our front. " Chicago Inter Ocean. How Vic Did During the War. We trimme i our hats with wreaths of flowers , also made from the pal metto. This ta.sk generally devolved upon me. I was an adept in the art of making wax flowers , and this knowl edge was of beuetit in handling the palmetto' ; so 1 succeeded In making some beautiful flowers , which were proof against wind and weather. We would intermix with them tufts of red and blue and the gorgeous peacock feathers to brighten them up. Some of our lints were really lovely. The male members of the family also sported the palmetto hat. and these we fiuisln'.l simply with a band of dark or black cloth. These hats were very lurable. Father wore one constantly for three years , and at the expiration > f that time it was perfectly good. . . We also made sets of table-mats kvith palmetto braid , which were hand some in appearance , and far excelled u durability the straw mats gener-- illy purchased at stores. Mother waa so much prepossessed in their favor hat she continued their use long af- er the war. Many beautiful hanging- baskets , v all-pockets , picture frames , ard receivers and other useful and ornamental articles we also made from lalmetto. The much despised corn shuck came > ravely to the front iu those days , and urnis > hed a greater variety of india- > eusable articles than any other singly ommodity. Our mattresses , foot mat * crub brooms and horse collars wer 11 manufactured from the shuck. Most xcelleut mattresses were made in thla vise : the shucks weer torn into very ine strips by means of a common ta- ile fork , the upper or hard end cut way. and the ticking then well tilled nl : tacked with strong card In the sual manner. These mattresses poa- esspd many advantages over either otton or moss , as they are light and priugy , and never pack. One of the loveliest pieces of shuck rork I ever saw was a hearth nig. for iimmpr use. I used only the inner ortions , which are soft andof a reaniy whiteness. These I cut into ieces about an inch long and half an ich wide. I crossed the ends of these crips , thus forming a point at the top. 'or ' the foundation of this rug I used a eavy piece of white cotton cloth , on * ard and a half in length and three- uarters of a yard wide. I began sew- ig on the points at the outer e Ige , let- ng each succeeding row cover' the ads of the row above , until I reach- I the center , where I concealed all iserepaucJes with a fluffy tuft of racks. I then surrounded the entire ig with a thick , heavy fringe formed : shucks. This rug was greatly ad- ; ired. and many of our friends iml- tcd the pattern. A Southern LaUy. What the War Coat in Labor. It may be assumed that at a mini um the cost of suppressing the rebeJ- > n was $8.000.000.000. writes Edward tkinson. in the Forum. l't was , there- re. $ l.ij. : .AOO.K)0 ) a year for seven ars. It has been held that the max- lum product of each person occupied rgain in 1SSO could not have exceed- ! r.CO worth-labor < : and capital were loast one-third more effective during id since the war and reconstruction- then , we value one man's labor from 151 to 186S. inclusive , at ? . < JO a year , e work of war required the tinremlt- ig labor of 2/270.000 men in sustain- S < them. At * 4flO each , an estimate obably nearer to the mark at that ne the measure would be the con- mt work of S37.fiGO men each year r seven years. The average popula- iii of that period was 3T.000.000 , of mm not over one in five could be con- lered an able-bodied man of arma- firing age. The cost of liberty , there- e consisted , in actual ardous work at j risk of life for seven years , of one in of arms-bearing age In ererj : ee. r t -
