[ * ,
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 -
