Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1898 — Only One Man. [ARTICLE]

Only One Man.

"Extra! extra!” ring the shrill voices of the newsboys. “’Nother victory! Extra! extra!” A young girl, hurrying through the darkening street, pauses a moment to catch the glad tidings; then, choosing the smallest of the ragged urchins who instantly gather about her, she slips her pennies into his grimy band and eagerly seizes a paper. Ten minutes more and she is flinging open the door of a quiet room where a grave-eyed woman sits by the window, gazing out into the autumn twilight. “Quick, mother, a light!” rings the Impetuous young voice. “I have news Sfrom the war. Another victory, and only one man lost!” A glad cry falls from the mother's lips as she hurries to the table, and with trembling hand lights the small lamp. Both faces are eager, strained, as the younger woman reads rapidly the Joyful news. “Only one man lost ” she pauses. and the other exclaims, “Thank God!” but the paper has slipped from the daughter’s hand, the joy has faded from her eyes, the color from her lips. Another instant and the sheet is In the mother’s hands. Ttife sudden fears that clutched at hex heart tell her the truth before her eyes fasten upon the fatal words—the name of the lost man. The clock ticks relentlessly in the corner, the fire dies out and the ruddy embers turn gray; the light of the little lamp sinks lower and lower, flickers, and is gone. Still the two women cling to one another in the darkness; the silence is unbrokep. Only one man? Only their whole world!—Kate Whiting Patch.