"I'll have lights, sir, at once."
The mansion was soon lighted up, and supper ordered for the master, who went into his library and took up the numerous letters that had arrived for him during his absence of several weeks.
All were thrown aside excepting one.
That one bore no stamp or post-mark, and was from his wife.
Hastily he broke the seal, and seeing that it was several pages in length, he threw himself into his easy-chair beneath the lamp.
As he read, he uttered a sound very like a moan, and, strong man though he was, his hands trembled as he held the letter.
When he had finished he slowly re-read it, and then bending his head upon his hands he sat thus, the picture of silent, manly grief.
What he read was as follows:
}
"Soldier's Rest,
"September 1st, 18—.