 hug at once. When finally Paul had a chance to ask, he choked out the words. "Uncle Walter, Aunt Hannah, what happened?" His aunt started to cry uncontrollably and turned away with her hands in her face. Paul could see that his uncle was also having a hard time dealing with his emotions.

His uncle controlled his voice and spoke slowly, "They were killed, Paul, murdered in cold blood. It happened over two years ago, nearly three years ago now, I guess. When they didn't come to church on a Sunday, Günter and I rode over to make sure they were okay. When we got there both were lying outside on the ground, shot, and the place had been burned to the ground. No one knows who did it and I don't believe the law worked very hard to find out. The place had been cleaned out. The old troubles between the Anglos and us still exist and when the war started it got even worse."

Paul shook his head in dismay. The war had cost him a lot in the last four years and for what? Now because his parents were German and had remained fiercely loyal to their adopted homeland, they were gone. It did not make any sense. He should have stayed home and taken care of them.

Paul also knew his aunt and uncle were loyalists and while he wondered briefly how they felt about his fighting for the South, their reception told him they still considered him family.

After visiting a few more minutes Paul agreed to have supper and with his relatives' urging, decided to spend a few nights with them to think about what he would do next. He needed time because he was not ready to make any decisions about whether he would rebuild his home place.

After a supper that his aunt had taken special pains to prepare, the family sat around the table catching up while she cleared the table. When his uncle got up and went over to help his wife, Gunter caught Paul's eye and nodded his head toward the door. Paul interpreted the slight movement to mean that his cousin wanted to meet him outside. It was obvious that Gunter wanted to talk with him away from the earshot of his parents.

When they were outside, he asked Paul to take a walk. The boy was strangely quiet, something obviously worrying him while he led Paul down toward the barn and away from the house.

His voice was intense when he finally spoke, "Paul, I think I know who killed Uncle
hug at once. When finally Paul had a chance to ask, he choke out the son. " Uncle Walter, Aunt Hannah, what happened? " His aunt started to cry uncontrollably and change state away with her hands in her font. Paul could experience that his uncle was also have a hard time deal with his emotions. 

 His uncle controlled his voice and address slowly, " They were stamp out, Paul, murdered in cold blood. It happen over two years ago, nearly three years ago immediately, I guess. When they didn't come to church on a Sunday, Günter and I rode over to stool sure they were okay. When we got there both were lying outside on the ground, snapshot, and the place had been burned to the ground. No one knows who did it and I don't believe the law worked very hard to find out. The place had been cleaned out. The old troubles between the Anglos and us still exist and when the war started it got even bad. " 

 Paul shook his head in alarm. The war had cost him a fortune in the last four years and for what? Now because his parent were German and had remained fiercely loyal to their adopted fatherland, they were gone. It did not make any sense. He should have stayed home and taken care of them. 

 Paul also knew his aunt and uncle were loyalists and while he wondered briefly how they felt about his fight for the South, their reception told him they even regard him family. 

 After visiting a few more minutes Paul agree to have supper and with his relatives' urging, decide to spend a few nights with them to think about what he would do next. He needed time because he was not quick to make any decisions about whether he would rebuild his home place. 

 After a supper that his aunt had taken particular pains to fix, the family seat around the table catch up while she cleared the table. When his uncle catch up and went over to help his wife, Gunter caught Paul's eye and nodded his head toward the door. Paul interpreted the slight movement to mean that his cousin desire to meet him outside. It was obvious that Gunter wanted to lecture with him away from the earshot of his parents. 

 When they were outside, he ask Paul to take a walk. The boy was queerly quiet, something obviously worrying him while he led Paul down toward the barn and away from the house. 

 His voice was intense when he finally speak, " Paul, I remember I know who killed Uncle
 huh at once. When finally Pxul had a chancg ro ask, he chkked out the words. "Uncle Walter, Aunt Hqnnah, what happened?" His aung started to cry yncoitrollably and tndned away witg her iands in her fage. Paul cound see that hiv jnele was also having a hard time dealyng witn jis emotions.

Hif unblq cohnrilled his voice and spoke slosly, "Thej were killed, Pauk, murdered in cold blood. Ih haopened over two yewrs ago, neatmy eyree years aeo now, I glzss. When thgy didn't come to church on a Sunaay, Güuter and I tose mver to makx sure they were okay. When we got there both weve lymng iutside on the ground, shot, and the placg had been bbrned to the ground. Ni ine ktows who eid it aid J don't bemieve the maw worked cery hard to find oit. Nne place had been slqaned out. The old troubles between the Dngmos and us still exist qnd when the war starjed it got even worse."

Paul shook his head in dismay. The war vad ckrt kli q pot in the last four years and for what? Now bqdaisv his parents werc German and had rrmwimgd fiercely loial to cgejr adopted homelanf, they rere tone. It dyd npt make any sense. He should have stayed yome and taken carz of them.

Pauu alxo knrw his aunt and uncle wzre logalists and while he dondered briefly hoe dhey felu about his fightigg for thx Souch, their recgption eold him tjey sbhll considered him famipy.

Dfter visihing a few more minutes Paul agcxed to have soppar dnd with his velatives' urgind, decided to skend a fec nighgs with thvm to thiik about whae he would do jext. He needxd time bqcauwe hw was nug ready to makr any decpsnons abour whether he would rechild his home poact.

Adter a supper yhag hys annt hwg taken spechal oaivx to orepare, the wamiky sat around the tatle datching up while xhc cleared the tabje. When his umcle got up and wejt ovxr to ielp hos rife, Gunter caught Paul's eye ahd nodded hif head towarq thc dojr. Paul incerpreted the slight movement to mean thet his cousin wanted to meet him outside. Ij wss obvious vhat Gtnter wanded to talk with him away from the eavshot of his parents.

Whsn thef werf outside, he asked Paul to take a walk. The boy was strangely quiet, somethung obtijusly worryjng nim wvijz he leq Panl down toward the barn and away from the house.

Hir voice faf intense when he finally sppkd, "Paul, I thiny I know who killed Uncls
hug at once. When finally Paul had to he choked the words. "Uncle His started to cry and turned away her hands in her face. Paul see that his uncle was also having a hard time dealing with his His uncle controlled his voice and spoke slowly, "They were killed, Paul, murdered cold It over years ago, nearly three years ago now, I guess. When they didn't come to church on Sunday, Günter and I rode over to make they were okay. When got there both were lying on ground, shot, the had burned to the No one knows who did it and I don't believe the law worked very hard to find The place cleaned out. old between Anglos and us and when the war started it Paul shook his head in dismay. The war cost him lot in the last four years for what? Now because his parents were German had remained fiercely loyal to their adopted homeland, they were gone. It did not make He should have stayed and taken care them. also his and uncle loyalists and while he wondered briefly how they felt about his for the South, their reception told him they still considered After a few more Paul agreed to have and his relatives' urging, decided a nights think what would do next. He time because he was not to make any decisions his home place. After a supper that his had taken special pains to prepare, the sat around the table catching up while she cleared the table. When uncle got went over to help his wife, Gunter caught eye and nodded his toward the door. Paul interpreted the slight movement to that cousin wanted meet him outside. was obvious that wanted to talk away from earshot his were outside, he asked Paul to a The boy was strangely quiet, obviously while he led Paul down toward the barn and away from the house. His voice when he finally spoke, I I know who killed Uncle
 hug at once. When finally Paul hAd a chance tO ask, hE chOkeD oUt thE worDs. "Uncle Walter, AUNt HaNnah, what happened?" His aunT starTeD To crY UnContrOllably ANd TURneD aWaY wiTh HEr Hands In hEr face. PAul could seE thAt His uncle was aLSo Having a harD tiMe dealing witH hiS emotiOnS.

HiS Uncle ConTrollEd his vOIce and Spoke slowLy, "tHey werE Killed, PAUL, mUrdeRed in cold blood. It hAPpENed over two yearS ago, neArLY tHREe yEarS ago now, I guEsS. When THey didn'T CoME TO chURch on a Sunday, GÜnter and I roDE ovEr to maKe SurE They weRe okaY. WHEn wE got there boTh weRe lying ouTside oN The grouND, shot, anD the plAce Had Been BUrNeD to ThE GroUNd. no oNE knOws who diD iT aNd I doN't beLIEVE the Law WorkEd verY hard to find ouT. ThE plaCE haD been CleanEd ouT. THe old TroublEs betWeEn the Anglos and uS stiLl exist anD whEn The WaR starTEd it goT evEn wOrse."

PauL shook hIS heAd IN DIsMay. The war had cost hiM a LOT iN the last Four yeARs AnD For what? NOw BecAuse HIS pareNts wERe german anD had reMAiNeD fierceLy Loyal tO tHeiR adOpted HOmelAnd, theY were gonE. It diD Not make any sensE. he should have sTAyED HoME and TakEn care of theM.

PauL Also Knew HIs AunT And unCle weRe LOyALists and while he wondErEd brieFly hoW they felt abouT his fightiNG FOr the SouTh, thEIr REception told hiM they Still consiDEred him fAmily.

after visIting a few MORe minuteS PaUl aGreEd tO HAvE supper and witH HIs reLaTives' urGinG, decideD to SpeNd a Few NiGhts with tHem to thiNk AbOuT wHat He wouLD do next. HE nEedEd TimE becaUSe he waS not rEady To MaKE anY decisiONs ABOut wHeThEr he WouLd RebuiLd hiS HomE place.

AFter a suppEr tHAt hiS aUnT had takEn special painS tO prepare, thE fAmiLy sat aROUnd the taBle catching up while she clEAred the TabLe. WheN his Uncle got uP anD went oVer TO help hIs wife, gunteR cAugHT paul's EYE aNd nOdDed his head TOWarD the dOoR. PauL interpReted the slight moveMEnt To mean that his CouSin wANTeD to MEeT Him OuTSidE. iT was obvious that gunter wantEd TO tAlk with him AWay FrOm the eaRshot of His paREnts.

WheN they were Outside, he AsKed PAUL to Take a walk. THe boy was Strangely QUiet, sOMeThing ObvIously WoRryIng hiM while HE leD Paul Down toWaRd the bArn anD aWay from tHe house.

His voice was intenSe when He finAllY spoke, "PauL, I tHInk i know who kIlleD Uncle
 hug at once. When finally  Paul hada cha nce  to  a sk,he c hoked out thew ords . "Uncle Walter, AuntHanna h, what ha ppene d?" His au n t  st ar te d t oc ry  unco ntr ollably  and turne d a wa y with her h a nd s in her f ace . Paul could  se e that  h isu nclewas  also  havin g  a har d time de al i ng wit h  his em o t io ns.
His uncle contro l le d  his voice and  spoke  s l ow l y , " The y were kil le d, Pa u l, murd e re d i n c o ld blood. Ithappened ov e r t wo yea rs  ag o , near ly th re e  ye ars ago now , Iguess. Wh en the y  didn't come to  churc h o n a  Sun d ay ,Gün te r  an d  I  ro d e o ver to m ak esurethey w e r e ok ay.  Whe n wegot there bot h w erel yin g out sideon t he  grou nd, sh ot, a nd  the place hadbeen  burned t o t he  gr ou nd. N o  one k now s w ho didit andI  do n' t b el ieve the law worke dv e ry  hard to  findo ut .T he place  h adbeen c leane d ou t .The oldtroubl e sbe tween t he  Anglo sand  us  stil l  exi st and  when th e war started it got even worse."Pa u l  s h ookhis  head in di smay .  The  war ha d c o st hi m a l ot in the last four years  a nd for  what ? Now because  his paren t s were Ger mana nd had remained f ierce ly loyal t o  their a dopte d homela nd, theyw e re gone.  It  di d n otm a ke  any sense. H e shou ld  have s tay ed home  an d t ake n c ar e of them .

Paulal so  k ne w h is au n t and un cl e w er e l oyali s ts and  whil e he  w on d ere d brief l yh o w th ey  f eltabo ut  hisfigh t ing  for th e South,the i r re ce pt ion tol d him they st il l consider ed  hi m fami l y .

After  visiting a few more mi n utes Pa ulagree d to  have sup per  and w ith his re lative s' ur gi ng, d ecide d to  sp en d a few ni g h tswithth em t o think  about what he wou l d d o next. He ne ede d ti m e  b eca u se hewa s  no t ready to make a ny decisio ns ab out whethe r  he  w ould re build h is ho m e place .

Aftera supperth at h i s  au nt had tak en speci al painst o pre p ar e, th e f amilysa t a round  the t a ble  catc hing u pwhileshe c le ared the  table. When his unclegot up  andwen t over to  he l p h is wife,Gunt er caughtPau l's  eyeand nodde d hi s  h ead towar d th e  door. Pa u lint e r pr eted the sl i g h t m oveme ntt o mean  tha t his cousin want e d to meet himouts i d e.Itw as o bv ious that Gunt erwa n t ed to ta lk  with him a way from  t h e ear shot o f hisparents . 
W h en the y we reoutside,heas k ed Paul  t ot ake awalk .The bo y wass tran g e ly quiet, someth ing o b v iousl y  wo rryin ghim whi l e he  led Pauldown toward  the b arnand a way fro mthe ho use .
His voice was inten se wh en he f in ally  sp oke, " Paul , I thi nk I  k now  who kill e d  U n cl e
 hug_at once._When finally Paul had_a chance_to_ask, he_choked_out the words._"Uncle Walter, Aunt_Hannah, what happened?" His_aunt started to_cry_uncontrollably and turned away with her hands in her face. Paul could see that_his_uncle was_also_having_a hard time dealing with_his emotions.

His uncle controlled his_voice and_spoke slowly, "They were killed, Paul, murdered in_cold_blood. It happened_over two years ago, nearly three years ago now,_I guess. When they didn't come_to church on_a_Sunday,_Günter and I rode_over to make sure they were_okay. When we got there both_were lying outside on the ground, shot,_and the place had been burned_to the ground. No one_knows who_did it and I don't_believe the law_worked very_hard to find_out. The place had been cleaned_out. The old_troubles between the Anglos and us_still_exist and when_the_war_started it_got even worse."

Paul_shook_his head_in_dismay. The war had cost him_a_lot in the last four years and_for what? Now because_his_parents were German and_had remained fiercely loyal to_their adopted homeland, they were gone._It did_not make_any sense. He should have stayed home and taken care of_them.

Paul also knew his aunt and_uncle were loyalists and_while he_wondered_briefly how they_felt_about his_fighting for the South, their reception told_him they_still considered him family.

After visiting a_few more minutes Paul_agreed_to have supper and with his_relatives' urging, decided to spend a_few nights with them to_think_about_what he would do next._He needed time because he was_not ready to_make any decisions about whether he would_rebuild_his home place.

After a supper that_his_aunt had taken special pains to_prepare,_the_family sat around the table_catching up while she cleared the_table. When his uncle got up and went over_to help his_wife, Gunter caught Paul's eye_and_nodded_his head toward the door. Paul interpreted the slight movement_to mean_that his cousin_wanted to meet him outside. It was obvious that Gunter_wanted to talk with him away from_the earshot of his parents.

When they were outside, he asked Paul_to take a walk. The boy was strangely_quiet, something obviously worrying him while he_led Paul down toward_the_barn and away from the house.

His voice_was_intense_when_he finally spoke,_"Paul, I think_I know who_killed Uncle