10 THE OMA21A DALLY fcJEE : SUNDAY , MAY 20 , 1805.
' THE BOY FROM VIRGINIA.
A Story of Decoration Day.
.
I1Y WILLIAM MOnitAY OIIAYDON.
( Copyrlsht , 1E3S. )
On tie afternoon of tbo 23th of May a
dozen boys , ranging In age from 15 to 17 ,
wore grouped In front of the Harrlsvllla
High school , which had Just "ban dismissed.
They seemed to be all trying to talk at once ,
and the loudest and noUlort of them wai
IVIHard Manning.
This Ind was an acknowledged leader
among his schoolmates , and ho had by no
means a small opinion of his own Import-
tance. Ills mother was wealthy and lived
In a fine mansion In the most fashionable
part of the town. His father had been killed
at Chancellorsvllle while fighting for the
rnlon , and his widow and son were. Justly
proud of his gallant record.
At heart Wlllard had many good quali
ties , and It was unfortunate that circum
stances should have combined to Elide and
hide them under n mask of pride and arro
gance. He was simply a spoilt child.
Though the war was sixteen years In the
past , he cherished n boyish hatred of the
south for the sake of the father whom ha
could not rcmouiber. He had Inherited a
taslo for soldiering , and was the captain of
a Juvenile military organization called the
Harrlsvlllo Cadets , whose neat blue uni
forms and lightweight rifles were mainly
due to his liberality.
The group of boys In front of the
school house all belonged to the- Cadets ,
and some of them were the sons of soldiers
who had died for the union. Tomor
row was Decoration day , and they
were discussing the part they were to
lake In this great event , to which they had
been looking forward for months.
There was ono exception. Over on the
school steps sat n handsome , dark-featured
lad , neatly but Inexpensively dressed , anil
with a look of honesty and truth In his deep
brown eyes. Leo GUI Us had begun to attend
school only two months before , at which
time ho and his widowed mother had moved
from Virginia to Harrisvlllo.
They were evidently poor , for they lived
In a tiny cottage on a shabby btreet. LCQ
was reserved by nature , and partly for this
reason , party because ho was a southerner ,
Ijls schoolmates held aloof from him , treat
ing him with chilling Indifference. Though
the lad did not suspect It , his social ostra
cism was mainly duo to Wlllard Manning.
Leo was listening to the conversation with
more Interest than his face Indicated , and
the eager words of tbo lads , with whom bo
was not in touch or sympathy , filled his
heart with a loneliness moro bitter than ho
Tiad ever known before , and made him feel
like an cxllo In n foreign land.
"I hope It will be clear tomorrow. " Tom
Dane was saying. "This Decoration day Is
rolng to beat the record. Just think of
marching with the governor ! "
"What a shame If It rains. " replica Jim
Grossman. "You know how It poured last
year. "
"Pshaw , of course It won't rain , " exclaimed
"Wlllard. "Look at that blue sky , and the
wind from the west. It's going to be the
finest kind of a day , and that's why I want
a full turnout. It waa provoking of Andy
Moidows to get Blck at such a time. Ho you
fellow * Kuow any one that can. take his
place ? "
There was a moment of silence. The boys
shook their heads , nud no one spoke. Then
IIDO Curtis , moved by a sudden Impulse ,
sprang to his feet and came forward with
Hushed check : ,
"Do you think I would do , Wlllard ? " he
askcil. "I had a little military training at a
school in Virginia. I'd love to march with
the cadets. If It you don't mind. "
Sumo of the boys laughed alouJ and Wll-
lard'a lips curled In a Mnlle of tarcism. 'Why ,
you'ro from the south , " he replied doubtfully ,
"and wo're going out tomorrow to dccorato
the graves of union soldiers. Didn't yon
know that ? "
Leo noiUeil. "My father was a soldier ,
too , In ) gall , "and he's burled out there lu the
cemetery. ' * '
"Your father n soldier ? " exclaimed WlllarJ.
"AnJ1 burled out hero iu our cwnetory ? H'hero
was he killed ? "
"He was wounded , and taken prisoner at
Gettysburg , " replied. Lea , "urn ! they brought
iilm hero to the hospital , whuro ho died. "
"Taken prisoner at Gettysburg ! " Wlllard
cried In a tone of anger and scorn. "Then ho
W.IK a rebel. You must be crazy. Leo Curtis ,
to talk iibout matching with the Cadets. "
Lee's chock * flushed n. deeper red. "Why ,
tlifr war Is ovw long ago , " ho said , "and
noith and south nre at peace. I I didn't
think "
"That's enough , " Wlllard Interrupted
curtly. "I'eaco or no peace , llw north don't
forget. Your father has no business out lu
our cemetery , and I don'l understand why
lit * waa put there. Ho was n traitor and a
rrliel and helped to kill our fathers. "
"That's BO. " "It's a Bhaiac , " exclaimed
icvcral of the boys.
Leo stepped ulckly forward , a flash of
augur in his cyps. "My father was as true
and' brnvo u man as yours , Wlllard Man
ning , " he said lu a husky tone. "Don't
you ilarp to slander his memory. "
"He was a rebel , I tell you , " Willard cried
hotly , and lifting his hand ho struck Leo u
smart blow on the rheek.
The southern lad recoiled ami his face
turned palii. Ho clinched Us tilts , and then
Ion crtil them.
"Coward ! " Buccrcd Wlllard , and his com
panions took up the taunt.
"U I should strike you back I would be a
fiowurd. " said L X' , In a low tone , and turn-
Jug quickly ho walked away , followed by
ihouts of mocking laughter and ridicule.
Tlwro wcro tears lu the lad's eyes , autl
blttorncss of grief and passion at his heart ,
Ho wandered about in secluded streets for
aalf an hour , and tlnally went homo to sup
per with this rcsolvfi to make no mention ol
what hai\ \ happened to bis mother.
What Lee had told the boys was true. His
'r.thor , Lk'uteimiU Curtis , was brought to the
3urrUvlllc hospital , aftrr the battle of Gnfys-
inrg. In a delirium o ! fever caused by severe
Abounds. He died without recovering con-
iclowneBS , and hln Identity was cntabllahec
jy papers found on MR person. Hn wiu
juried In tbo town cemetery , close to the
travos of union taldlcrs. and tili naino am
eulng place * vrrre .noted In Iho government
lecorda ,
Thus the wife. Inquiring for the mitring
iusb.ind , learniKl the tad news at her humblu
some In Virginia , She could not come north
tt ( he time , ai an invalid filter In L ulnlana
jcedeJ her care. auJ thither ( ho wont with
her baby boy. Dut she. had a fixed purpose
In mind , and did not lose sight of It. Years
afterward she- returned to Virginia , eold a
email property belonging to her there , and
finally came north to Harrlsvllle. Here , close
to the remains of her beloved dead , shu
hoped that her scanty means would permit
her and her son to live. The first thing she
did wao to order a fitting headstone for her
husband's grave , which had been marked only
by a mound.
Decoration day dawned bright and clear ,
and at an early hour the streets of the town
were ftlrring with llfo and commotion. After
breakfast , as wag their usual custom , Wlllard
and his mother drove out to the cemetery to
put flowers nn Captain Manning's grave. Mrs.
Manning was In a very sober mood , and Wll
lard Judged from licr absent expression that
she wan thinking as much of her lo.'t brother
as of her dead husband. The subject was
ono that the lad dared not speak about , but
ho knew that his undo had been cast off by
his family before the war , and ho had some
reason to think that he fought against the
union.
While his mother was strewing the floral
tributes on the handsome monument of her
husband Wlllard moved over to a mound
about twenty feet away , where two men
weio erecting a marble headstone. It was
plain but massive and the lad could make
out part of the lettering : "To the memory
of Lieutenant Reginald Curtis , 7th Virginia
Cavalry "
"Leo Curtis' father , " said Wlllard to him
self. "It's a shame to have a stone like
that here ! " With a burning sense of re-
beMtment he turned back and Joined his
mother. When they returned to town the
streets were fllllng up with country people
and citizens , and bands of music and drum
corps were adding to the general din.
At 2 o'clock the great procession started ,
close presstd by a host of enthusiastic ad
mirers. In front pranced the governor's
troop of cavalry , gay In blue and yellow.
Then followed the governor of the stale himself -
self , riding In an open caiiiage. and after
ilin came the town company of the National
Guard , the trim ranks of the Cadets and the
grizzled veterans of the Grand Army posts.
Sad , sweet music was played along the
way , and half an hour's march brought the
irocesslon to the City of the Dead. Here
.bo troops and veterans were drawn up iu
eng line opposite the graves of tbe soldiers
they had come to honor1 and after the gov
ernor had made a brief and stirring address
.he Cadets and the company of the National
Guard fired a salute. -4
As the volley rang out Wlllarel stepped
L few feet In front of his command , watch-
ng with swelling heart his father's memi
nent taking a shape amid the drifting smoke ,
ile did not hear a loud commotion to one
side , or the furious clatter of hoofs. Not
until a warning voice shouted his own name
did he glance around , and then he was horrified
rified to see the trumpeter's liorso of the
; overnor's troop bearing straight down upon
ilm. The rifle volley had terrified the animal
and It wus beyond It's rider's control.
The Imminence of his peril dazed Wlll-
ard. He turnrd this" way and that , started
to run , and fell heavily over a stone. As he
rose to his knees and glanced back he gave
a loud cry of fear ; the maddened steed was
within six feet of htm. .
Dut before the Iron-shod hoofs could
trample the life out of the helpless lad o.
slim figure darted forward from one side.
It was Lee Curtis. By nn agile and daring
leap ho caught the horse's bridle , and hung
on grimly. The brute swerved a little to one
side , narrowly clearing Wlllard , and went
plunging on It's course , swinging Lee from
side to side In the air.
An Instant later Ihe lad's hold was broken
by a terrific Jerk , and as he fell In the soft
grass the hoofs missed him. He rose and
slipped away , almost unnoticed In the wild
rush of soldiers and civilians after the
fugitive steed.
Some of his own company helped Wlllard
up. He was pale and trembling , but not
In the least hurt. Ho stood nn one dazed
for a moment , wnlle the excited crowd rushed
by. Off to the left there was loud cheering
and tome one shouted that the horse was
caught.
"H w-as Lee Curtis tbat saved you , " said
Tom Dane.
"Pluckiest thing I ever saw , " added Jim
Grossman.
Wlllard did not reply. Looking over
toward the graves ho saw'Leo standing by
the newly placed stone , close to a slim
woman In black. A sudden sense of shame
and contrition overwhelmed him and ho
wondered how ho could have behaved so
meanly. He reallrfil , too , that ho had
utterly mistaken the true and forgiving
meaning of Decoration day.
"Lieutenant Dane , " ho said , "please take
command of the company. " Thou ho strode
quickly over the grass to his father's monument
ment , and chose from tbe decorations upon
It two handsome wreaths and a bunch of
lilies. With these In ono hand he softly
approached the humble grave of the con
federate cavalryman. Lee , hear the foot
steps , turned nround with a smile.
Wlllnrd touched him on the shoulder.
"Won't you forglvo me , old fellow ? " he
paid , In a broken voice. "I bohavcd shame
fully to you yesterday , and today you saved
my life at the risk of your own , I can't
toll you how .sorry I um , but but hero are
some flowers for your father's grave. Ho
was a bravo soldier. I'm sure , and you
ought to bo Just as proud of him as I am of
my own father. "
Lee's eyes filled with tears as he warmly
clasped thu hand that tbo other offered him ,
"it's all right. " ha whispered. "Don't say
any more. Wlllard. Thcro'e nothing to
forglvo , This Is my mother. Lot ine intro
duce you. "
The lady had Just turned u sweet , tearstained -
stained facie toward Wlllard when a carriage
stopped close by , and out of it stepped Mrs ,
Manning and a tall , haiulioma gentleman
with an Iron-gray mustache and beard.
"Yes , Jiere be Is , " said Mrs. Manning , Ir
a voice that shook with emotion. "Wlllard ,
this Is your nuclo , " she added , approaching
her son , and scarcely noticing thu presence
of strangers In her agitation.
"My undo ? " Wlllard gasped , as thegfn >
tleman clupol LA ! handa In a tight tqueezc.
"Yes. my own dear brother , " said Mrs
Mannlff , "He luv come back at lait. Ho ha :
forelren the past , and there was much to for
give , Wlllard. You nevi-r heard the story
Ills f.imTly cast him off becnuie he tntfitet
on keeping hi * engagement to a Virginia gir
wbom he bad met in the north. He wen
south and nurrleJ her at the beginning o
thewar. . tr.d I lutve never heard of him tincc
I sco how cruel my parents wero. And I
sided with them ! There was bitter feeling
In those days "
"Why speak cf It now , Emma1' her brother
said gently. "Let us forget the past at least
that part of It. I am glad to know that my
parents forgave mo before they died , and now
that I have found you and Wlllard I feel that
I hare something left to llro for. My life has
beoti a blark s'nco ' I lost my wife and child "
Ho paused abruptly. Whllo ( peaking bo
had glancel around , and his eyes now rested
on the marble slab. Ho stepped toward It as
one In a dream ,
"Lieutenant Reginald Curtis , Seventh Vir
ginia cavalry ! " ho muttered hoarsely. "My
own naniel My own tombstone ! What does
this mean ? Am I going mad ? "
Mr. . Manning gave a llttlo cry , and Lee's
mother , with ono glance at the bearded
stranger , turned deathly pale. "Reginald ! "
she gasped , tottering forward In aflwoon.
He caught her before she could fall and
strained her to his breast. "Lucy ! My wife ! "
he cried. "Thank God ! Thank God.
"You surely can't bo my father , sir ? " ex
claimed Lee.
"Yes , I am your father , my dear boy. The
dead have come to lit ? . "
"Then you ere my cousin , Leo , " declared
Wlllard. "And I'm glad of It. This Is the
most wonderful thing that ever happened ! "
Indeed , It all seemed too strange and won
derful to be true , but there was no mistake
about It. As a curious crowd was gathering
Mr. Curtis lifted his wife into the carriage ,
and Lee followed with Wlllard and Mrs.
Manning.
Joy seldom kills , and before the party
reached home Lee's mother had recovered
from her swoon and was able to realize the
great happiness that had come to her and her
son.
son."It's a strangf story , " explained Mr. Cur
tis , "but not a very long one. I was shot In
the breast on the field of Gettysburg and be
lieved myself to be dying. A fellow oiHcer
happened along and I bogged him to take
my letters and papers and send them to my
wife. Poor Carson , it was he who died In the
hospital and now lies here under my name. "
"Well , after Carson left me. and hurried
back to his command , I was trampled Into
unconsciousness by a runaway horpe. The
next thing I knew I was lying In bed In a
1'emwylvanla farm house. The old couple who
lived there were Quakers , and they nursed
mo back to health and strength. It was six
months before I waa well , and for almost as
long a tlmo my memory was gone. It sud
denly returned ono day , and that very ulght
I picked up a paper containing an account of
a railroad accident In Virginia , In which Mrs.
Reglnal Curtis and her baby were killed "
"It was another Mrs. Curtis , " Interrupted
his wife. "I had Intended going en that
train and that's how the mistake was made "
"Well , I believed It. " resumed Mr. Curtis.
' [ was a broken-hearted man , and no longer
had any ties to bind mo to this country. I
ililfti'd cast , and then to South America ,
where I finally engaged In business. And
( hero I have been ever since. Two months
ago I suddenly tired of it all. I sold my
plantations in Ilrazll for a fortune and came
homo to hunt up my parents and sister. It
was surely providence that guided mo hero
today. 1 doubt It there Is a happier man In
the world. My wlfo and boy restored to
mo1 My sister allvo ! these aio greater
mercies than I deserve. "
There Is little moro to tell. Mr. Curtis
and his family settled down in Harrlsvllle
and Lee and Wlllard became the best of
f i lends and cousins. They nio grown up
moil now for these things happened some
jciirs ago and ns rach Decoration day rolls
around they rolebrato It In the true and
fitting splilt of the occasion , remembering
that scai s of the war are long since healed
and that the heroes of north and south
alike- arc deserving of respect and honor.
Nor do they forget to strew flowers upon
tbe grave of the Virginia cavaliyman , the
headstone over which now bears the rightful
name of tbe soldier who lies beneath the
A CIIIUvAMAIJC.Y HOY.
Ho UxrliatiRoiI Uniform * with a Dniul < on-
frilrnitii Soldier I.ml anil IC r po < l.
IJY JAMES II. QILMOUK , EDMUND KIRK
( Copyrlsliti'il. 1893. )
The father of the boy of whom I write
was the president of a western college , who
when the civil war broke out , volunteered
with a largo number of his students.In th
union army. Ills son , then a lad of only 12
years , pleaded to be allowed to go to th
Iront with his father , but the father refused
until he had himself been in active scrvlc
with the army more than a year , and had
risen to the command of his regiment. Then
ho took Willie which was his son's name
along ns a drummer boy.
The boy had been at the front not mon
than a week when the army came In pres
ence of the enemy , and was drawn up Ir
two long lines to receive an attack. When
au army Is moving drummer boys am"
other musicians march at the head of thel
regiments , but when It goes Into battle they
are sent to the rear to care for the wounded.
On this occasion , however , Willie's father
rode along the lines to encourage his sol-
dlein to act like men , and he caught slglit
of the little drummer boy , standing with
his drum over bis shoulder , at the very head
of Uio column. '
"We are going Into the fight , my son , "
said the father. "Your place Is at the rear. "
"But , If I go back there , father , " answered
the Toy , "everybody will say I am a
coward. "
"Well , Will , " said the father , "stay where
you are. "
Ho stayed there , and when the attack began
he handled a gun as well as any member of
the regiment. The bullets whistled , and the
shells burst all around him , but he came out
uninjured. In the midst of the flght , when
the union men were going down before the
storm of lead , as hladus of grass go down
before a storm of hall , ono of the regimental
orderlies was swept from his eaddle by a can
non ball , and his horse went galloping madly
over the battlefield. Willie , leaving the
ranks , caught the frightened animal , and
sprang Into the dead man's saddle. Riding
then up to his father , he said ; "Father , I'm
tired of drumming I'd rather carry your
ordsrs. "
He was then only 13 years oM , but after
that. In most of the great battles of the south
west , ho acted ns orderly for the bravo
coloni'l , his father , carrying his messages
through the fiery storm , and riding unharmed
up to the very cannon's mouth , until he was
taken prisoner by the confederates on the
bloody field of Chlckamauga.
All day long on that terrible Saturday , he
rode through the flght by the side of his
father , and at night lay down on the ground
to dream of his home and hte mother. The
battle parsed when the un went down , but
not long after It rose on the following day ,
red and ghastly In the foggy air , the faint
crack of musketry , and the heavy roar of ar
tillery , sounding nearly three ' miles away ,
told that the brave me'n under General
Thomas were meeting the desperate onsets of
the enemy. Fiercely the confederates broke
against their ranks , till they rolled away In
broken waves upon the union center , where
the young orderly was with Ills regiment.
Hattlo and disease had thinned their ranks ,
till from 1,000 they had dwindled to scarcely
400 , but bravely they stood up to meet the
wild shock that was coming.
Soon the colonel's hone went down , and
giving him his own , Willie hurried to the
rear for another. He had scarcely rejoined
the ranks , when on they came the stal
wart rangers of Texas and Arkansas rid
ing over the brigades of Davis and Van
Clevc , and the division of the gallant Sheri
dan , as If they were only standing wheat
all rlpo for the mowing. One-half of the
colonel's regiment were on the ground ,
wounded or dying ; but the remainder stood
up , unmoved In the fiery hurricane that was
sweeping around them. Such men can die ,
but their legs are npt fashioned for running.
Soon both their flanks were enveloped In
flame , and a terrible volley tin rat out of the
smoke , and again the colonel went to tbe
ground In the midst of his heroes.
The boy sprang to his side , saying. "Are
you dead , father , or only wounded ? "
"Neither , my boy , " answered the Iron man ,
as he clutched the bridle of a riderless horse ,
and sprang into the empty saddle. Two
horfccs had been shot under him , and 200
of his men had gone down never to rise
again , but still he sat unmoved In the awful
tempest. At last the fire grew even hotter ;
one unbroken sheet of flame enveloped the
little band , and step by step , with their faces
to the enemy , they were swept back by the
niero force of numbers. Then the father
said to the son : "Go , my boy , to the rear ,
as fast as your horse can carry you. "
" 1 can't father , " answered the lad , "you
may be Mounded , "
"Nevfr mind me ; think of your mother ,
Go , " said the father , peremptorily.
Obedience had been the rule of thT boy's
llfo , and notf. Vtirnlng his horse's head , he
rode back to' ' lie * hospital. *
Note Th "jncldent Is thui related by
Donjamln } . . Taylor , the poet-editor of the
Chicago JoufriafT who had personal knowl
edge of the Wtcumstanccs. W'rltlng to his
Journal from luo bloody field on that terrible
Sunday , ho BjUdj ! "Desldo the colonel of the
Sevcnty-thlrit imnos ! rode his ion , a lad of
13 ; a brightbravo little fellow , who be
lieved In Ms' father and feared nothing.
Right up to.uuijenomy right up anywhere
If the father , ; ent , there went the boy ; but
when the ballets swept In sheets and grape
and canister/ cut ragged roads through the
columns of jiluoatvl plashed them with red ,
the father bXdp the young orderly out of the
fiery gust. , , The little fellow- wheeled his
liorso , and rode for the hospital. The hospital
was eapturedand the boy a prisoner. "
II.
The- hospital was a few tents clustered
among the trees , a short distance In the
rear , and thither the union wounded were
being conveyed as fast as the few medical
attendants could carry them. There the
boy dismounted and sot about doing all
he could for the sufferers. Whllo thus en
gaged ho saw- the remnant of his father's
regiment emerge from the cloud of flame
and fall slowly back toward the woods
behind them , In a moment a horde of
rangers poured down on their two flanks tote
to envelop the llttlo band of heroes. The
boy , at a glance , took In , his own danger.
The hospital would Inevitably be surrounded
v
CHICKAMAUGA HOY.
and all In It captured. Springing upon the
back of the nearest horse , he put spurs to Its
sides and bounded away toward the nearest
forest. Hut It was a clumsy beast , not the
blooded animal that had borne him so nobly
through the d.ly's conlllct. Slowly It trotted
along , thougln.the rowels pierced Its flanks
till the blood/fall / flown them. The forest was
still a long ways-oil when the rangers caught
sight of the' < hey -and the sleepy animal and
gave chase , tLmiiilishlng their carbines and
yelling furioiiSlylJ The boy heard the shouts
ami slung hlifc elfalong | the flank of his horse
to ( he out ofytfip range of bullets ; but not
one of the ra.ngsrs offered to fire or even
lifted tils carbUie ) for there Is something In
he breasts $ f'tle { roughest men that puts
hem In love jwtth daring ; and this running
, vlth a scorejbt rifles following at one's heels
s about as dangerous as a steeplechase over
a country fllKd vUh pitfalls and torpedoes.
Soon the ntngirs' fleet steeds encircled the
boy's clumsy'-"hnlmal , and ono of them seized
his bridle , crying out : "Ycr a bully un ; jest
ho pluckiest thunk of a boy I ever seed. "
Wllllo wai now n prisoner , and prudence
counseled him to make the best of a bid bus
iness ! so hjCsljd nimbly to the ground , and
coolly answepeu : "Give mo a hundred yards
the start , mSt I'Jl get away yet If my
horse Is slower than a turtle. "
"I'm durned'lf wo won't , " shouted the man.
'I say , fellers , give the boy forty rod , and let
lilin go scot free If ho gits fust tcr Hi' tint
her. "
"None uv yer nonsense , Tom , " said an
other , who , from his clothes , becmed some
petty officer. "Luck at the boy * clocs ? He's
< on ter fomo uv the big 'uns. I'll bet high
lie b'longs tcr ole Llnkum hUself. I sjy ,
young 'un , hain't ye ole Linkum's boy ? "
"I reckon ! " answered Willie , laughing , In
spite of his unpleasant surroundings.
But what he said In Jest was received In
earnest ; and with a suppressed chucKlc the
man said : "I knowed It. Fellers , he's
good fur a bundled thousand so , lets keep
a bright eye on him. "
They bore him back to the hospital and
the leader of the rangers , , riding up to the
officer In cbargo of the prisoners , said : "I
say , cunnel , wo're cotched a fish yerc as Is
wuth catchln' one uv ole Llnkum's sons. "
The officer scrutinized Willie closely and
then asked : "Are you President Lincoln's
son ? "
"No , sir , " answered Willie , "but I am
ono of Lincoln's boys. "
"Ye tclled me yer was , ye young bound , "
cried the ranger , breaking Into a storm of
unprintable adjectives.
"No. I did not , " said Willie , looking him
coolly In the face , "I let you deceive your
self , that was all. "
The colonel , who had burst Intoa fit o
laughter , now turned upon the rangers sav
agely. "You're a set of cowards , " he said.
"You have got this up to get out of the
fight. Hack to the ranks , every ono of you
Old Ilragg has a way of dealing with sucli
skulkers as you are. "
III.
About a thousand wounded men , under
guard of two companies of confederate sol
diers , were collected in an open field Tiot far
from the hospital , and , with them , without
food , without shelter , and with nothing but
the hard ground to lie on , tbo boy remained
till the next morning. At night he lay down
to rest In the crotch of a fence and counted
the stars , as one by one they came out lu
the sky , telling the Great All-Father who
has his homo In the high heavens , lUt
comes down to visit and relieve his heart-
weary children who are wandering here on
the earth. Was he not heart-weary heart-
weary with thinking of his home and his
mother , who soon would be sorrowing for
her only son. lost amid the wild storm of
battle ? And would not God visit and re
lieve htm ? As ho thought of this ho
prayed ; and even as he prayed , a dark cloud
broke away over his head , and the north
star came out ard looked down , as If sent
by the Good "Father to guide him homeward
Ho watchcil Ihe star growing brighter anil
brighter , un l-'lrs rays stole Into his soul
lighting all Us1 dark corners ; and then ho
sank to sleep 'arid dreamed that a white-
robed angel came1 and bore him away , above
the tree topi. Up his father's tent beyond
the mountains.L '
In the morlMip ne awoke hopeful anil stout
hearted. Knrelnfc ( down , he prayed again ;
'
and then a , 'f'lan of escape came to him
clfar and dlsunrtxas ever plan of battle came
to a gcnerar. " Ac did not think It out ; It
flashed upon Iflnmllko a beam of light breakIng -
Ing Into a dark-room , or like a world-stirring
thought flashing into the soul of genius from
the source of SU thought In the heavens.
Hut this tliovRlatW3s | not to stir the world ;
It was ony | ( to.sflr a small boy's legs , and
make him a ( nant In resource and resolution.
Long he. pondered upon It , turning It round
and round , nftd Jooklng at It from all sides ;
and then he set about working It out Into ac
tion.
tion.The
The offlcar commanding the guard was a
mlld-manne.red. man , wjth pleasant features ,
and a kindly heart , though he had so severe
ly scored the rangers. Him the boy ac
costed as he made bis morning round among
the prisoners' "You' seem to bo shorthanded -
handed & \ the hospital , sir , " he said. "I
have done such work , and would be glad to
be of service to you. " '
"You're a good'boy 19 think of It , " replied
the officer "too good to bo one of Lincoln's
bojBatwl he laughed heartily at the recol
lection , "Hut , won't you try to get away
If I let you go there ? "
"I can't promise , " Bald Willie. "You
wouldn't If you were a prisoner. "
"No , 1 wouldn't , " answered the officer.
"Hut It won't bo bafo for you to try. Some
of our men nre wild fellow a , and they would
shoot you an BOOH as thfy would a squirrel.
The Union Unfa arc now ten miles away , and
It's Thrilling !
It Keeps Up !
OUR UNMERCIFUL WAR
ON TAILORING VALUES
is bringing the crowds ! Such a marvelous closing-out of
Light-weight Suitings , Overcoatings and Trouserings is
getting gentlemen to thinking and acting at the same time !
. . . , }
'vJ
The trimmings , linings and work on every garni ent will be
just as faultless as ever.
if HART , The Tailor 9
210-212 S. 16th St. Y. M. C. A. Building.
TEETH
HE EFFECT on the stomach produced by constantlj
L swallowing bacteria anil pus from diseased tootlii
mingled with decomposed particles of food , is sometime !
alarming and is recognized by faclontifio men as the fount
diition of serious constitutional disorders. In overj/ /
community there are those who uro cranks on the frosii
air Bubtcct , but whoso mouth * are frequently in such a
neglected condition that the air which passes through
them is as pointed as that of the most crowded tenement
house , and every mouthful of food swallowed carries inti <
the stomach millions of bacteria. Take time by the fore *
lock ; lay the foundation of good health by first attending
to your mouth. Consult
DR. ROWLAND W. BAILEY ,
. . DENTIST . .
TELEPHONE 1085. 3d FLOOR PAXTON BLOCK ,
LADY ATTENDANT. 16th AND FARNAM STS <
our men arc thicker than tbo fleas In this
cornfield. "
"I'd rather not bo shot. I'd sooner be a
prisoner. " said Willie , smiling.
"You're a sensible lad. I'll let you Into
the hospital , and you may get away if you
can ; but If you are shot , don't lay It to me. "
The officer gave Willie In charge of Dr.
Ilurburt , who was chief surgeon of the
hospital. He was a humane , kind-hearted
man. and ho laughed heartily at the story of
the boy's capture by the rangers. i
"You served them right , my little fellow , "
ho said , "and you are smart smart enough
to be a surgeon. There Is plenty to do here ,
and If you go to work with a will , I'll say it
gcod word for you. "
And the surgeon did , and Willie's father
sent his thanks across many leagues of hos
tile country.
IV.
The hospital was a little village of tents
scattered about among the trees , and In It
were nearly a thousand union and confed
erate soldiers , all of them wounded , some of
them dying. Among them Willie worked for
a fortnight. He scraped lint for their
wounds , bound bandages about their limbs ,
held water to their parched lips , wrote last
words to their faraway friends , and spoke
words of hope to them as they groped their
way through the dark valley that leads to the
hereafter for he had been taught to believe
that there is a great and good being who
rules both In this world and in that.
Among the wounded was one In wbom
Willie took especial interest a bright-eyed
fair-haired boy , not much older than him
self , who had been fatally hurt In the great
battle. Ho was a confederate boy and ho
had gone Into the war with the same pur
pose as Willie , to do all ho could for what
lie thought was freedom. He had been told
that the north wanted , to enslave the south ,
and his soul rose In strong resolve to give
his young life. It need were , to beat back
his country's Invaders. In all this he was
mistaken ; but only a demagogue wll say
the spirit which moved him was not as" noble
as led many a northern youth to be a martyr
for liberty. Young , as he was , he had been
In half a dozen battles , and In the bloody
struggle of Chlckamauga had fallen pierced
with two union bullets. For two days and
nights he- lay on the battlefield before bo
was discovered by the party of men who had
Drought htm to the hospital. Willie helped
to bear him from the ambulance , and to
lay him down on a blanket In ono of the
tents , and then ho went for tbo chief sur
geon. A ball had entered his side and
another had crushed the bones of the ankle.
Ills leg had to come off. and tbe amputation ,
the long expoture and loss of blood rendered
his recovery hopeless. The klndhcarted sur
geon said this to Willie , as he finished the
operation and bade him tell It to the con
federate lad as gently as was possible. Willie
did this and the wounded boy answered
calmly , "For two days I have been expecting
this and I am willing to gd ; for , doubtless ,
there Is work for me In the other life , "
He lingered for a week , every day grow
ing weaker and weaker , and then ho sank
to sleep as gently as the water drop sinks
Into tbe ocean , A few hours before he died
he sent for Wllllo and said to him , "You
have been'very good to me , anil as far as
I can , I would return your kindness. My
clothes are under my pillow. Take them
when I am gone. They may help you to
get back to your mother. I am going soon
Stay with me until I die. "
V.
They laid his body away In the ground and
Wllllo went about his work ; but something
loving and pure had gone out of his life ,
leaving him lone and heart-weary.
I would like to tell all the details of Wil
lie's escape bow be dressed himself In the
confederate boy's clothes , and one cloudy
night boldly passed the sentinels at the bos-
plul ; bow he fell in wtu | several squads of
nannm in 11
School Children
sweetmeats and you can't
prevent it , The first you know of
it there is a head ache ; the child is
billions and something must be
done. Use Ripan's Tabules , a
remedy which is standard for such
troubles.
3
Tabules : Sold by druggists , or by mafl
It the price ( M cents a box ) 1 > sent to The Ill-
pans Chemical Company , No. 10 Sprue * St. , N. T.
confederate soldiers , was questioned by them
and got safely away , because of his gray
uniform ; bow on his hands and knees ho
crept beyond the outmost confederate
pickets , and after wandcilng In the woods
two days and nights , with only the sun by
day and the north star by night , to guldo
him , he got within the union lines , and
worn out with walking he lay down under a
tree by the roadside and slept soundly till
toward the following night. I will only
say that Willie was roused from his slumbers
under the tree by someone shaking Iilm
by the shoulder. Looking up he saw a
small party of union cavalry and the or
derly who had awakened him said , "What
are you doing here , my young gray back ? "
Just then Willie caught sight of a familiar
face that of his mother's own brother ,
Colopcl Mclntyro , of the Forty-second refi
nement of Indiana . " "
Infantry. "Why , uncle.
he shouted , "don't you know me ? "
In a moment hn was.seated behind on his
uncle's liorso and ou his way to his father.
I shall not recount the anxiety of that
father nor the persistent search which ho
and"all that was left of his regiment kept
up during the long fortnight for tidings of
the lost boy In every encampment of the
army In front of Chattanooga. Many and
conflicting reports came to the agonized
father but the only certain tidings were that
the hospital had been captured and Willie
had been flung out , a little waif , on the tur
bulent sea of battle. Was ho living or
dead well or wounded ? Who could tell
him ? And what taio could he bear to the
boy's mother ? Those were the questions
that knocked at the father's heart , drove
sleep from hln eyelids , and made suspense
a horror scarcely to be endured. Ho had
sat on this last day every hour In his tent ,
listening to every coming footstep , and
dreading the approach of nlgbt when ho
felt that be could no longer delay writing
to the boy's mother. Then , just as the
sinking fcun was touching tbe tops of the
far off trees , there was a great shout out
side bis tent , tbo rapid footsteps of more
than 100 men , aud Willie burst Into It ,
"Infants'
Complete
Outfits.
Babies'
First Short
Clothes :
Ladies'
Underwear' '
Send name and pet Mode to Order. ,
Illustrated Descriptive UjU Free.
SCHULZ & CO. , '
SO Wsililngtcm-it. , Cllll'AUO.
ormerly IJora Ucttulz Mfg , Oo , -
followed by one-halt of tbe regiment Tht
boy threw his arms about bis father's nock ,
and then tbe bronzed colonel , who bad so \
cftrn ridden unmoved throueb the storm of *
shot and shell , boued bis head and wept
like a child ; for this , his son that was dead ,
was alive again that wax lost , w is found.
