The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-07-13

i29f p ~ g K -
over; he paE On his fatfered jacket.
and rubbing his eyes with his hsts.5
retreated.
aTake your seat sir,1 said Mr.. At
well. 80. .
al shan't," said the boy. "You've
whipped me unjust. Isdidn't tell no
lie, and if / lived Thousand year, i
shan't tell you why clum that there
apple tree and with these mysteri-
Gus words he was gone like a flash Of
lightning. He never came back
again and in week, the winter sea-
son being over, the teacher also de-
parted, with no pardon from lilly
Tooker.
He was very fond of her. and very
wretched.i When reaching New York
city, he found it yablaze with war
news, and met at every step recruit
ing officers, who tempted him to vol
unteer.., He bethonght himself that
this was the best manner possible of
committing suicide, and enlisted at
once. He expected TO be shot in the
first battle. Instead of that, he sur
gyiyed to be spoken highly of by his
OlnCOlSs oO1OiC lOnS -1O w eso PAOAhO-
ted. In the course of three years he
wore captains shoulder straps, and
had grown brown and hardy in the
intention of being shot, although he
had not forgotten Tilly Tooker. ......
One night towards the close of the
war, after a fierce battle had been
fought, Captain Atwell. passed thro'
I 10, oI fh q
temporary hospital, when one small
face on a low pallet startled him. 1t
was little drummer boy, who had
been 0wofully wounded. The face
was pale, but'it was otherwise not all
tered Captain Atwel cried, mike, r.
The boy burst out crying. --.5.
sob, ant I glad to see you, just"
he said, and from that moment Cap
tain Atwell never forsooki him.
1t was notlong, for Mike was dy-.
ing, but be .comforted him till the last.
That last came at the dead of night.
s9Captain," said voice at the Off
GERS elbow,1a Mike wants ye. He's
going.Yod lionnf ss lGuds Il - '2' 70
And hastily slipping on his gar
ments, the captain ll hurried to the boys
side. "a
81 *. Mike, poor fellow. . he5said. .l1aS /, :
The lad looked at himaajj 30. -. ~.
"Pve got marchin, orders, Cappen,' y
he said. q Chaplain says III see my
mind if that's true, But look here
didn't tell Eo lie. 70 3'.< . - ~ go,
'id FsForget that, Mike-I have" said
the captain. -, -
ga" Cappen,n said Mike g I said I
wouldn't never tell iyou,l but you've
When took that 1etter----''1TsI 3ou
Here esgasped for breath. sro =.
az got an answer. The Squire
came out. and caught me. I efnmb
the apple tree. He hollered to come
down. did. / know'd he'd look in
my pockets fur apples, and find it.Io
know'd you'd not like that. ! hitched
the bag to a branch, and left it there !;
then down I come. He shook me,
and let me co. Next day I went arter
the letter. He laid for me. WhenId
got half waysup he grabbed me. The
letter is there yet, expect. The lie
silk would keep the wet off. I-didn't t
lie, you see,-not that time" -IAsfI ia3j'
And Mike was dead, The captain
wept over him Next week he asked
for his first furlOugh.aol3faa ilers su
The week after Squire Tooker and
his daughter were sitting together on
the porch. The Squire was notquite
so pompous as formerly. He had in
vested in sS lie, y and failed to- realize.
On that particular night he was
smoking his pipe in a thoughtful
mood, when he saw, marching up the
road, military gentleman in cap
tain's uniform. .3oHe marched straight
to the gate, and entered; but instead
of advancing to the porch stopped
midway, and began to climb an ap-
pie tree. s sssaa sSa y Gseasa - '=s'.,l
The Squire sprang to his feet, sTillv
to hers, the help rushed forth--all
stood aghast. Military men were
privileged; but why had one come
northward to forage on Squire Took
ber's apple tree ?i'si7sl nd 15ila o3ii9iiiR3
u We need not tell our readers why,
when they know the officer was Cap
tain Atwell. : '-s-l e.e-r o.4
Peering among the branches, as he
clambered up, he found at last the lit
tie. bag of oiled silk which hease well
remembered-for it had carried every
letter safely to and from ,Tilly,T-
Perched on a branch he united it, and
found a crumpled little note, spotted
and yellow. He read It, It was a
free and full forgiveness. Then he
descended. 90 -. - ,-,.. -4;5 q = :
Squire Tookep had been too much
surprised when the military gentle
man mounted his apple tree, TO feel
much more astonished when the same
individual clasped Tilly in his arms,
or when he discovered a well-knoWn
face beneath the officers cap. -, -.
And either the uniform, or the sur
prise, or his own losses in oil, had so
softened, him, that he actually heard
the tale which was soon told him
without wrath, and only remarked
that "Trewth was more 'peeooliar
than fiction's 81 stgi'i = q - :
Finally he gave his parental bless
ing to the lovers, and promised his
consent to their union when the war
should be concluded. Both events
have since occurred. ~.
sWoMEN IN CoNyERs ATIoN.-I is