Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-06-12
NO. AL

good ways towards home, and ! bid them
good-by and came back" Here he
stopped minute and made Traps cap do
service as handkerchief, though the
weather was not warm and the cap none
too clean. II thought should never get
here boys, y see, there's plenty II lend .
hand going away, but nobody won't help
you back. 1t s been pretty hard on me,
and l guess shan't have much further to
travel. But came back, and here am;
and guess that's about ALL"
He looked round at their dusky forms
and faces, sitting before them in the dark
corner, and then he added
'And now, mates, as you and me has
been sort of 'stranged, and not saying
by rights but yet taking it uncommon
rough of you; and how that God
A'mighty's give me another try; and /
come back free and unbeholden, and says
to you such as have; and being about
played, as was saying, and not going
much further than this here bunk Of me
and Browny's, and wanting to come round
to you all and shake hands on If there's
any present as would like to come up and
say bogones and calls it square, why.
here's what's left o. mine, and thankful to
able" And he hung his skeleton hand
over his knees like a raveled and knotted
bell-rope. 81.
Boys" said Dexter. facing round, "if
there's any now present has anything to
say agin the propersition made, he amt
no mate G mine. How are you, Lark,
old boy! Here's both O. mine. if they'll
do you any good; only don't 60 to talking
of peggin out, It's agin the rules O. the
camp"
One after another they followed Dexters
lead, and came and shook hands with him,
each said his rough word of greeting and
reconciliation. All but one. Daniel Gar
man lay all the while in his bunk, dark,
low, thick-set fellow, whom nobody liked.
and who had received rough injustice ut
their hands. Larcom missed him and
Kepler, with others: Kepler had been
taken cut dead the day before. Some of
them tried to get Garman out, but he
swore at them and said no, he'd see him
in fire and birthstone first. So they bade
Lark not mind him.
I'm glad that's gone, boys" Lark said.
'T'm one of you. now, and thank you."
Larcom talked to Dexter apart for
minute, and then Dexter got handful OF
straw and began breaking off pieces two
or three inches long. and the word was
passed under the breath that they were to
draw lots for the soldiers cap and coat
that had passed Larcom out and in again
unsuspected. For one man of those sixty
there was a pretty fair chance of liberty
and home. and not one of them all but
was profoundly moved and anxious. Not
man spoke while Dexter sat and counted
and broke the straws, nor was his own
hand too steady. Doubtless his thoughts
were far away as he finished the number,
and gnawed off the last, and prayed that
it might be his. making it full twice as
long as the rest, SO that there should be
no mistake. He came then and put them
into Larcom's hand.
''How many is there?' Larcom asked.
''Sixty-three, without Dan. | don't
count him."
''Give me one more, Billy" Larcom
said; IL don't bear no grudge."
Dexter muttered something like cursing.
but he brought another straw.
"It's your deal, Lark" he said. But
he's got no right"
''Did you count me. Billye"
'Yes, Lark sixty-four's all told"
Then here's mine, ;" Larcom said, tax
ing out a short straw. Come on. now,
boys"
Orderly and silently they filed round,
and sixty-two nervous hands drew an un-
speakably bitter pang out of Larcom's
hand. Dexter was the last. Larcom
looked up in his face as he reached and
drew. There were only two straws. and
he drew short one. Larcom opened his
hand and the long straw lay across his
bonv fingers. Dexter stood and stared It
his own hand and at Larcom's. It was 50
near. no wonder it shook him. ,-....
II wanted you to have it Billy" Larcom
said "I'm devilish sorry
Dexter never answered a word, but
turned straight about and went and hid
himself in his dark corner. Larcom turned
his eyes toward Garman's bunk; the fell
low was leaning out Of it, with eager, fox
eyes staring through the dusk. 1arcom
reached the straw at him, and he came
sliding out and took it, gathering up the
cap and coat, and went back with them
into his bunk without word Then Lar
com laid himself down in the bunk as
wearily as ever man went to his rest, and
those who were next him thought it was
true, as he said, that he would not 90
much further on this side the impenetrable
wall.
The night was pretty sharp, and some
of the well ones shivered in the dismal
place. LarcOm was too tired to sleep and
suffered severely with cold. 1t seemed to
him near morning, but was not yet very
late, when some one came and laid q
blanket over him cautiously, and was
creeping away again, but stopped and
crouched down close by on the floor. Lar
com was going to speak, but his voice
failed. through faintness and cold.
Lark" said a low, coarse, cautious
voice. He knew it was Garman's, but had
never heard it quite like that. Lark"
the voice repeated, are you cold now?"
mo, Dan, not now" Larcom answered.
And a long shiver. half-sob. like q child's
ran through the words. The fellow went
and brought all his outer clothing and
spread it over him, and Traps coat on ton
OF that, and tucked them round him. Then
he crouched down awhile again by the
bed in the darkness.
Lark" he said finally. in the same
hoarse, low voice.
And the queruleus voice answered
weakly, "Well. Dan"