The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-06-26
our gate, and l heard my Charlie voice

arms-my great tall handsome brown
son. And there he was in his uniform,
with his pretty shoulder straps, and as
hearty rs If he had never been through
any hardships. He had to leave me tc
put the horse up, and then I had by the
fire my son. And Drusilla, who hao
been crying I wonder ?-cams
down all in futter-for they were like
brother and sister-and he kissed hel
and she kissed him, and then away she
went to set the table, and the nice hot
things smoked on q cloth as white as
snow; and how Charley enjoyed them
Bat once in the midst Of all / felt :
frightened feeling come over me, and ]
knew | turned pale, for Drusilla said
"What is the matter, Aunt Fairfax q
I said nothing, but it was this: Kind
o like the ghost Of a step going champ,
champ, over the frozen snow; kind o
like the ghost Of a voice saying: "Let
me lie on the floor before your fire, and
give me any kind of orust;'' kind O
like some that had mother down on the
wintry road, and freezing and starying 6
to death there. That is what it was
But put it away and only thought OF
Charlie.
We drew up together by the fire when
the tea was done. and he told us things
about the war I never heard before-how
the soldiers suffered, and what weary
marches and short rations they sometimes
had. And then he told me his life had
been in danger; how he had been set upon
by the foe and been badly wounded; and
how at the risk of his own life, fellow
soldier had saved him, and carried him
away, fighting his path back to camp.
Il would never see you but for him, .
saws Charlie. 'sAnd if there's a man on
earth ] love, it's Bob Hadaway-the
dearest. best fellow! We've shared
each others rations and drank from the
same canteen many and many time;
and if | had brother | couldn't think
more OF him."
"Why didn't you bring him home to
see your mother, Charles?' sid I.
"Why, I'd love him too, aud anything
I could 10 for him, for the man who
saved my boys life, couldn't be enough.
Sand for hin, Chariie -
But Charlie shook his head and cov-
cred his face With his hands.
s'ATother,'' said he, Il don't know
whether Bob Hadaway is alive or dead
to-day. While I was still in the ranks
he was taken prisoner. And military
prisons are poor places to live in, moth
er. I'd give my right hand to be able
to DO any good but [ can find no trace
of him. And he has mother, too, and
she is so fond of him She lives at
Greenbank-poor old lady. Ny dear,
good, noble Rob, the preserver of my
life
And saw Charley was nearly crying.
Not to let us see the tears he got up
and went to the mantle-piece. did not
look around until heard. cry:
''Great heaven what is it2''
And I turned, and Charlie had the to-
bacco pouch the man had dropped in
his hand.
"Where did this come from? I feel
as though | had seen a ghost. I gave
this to Bob Hadaway the day he saved
me- We soldiers had not much to give,
you know, and he vowed never to part
with it while he lived. How did it come
here, mother ~
And fell back in my chair, white and
cold; said /:
"a wandering tramp left it here.
Never your Rob, my dear, never your
Rob. lie must have been an imposter,
| wouldn't have turned away person
really in want. Oh, no, no; it another
pouch, child, or he stole it. A tall fel-
low with blue eyes and yellow brown
hair; wounded, he said, and going to bis
mother at Greenbank. Not your Bob. )"
And Charley stood staring at me with
clenched hands and said he:
cit was my dear OLD Rob, wounded
and starving my dear Rob who saved
ray life, and you have driven him out in
such night as this, my mother. Ny
mother, to use Rob so !"
Condemn me, Charley" said I,
condemn me if yen like; [ am afraid
God will. Three times he came back;
three times he asked for only crust and
place to lie, and I drove him away,
and he's lying in the road now. Oh! If
| had only known !"
And Charley canght up his hat.
'rll find him if he's alive" said he.
'.Oh, Rob, my dear friend
And then-I never saw the girl in such
taking. Down went Drusilla on her
knees, as If she was saying Ter prayers,
and says:
'sThank God, | dared to do il p
And says she to me:
''Oh, aunt, | have been trembling with
fright, not knowing what you would say
to me. took him IN the kitchen way.
/ couldn't see him go faint and hungry,
and wounded, and put him in the spare
chamber over the parior, and L have
been SO frightened all the while"
"The Lord bless YOU Drusilla, said
Charley.
"Amen," said I.
And she, getting bolder. went on:
''And l took him some hot short cakes
and apple sass and tea, candle and a
hot brick for his feet, and I told him to
eat and go to bed in the best chamber,
Aunt Fairfax, with the white counterpane
and all, AMI locked him in and put tic