Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-31
AUGUSTA NAME 81,
Gales ano Skettbes.
From the London World.
CAPT. CANLION.

| In the month Of Nav. 1864. We were
encamped, under Grant. on the bank Of
the Rapidan, The opposite side Of the
river was held by Lees forces. Our
regiment-the Two Hundredth Massa-
chuseits-had fought in many of the blood.
lest battles of the war. and comparatively
few of the original volunteers now sur
vived. Camlion, Fred Belton and N.Y.
self however, still held together. and
neither Of us, in all the dangers TO which
we had been exposed. never received
wound.
Our acquaintance antedated the war.
We had been classmates in Harvard
university. remember we used to nick.
name Camlion. Captain" long before
the war of the rebellion was thought Of
He was tall. strong and serene. with
dignity about him, half boyish and halt
manly. which made him respected rs we'll
as loved. lie was president of every
college society to which he belonged; he
pulled the heaviest oar in the University
crew, No exertion tired him. and no
provocation put him out of temper, though
do not forget his encounter with Fred
Belton. II was. indeed, the beginning of
their friendship Fred was a viwginian
by birth. though he ailerward fought on
the Northern side he was full of fun and
humorous mischief, but subject to un-
governable outbursts of passion. One day
he undertook TO play off n practical joke
on Mrs. Clapper. our laundress. who was
more than suspected Of using chemicals
in her washing to the detriment of the
fabrics committed to her charge; Fred,
who was something of chemist, hit upon
the ingenious device of saturating one OF
his shirts with a mixture which, when
brought into contact with the ingredients
Mrs. Clapper was accused of. produced
an explosion which utterly upset her and
her washtub. and. besides rendering the
poor old lady almost idiotic with fright,
injured her rather severely on the face
and hands. Fred related the incident with
great glee at the supper table that eve-
ming. We all thought il funny and laugh
ed, all except Camlion.
You ought to be g the woman's pardon,
Belton," he said There was an immediate
silence when his low but powerful voice
struck in, and everybody turned toward
him as he sat with both hands resting on
the edge of the table, and his face which
was the type of the young Grecian Her.
cules, slowly reddening. Fred laughed,
iancying at first that Camlion was chatting.
But in moment the latter added, 1T was
black guardly thing to do"
Thereupon Fred jumped up white with
wrath.
"Will you take that back ?" he called
out.
II say it was shameful and cowardy
trick" was Camlion's answer.
Belton. snatched up heavy bread knife
that lay on the table and hurled it with
all his force at Camlion's face. II struck
him on the cheek. a little below the right
eve. II was a murderous act. We an
arose coniusedly 10 our feet, anticipating
a violent sequel for Camlion could have
shaken Belton's heart out of him with
one band. lie alone remained seated.
pressing his handkerchief to the deep
cash. while he kept his glance fixed on
his assai'ant.
"Of course that makes no difference.
Belton,' he said. after pause
Bcl:on. who was by no means q bad fel-
low. had no sooner done The deed than he
was sorry for it, and manfully said ~
much on the spot.
II don't care fig about this. answered
Camlion quietly; but he added, ~ eitl
the grim tenacity which was a feature of
his character. you ought to make it up
TO Mrs. Capper.''
The upshot Of it was that Belton Weld
ed. and presented Mrs. Clapper with 425
and handsome apology. But the Incl
dent reused great deal Of discussion,
and opinion was for while divided as to
Camlion's behavior. Some declared that
he ought to have sent the Southerner u
challenge. but most Of ms felt that duel
would have been a gratuitous absurdty
for man like Camlion: and it was sign
Of the general confidence felt in him that
no one veptured to intimate that the fact
of Belton'. being Doioriously dead shot
had ANYTHING TO do with the pacific ter
mination Of the affair CamliOn himself
never alluded to it in any way. but as
have said the two men became firm friends
and Belton. who had before belonged Tn
the fast set. gradually mended his ways
under Camlion's influence and joined the
athletic party
Another follower Of Camlion' 's-and he
had many. though his intimates were few
was Frank Capel. also Southerner, and
a well-manpered, pleasant fellow enough.
He was chiefly noted for his fanatical de-.
votion to a certain famous sister of his, to
whose praises his friends were obliged
TO listen in season and out She was ac-
cording to Frank, the cleverest. most
beautiful. most fascinating creature shove
ground, her riding. her dancing, her music,
were all perfection, and Frank used to
declare that she could beat even Fred
Belton hollow at shooting.
why. I've seen her, - Frank exclaimed,
take her revolver and put q bullet
through each OF the fingers of nv glove
while l was throwing It into the air ten
PAGES away from her!''
In short, she was the ideal Of all that
woman can or might be, and we looked
forward with interest to her promised
appearance on our class day.
We'll introduce Camlion to her, and he
shall make her an offer Of marriage - said
Bolton with chuckle.
The joke Of this suggestion lay in the
fact that the else heroic Camlion was what
Is called afraid Of young ladies, that Is
he could seldom be got to open his mouth
in the presence of any woman who was
not over thirty and married. and n bought
to bay he would stammer and blush like
school boy, and stand twisting his great
hands behind him and glancing anxi0usly
this way and that Tor chance to bolt, 10
amagine him carrying on : cOurtahip vas
ff1..1e.s..4 - n.@~sA =