The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-24

graphical and engineer work. as he was a good
engineer and had graduated as c. L. Just before
eDlisting / was kept with the General.
The first day at Headquarters, saw, among
the or6erlies, the veritabe cavalryman that
had caused my promotion! was alarmed but
cautiously approaching him, | found he did
not recognize me in my smart new uniform
and with my newly-assumed airs and style. l
was nightly relieved The dragoon's name
was Michael Malone; age, %; single; occupa-
ton, jockey; read and write he conld not;
habits. moderately temperate. He was popu-
lar with his comrades, and of duty was roliick-
ing and jolly.
With the start | had. honors were thrust
thick upon me. Before long / was Captain
and an Assistant Acknowledgement obtained
a leave OF absence that Winter, desiring to have
a brief good time before active operations be-
gan in The Spring The same mail that brought
nay application for leave marked approved
brought large envelope inscribed: "Applica-
ton for furloueh. Private NJ. Malone, -
ILL., Cav. Disapproved." As | was walking to
nay quarters / met this man, a letter in
his hand. Saluting me respectfully, "Av We
PLACE, Captin,n he said, here's letther an
Dan Ryan can't ra6e il list right, an know
We can, an wud We mind 70 do it? It's impor-
tant bizness, sor for We see with blush and
gleamj it 5 from me thrue Lowell"
The composition was bad; the penmanship
worse. 1t read:
Yer mother gifts that weak she cant set up amour
atine, but shese asy in her mine an tosSs of you
and thinks II We cud 10 her jist the vance,
she could die conint, for die she must, an We cad
fife the harder when We git back think II ure
iolt you doant cum. line sure we have anuther
CURL for yer sweetheart 10y this time and don't ever
care for the likes OF me amy longer. curse the
day We went for a -ojer, Goi bless yei / hope you
vii be happy with her without her.
truly yur friend KATEY 0'BRIEN.
answered the letter for Mike and explained
matters as best ] could. de described the sit
uation TO me at his home, which was in Chi
cage His sweetheart, Kitty 0Brien, had
/ given mp her place as domestic TO care for his
/ invalid mother, who for many months had sub
sisted entirely on Mixes small pay. There's
not much dom now" he said to me; i think
/ they might lave me go TO see thim but it's no
use frettin' suppose, an III stay as contint
as | can. Though j could wish to see them
/ both so bad--O, so bad"
Ny arrival at home was noticed by the local
papers, with sundry comments on the bril-
! liant record / had made party was given
T by rich relative in honor of his gallant
young nephew OF course l was the lion of
! the occasion, and the compliments and iattery
i received were enough To make me silly,-and
miserable, too, / must confess. For, as vision
of Nike Malone and his dying mother rose
before me ever and anon, felt what mis-
erable fraud l was, and how undeserved all
these attentions Were.
=
the daughter Of the distinguished Judge Nor
ris, rich and proud, and hitherto at such dis
lance from me IN social position that | was
almost stranger to the family Edith Morris
was beautiful and accomplished. She was pa
| triotic and ambitious, too. Ont of dozen or
more MARI ageable young ladies, by whom / WAS
fairy surrounded, / chose her the dearest girl
Of all, and before / returned TO the army we
were engaged Asking her if she cond love
/ soldier boy, she replied that / was no longer a
soldier boy, but a hero, sir knight, and that
l she was only too proud-being all unworthy
20 be my lady love! I mag say IT, in the in
terest Of truth, that other girls Of her set en-
WED her!
MIKES FAITHFUL HEART.
In the rear OF Viclsburg my General directed
me 70 take an orderly and ride forward and
reconnoiter a particular position. ! rode out
with Nike Malone, and we were soon inside
the eneny's lines. Pushing through thicket,
I we came suddenly upon two Confederate OH
! Gers, who called out. Surrender!" strug-
I gle followed One OF the Confederates Ia Cap
tain was killed; the other was wounded
/ had scratch my check, and Mike bullet
1 in his thigh. he covered the surviving officer
with his Old luka revolver and turned to me
for orders. Spare him." said The Confsd-
crate bowed and said Though you are much
my inferior ia rank, surrender to you as a
prisoner. am General Carter You viii care
for the body Of my friend here, supposeg 2"
1t seemed that be and staff officer had been
out accommodating, too hurried him away to
or camp. Mike rode behind US without a
word or gr0an because Of the wound he had
| received, severe Is il was As I was about to
return my revolver 10 its holster. ] examined
it 10 reload the chambers that imagined had
emptied. Not shot had fred Every cham
Der had a cartridge, every nipple cap. / had
sat through the fight, too bewildered TO DO or
I IN hat was lt--,,
tat0r Nike said he believed / had killed the
rebel officer, for sure the Captain was nigh to
him, and for meself, ] was shootin' purity
fasht-hrst al wan, then at another OF thin. !"
/ was hero this time Of the entire division.
Nike was again taken TO the hospital. l was
made Major
Calling TO see the brave fellow one dav. he
showed me another letter he had received
from Chicago. 1t was written by Sister of
Charity. Mixes mother was dead and-oh the
pity and the sorrow of it-Katie O'Brien was
dead, too. She had watched and cared for the
poor widow until the worn-out body had re-
leased her spirit. Then, because Mikes pay
was delayed, and there was no money to be
had otherwise, Katie had cheerfully spent her
OWL savings, and even sold her ring to help
buy the coffin and pay for the candles. A
month later she, too, died, chiefly of oyerwork
and UNDERTAKE. The good Sister wrote. She
passed away peacefully, and little while be-
lore she died she bade me write TO you and say
she loved you TO the last. May God bless him
and the Virgin keep him. were her very
words" j could not keep the tears back. but
Nike said, It's very hard to bear Captain.
dear, but III bear il, though rs I've borne ii ali
this while" And bear it he did
30 IL went on. After time was comm is
stoned fun Colonel, and led a regiment in the
closing scenes of the war. ] was mustered out
brevet- Brigadicr, zone Of the youngest in the
service" il was said Dave became a Major.
and took commission in the Regular Army.
resigning year later 70 engage actively in the
wholesale trade i'm Chicago.
returned home. married Edith Morris. was
econ admitted 10 the bar, and formed lucra-
tive partnership with her father i became
prominent rs lawyer and politician / broke
deadlock, and was nominated by my party for
Congress, and elected By a very small majority
less than co. The papers said my splendid
war record saved me.
THE SEQUEL
In my seat IN the House, one day. received
letter from Dave. asking me 10 vote for lib
eral appropriation IN aid Of the harbor improve
meBt az Chicago, aud closing " By the way,
an old acquaintance OF ours turned I'D yester-
day. You remember that Irish cayalrv!nan nj
luka. Positively this was the first time either
Of us bad alluded 20 him, one 70 the ofher.l He
- employed IN cur house now as uorter. an
piled this morning 70 the manager. In NV pres
enoei for work; manager said, 'AH FULL /
recognized him, SAW that he didn't rememher
ne and said, Give him place His name i
Michael Malone, and he is industrious, faith
fol, and obliyious"