Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-07-17

the tramps domicile The highest section OF
tho roof was pushed away by thin hand,
and tall erect figure rose through the apor-
ture like a jack-in-the box.
Something more than the unexpected ma
ture of the apparition caused Browster to fall
back with n start, as II he had seen ghost
lie was not fanoiful man, but the uncanny
locality, tho nosome SMELLS the curling
wreaihs of vapor, the moon struggling to
pierce the thick voil of raist overhead, coupled
perhaps, with the afternoons reminiecenoes
carried him back twenty years and he was in
the pens Of Andersonville, waking from
troubled sleep TO sec the thin form OF Lenoir
stealing TO his side at midnight TO thrust into
the lads pocket a crust OF bread saved from
his own scanty rations lie put the rocollec-
tion Of that wretched experience resolutoly
from his mind, but it left its impression.
Along with visionary plans Of riotous feasts
and gluttonous indulgence commonly planned
by hungry men in such extremities, 10 be car
ried out in case of release, he had taken one
solemn oath. He had vowed that il he ever
escaped from that wretched hole, 30 long as
he lived and had IL in his power he would
never fail to feed a hungry human being
Through all the fluctuations Of his business
career and the manifold duties OF bis busy
life, he had kept this pledge inviolate, AZ
mer in Stuart street could attest. Resolve
had grown into a principle OF action, and
principle into habit He recalled this custom
now.
"Here, sir; this will get you a round meal
down yonder, nodding in the direction of the
cheap eating house in Fourth street, as he
extended a quarter he had extracted from his
trousers pocket, carefully weighing it in his
hand to make sure that he was in no danger
Of giving away gold piece by mistake.
"Do you think that il wanted charity l
would be occupying this pslatial mansion and
fasting until refuse garbage seems mess for
a kingT
Brewster recalled what Martin had said,
and drew back his well-meant offering with
sense of personal injury.
"Oh, como now. BE of, like good fell
low, and make no more trouble"
The lumberman was impatient to bring the
interview TO a close. lie still fingered the
silver piece with an uneasy sense that it would
be better in the possession of vagabond.
The man raised his tattered hat, with q
mocking bow, and essayed to step over the
walls Of his abode; but his legs proved too
unsteady for the successful accomplishment of
his purpose. He stumbled, reeed and sat
down on his own roof top, which rasped and
clashed in a dismal chorus.
Brewster knew the meaning of the action.
How many times had he seen some poor fell
low, reduced to the last limits of inantion,
falter and fall by the way on a forced march.
His reflections exploded in two words, each
possessed Of three sylables, and followed by
an exclamation point The first was ''starva-
tion !" the second differed only in the first
| syllable, and represented very essential ar
ticle of faith in the orthodox creed. He sup
plemented the remarks with an imperative
order 10 the watchman, who forthwith seized
one of the vagrants arms. Half leading, half
supporting him, ignoring his faint protests,
they took him up the path TO the Office, and
| placed him on a chair before the fire.
As they progressed on their slimy path,
Brewster inconsequently recalled the battle Of
| Shiloh, when LenOir, badly wounded and
thrown from the saddle of dying horse, had
| been led to the rear, protesting and fighting
every step of the way. As he came into the
| light Of the Office windows, he accounted for
the sensation by the discovery that the man
wore a cheap ovsrcoat of military cloth and
cut, of the stamp usually affected by the
hay bunkers."
They placed him in chair before the FIRE.
He sat there a mutinous captive, his felt hat
| with its battered brm drawn down over his
| eyes and partially shading his face. The first
| glance at the stranger in the honest light of
the Office lamp had in measure reassured
Brewster and put to fight his absurd fancies.
There was nothing striking or uncommon in
the spare figure, or the old face with its lines
OF care and pain. 1t was a very ordinary
face al eminently prosAic face, he assured
others in the city but he could not resist a
crazy desire to see the forehead barred, TO look
at the left temple and
Bah Back to those old memories of the
war again So much for the pernicious effect
of the afternoons associations. Well, what
was 1t, after all 2
Only young fellow, his blue suit in tat
ters, crazed with fever, crawling past the
dead line, q strong hand stretched out TO save
him, dull report, a bullet leaving bloody
track across the temple and along the scalp
of the rescuer.
And why had he lost sight of the gallant
old soul all these years. Confound itp Le-
noiT Uds just the one to sneak off from his
friends il the world used hiHf i'll, to live in a
dugout and dine on scraps, rather than ask
charity. Yes, and to jest and flash out with a
dsuntless spirit in a moment of humiliation
and shame that held worse terror to a proud
soul than the bravest soldier ever faced on
the battle field. Could poverty, and despair,
and ill-health reduce the high-souled gentle
man and soldier TO tho likeness of that old
scarecrow
Brewster stepped impulsively forward,
| reaching over for a chunk of fTewood awk-
wardly brushing the strangers head with his
arm and knocking of the slouch hat.
He hesitated just long enough to observe
a white track across the temple and through
the sparse gray hair; then with his brain in a
whirl, secured the stick of wood, laid it care
fully upon the blaze took out pencil and
note book and soribbled a few lines TO his
wife.
"a close carriage, fire in the best room, q
warm dinner" his pencil checked of the items
at lightning speed. He called the watchman
and despatched him with the note, meeting the
mans wondering look with one of stern de
cision. As the door closed behind the mes
senger, and his departing footsteps echoed
fainter and fainter in the distance, he turned
to find his compulsory guest arisen from his
chair and confronting him with a white face.
''The almshouRe2 I'll die first !"
"Neoer aohih GrG, Colonel LenOir
Having uttered this blunt assurance, Brew
stor sat staring at his old friend through &
mist of tears. The old man answered with 4
startled look. He drew the slouch hat lower
over his eyes. His chin worked convulsively
Old and thin and gray, overtaken by re
verses, crushed by misfortune, the Oolone
was found out.-SdR Francisco IRglesid6.