Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-03

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forced smile, he returned:
AYE, aye-thats sou And the reply was
emphatic, as though his decision were mat
ter of moment
rode on, the picture of Connover's passage
with the drover occupying my mind. Before
this had fancied that there was something
familiar in the sergeant's face and in his gen
eral tone and bearing. He might be the man
who swore, four years ago, at Smelling, that
he had been underpaid; or he might be the
man who had been accidentally overpaid at
Columbus two years before, and who had
come forward of his own accord and made
restitution.
III we've got God, ye'd better thank Him
that Jem Connover don't owe ye much of a
grudge."
Why did those words ring in my ears and
echo through my whole beingi
Twenty times during that day looked upon
my sergeant when he did not know it, and
studied his face; and each effort seemed TO
bring the last connection nearer, without
quite giving II into my hands He seemed to
know that had begun to feel an interest in
his antecedents, and therefore toward the lat
ter part of the day he behaved him
self more as the officer of an escort
ought. He asked me how l would like
to have the guard disposed, and very
modeStly gave ME TO understand that
my wishes would be held as laws by them l
took this for what it was worth, and knew
very well what it meant: There was an old
association which he would not have raked
up.
That night found us at the foot of Brooks
mountain, and at the extreme verge of civili-
Zation in that direction. Beyond here we
were TO take the old government supply road
"a mere blazed path-with which Connover
and two of his men were perfectly familiar;
and we would not strike another settlement
until near 10 Stetson.
1t was my plan, when travelling thus, to
make nv pannier saddle the Substratum of
my pillow, with pair of good revolvers in
such position that they could be grasped upon
the instant. And may here remark that
though am naturally a sound sleeper, yet
tho presence Of money under my ca e and
loaded pistols at nv hand will render me so
sensitive, 10 any disturbing cause that the
movement of mouse would arouse me. OF
course the thought of being robbed occurred
to me, but not with anything like fear, or
even seriousness, for had not yet dreamed
that a man of my escort could have enter
tanned such plans and had no faith that
any other power was likely TO meet could
lay hold of it. On this night l lay down as
usual having spread my tent to the leeward
OF a huge boulder, where l was completely
sheltered, while the three tents in which my
escort slept were set up directly before me.
went to sleep thinking of Sergt James
Connover, and it must have been immedi-
ately after my waking senses left me that my
dream senses took up the thread, and they
took it up 10 some purpose Hampered with
no ordinary routine, or system, Of circumlo-
cution, bothered with no searching for con-
Meeting links or correlative circumstances,
they went back over the years with a leap,
and drew picture for me as vivid and dis
tinct as the original event had been just
eighteen years ago.
WAS at Fort Smelling, a second lieutenant
of engineers, engaged in surveying govern
ment lands, laying out roads and SO on, and
among those detailed 70 assist me was a pri-
vate of the name OF James Connover. He
got drunk while at work, and when l repri-
manded him he used language so offensive
and foul that could not pass it by. In fact,
if / had been armed at the time should have
shot him, for his course was such as TO en-
tirely place himself beyond the reach of for
bearance. reported him and he was flogged
severely-fogged so severely that bore him
no more grudge. But he bore a grudge
toward me, though. Aye-while his back
was bleeding and smarting he hissed into my
ears, If you've got God, be sure to Him,
Jem Connover swears that he don't give
over this grudge till one of us dies"
started out from my sleep and sat up. 1t
L !. 4 Ill.
the while the scene was being repeated before
me, had been conscious that / lay there in
my tent under the old bowlder of the Brock
had sank into a state where my mind was
free to follow its own course, taking the
single fact of James Connover for point of
departure, and thence running backward un-
til he was met again
remembered all now. Yes. This was the
man, who, eighteen years before, had cursed
and swOre and reviled me, and threatened all
manner of violence; and his only provoca-
ton had been that had threatened to have
him punished if he ever got drunk again
while ON duty with me. To be sure, he was
under the influence of liquor at the time; but
not 50 far gone but that he knew very well
what lie was doing; because, after reGshing
the fort, on our return, he had made his boast
that be had given the "Shoulder-pop" $50 he
called mel q stomach full to carry off, and he
didn't believe would dare to report him
But did report him, and gave his speech in
full, and the result was that the old major
ordered a court martial, out from the SEN
tence of which the man came with 100 lashes.
And there was another result; James Con-
mover never wns guilty of like offeRse
again; but, on the contrary, he saw very
plainly that the service would very quickly
go to rack and ruin if such conduct as he had
been guilty of could be permitted, or even
lightly treated; and thenceforward he be-
came a better man, and soon reaped the
benefit thereof. But he could not forgive me-
Twice he swore to me that he would carry
that grudge against me while We both lived;
and he told me that it was deadly grudge
"I'Il never forget itln he said, the last time
Il shall carry them marks on my back to my
grave, and - you, hope you may die be-
fore / do" Those were his words, spoken
while was stepping on board a steamer at
St Louis; and l knew that they plainly
meant that he would help me to die if he ever
got the chance.
And here was, with my old enemy for an
escortl From that far-gone time to the pres
eat lad never seen nor heard Of the man,
and lie had long ago passed entirely from my
mind. Connover is a common name in the
army; or, at least, l had happened to hit
quite number of enlisted men of that name;
so | had not connected the stout, dark
browed, stocky sergeant with the fair-faced,
uuIe and youthful soldier who had crossed
my path at Smelling.
A hasty review of the whole thing brought
me to rather an unpleasant understanding Of
the present situation. That Connover still
bore the old grudge was very evident; and it
WAS equally evident that he meant TO settle
the account between us on this trip. could