The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-12-07
very moderate. Tic put his he id further

very moderate. He put his he id further
IN, and seemed puzzled. 1t was, of
course very dark in there, but yet he
could probably sec that the bed did not
look as though there was a man in it..
Oncol raised my pistol, full sure that
the man was after my life, and fearful
that II l threw n chance away he might
get the better of me; but did not fire.
Something seemed to whisper in my car:
Hold on you've hit him once. BE sure
you re in danger before you hit him
again" INC I lowered my pistol and
watched. Presently:
'Ma,or" came from his lips, carefully
but earnestly. "Major!-Ma or Coch-
rane!"
There was something in tho tone or
that voice that gave me heart. 1t was u
SOFT OF imploring, prayerful tone, as of
ono who has a great favor to ask. de-
tefmined to answer him; bat to be sure I
kept my pistol ready ut hand.
with n yawn, as t ough Just startled
from my sleep, I returned:
IA h! Hello! Who's heres"
"+h! Down here? It's M, Major
Sergeant Connove:. was passing round
back OF your tent and thought 1 heard
ye talking with ycrsclf. So, thinkin'
ye'd be awake, and havin' something I
wanted particularly to say. l made bold
to come around and look in. The fact
IS Major, l couldn't sleep till I'd It mat
tcrs right"
By this time the fellow had turned so
that l could see that he had no weapon
with him, and ! began to think that |
had been a little too fearful. However,
got up and stepped out into the centre
OF the tented area, and then said:
ahead, sergeant. I'm all atten-
ton" ~
Without further preliminarics he went
on:
course you know me2"
IL think l have good reason to rcmcm
And you remember the last words ]
ever spoke to you in the old years."
~ havc not forgotten th,m."
.Well, nc said. with n palpablc burst
OF 1eellng, them wo. ds have been haunt
ing me ever since l met you mt the hotel
In Jefferson. When l was ordered TO re-.
pot to MAJOR Cochrane 1 never thought
of you. Inc old affair hid almost rome
from my mind: but when I saw YOUR face
knew you, and when you looked up ut
me l was troubled. I hoped YOU might
not remember me. If you did not ]
meant to hold my tongue. But I couldt
act hide myself. I~Iowsumevcr, I held I'm
till to night. Put after we'd done sun.
per 1 kept watch of your movements, and
made up my mind TINT you were going
to look out for M. But, Major, don't
lot it go no further. I'm too old a soldier
not to know that the harm l suffered
Smelling was of my own making. i
bear tho old grudge any longer,
and I tell you the truth when / tell YOU
that you did me IL good turn that time.
know how 1 was going on, and l know
hat another officer in your place would
nave shot me. So, YOU will tlkc nv
and cry quits of all old memories?"
never gave my hand to man more
readily, nor more cheerfully; aid l doubt
in all this Western wilds there was a
more sociable and jolly party than we
on the following day. AS on in
1~ivldual, l was particularly happy; for
am free to confess that there were
Jew moments of that first night in the
freighted with about as much
freud and uncasiness rs a man woul care
o experience. But, as 1 remarked to
he Sergeant on a former occ aston: s'Alls
veil that ends WELL" And our tramp
# four weeks continued so pleasantly
hat the end might have been longer de-
erred without complaint from U.S.
Times.