Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-09
Mts1sllangDns.
The Captains Story.


tells the following story:
LET me show you an old friend" said
wearer of the Graud Army badge on
Friday night. Suiting the action to the
word he drew from pocket revolver,
Smith & Wesson long 80. but beyond
these characteristics of kind not put on
the market nowadays. The barrel was
larger than any seen now, and the
hammer provided with a good thumb
piece, so that it could be raised easily.
The butt was massive, with square cor
ners at the base. giving the hand good
purchase. something lacking in the pistols
made to-day. The trigger was unprotect-
ed By guard, for the dav of self acting,
silver plated, cartridge-ej 9cting. ivory
handled TOYS was not made when this par
tcular implement of death was forged,
while the perfect balance OF the weapon
and its excellent condition fully entitled
it to the praise it received. 1t 'pnlled'
easily, and otherwise betrayed evidences
of having been carefully cleaned and
oiled.
1T was twenty years and more since
handled that gun, until Yesterday" said
the owner, and as he said it there was
moisture in the eye OF this stern. stalw
man, who bore lightly his fifty years.
There is a history to that gum" he said,
"a heart history" he slowly repeated;
and his powerful, CHEEKY voice was
broken. 1.-The sight OF it drags from the
grave of time sorrows | had buried ana
forgotten, sorrows | have never spoken
of Now they come up so vlvldly ana
weigh so heavily that it seems l can not
bear them alone.
You know went to the war and came
back prouder Of my captains commission
than almost anything in life. didn't
bring much else back with me. There
was that gun and a ragged uniforms
private's blouse, by the way. on which
one OF my company had sewed an odd
assortment OF buttons and pair of second
hand shoulder-straps. You know that tor
two wears after the war | was wanderer.
You do not know how it happened that
man of my cast lost his grip.
Shortly before the war | married. |
suppose it is but natural | should say.
though you may smile at it, that my wife
was as sweet a little woman as you ever
saw. thought she was. and | believe
she was at that time. We had been
sweethearts as boy and girl, and were but
little more than that when we cast our
lot together Looking back, even at this
day, recall how we loved. Two children
were born to US, both now dead. To her
love, which | never doubted, she added
patriotism, and it was with her consent |
lett her with the old people and went to
the front.
lyon can guess how FASTENED to that
home when we were mustered out. Army
life, suppose, had quickened my per-
ceptions, tor in few days discovered
skeleton in my household, which almost
drove me mad. | cannot bear to think OF
it now. One of those poltroons, too
COW dardlv to risk his own skin, and rich
enough to furnish substitute, had
entered that little home and cast shadow
over my hearth which nothing could re-
move. OF course my case was only one
of many. These things are part of the
history of the war.
when assured OF the truth of my sus
picions took this gun and went looking
for that man. He fled me, and sometimes
| thank God that have never looked upon
his face. Well, then ii was | left home
and friends, and everything, and started
out on that two years OF wandering and
Then determined to become
a man again, and leaving the State | was
born in began q new life here. She who
had wronged me secured divorce for de
sertion. and married again. What have
accomplished you can now understand.
My position. my wife, my family, my
home. you know of.
They say time Is great healer. but it
only deadens; it doesn't heal. Wounds
once inflicted remain, and circumstances
occur more or less in mems lives to reopen
them. A circumstance of this kind came
in my life a few evenings ago. 1t was
dusk. and was in the private Office lock
ing up my desk, just about to 60 home,
when one of the boys came in from the
outer office and said lady wished to see
me.
IL said was coming right out, and he
went turning out the gas on his way, and
letting down the latch on the outer door
that might lock all up on leaving. His
message reminded me that my sister-n-
law was to call to go home with me, and
it was she stepped into the
semi darkness, and with oh. you have
come or some such commonplace greet
ing, took her hand and kissed her as was
my custom.
81 did not expect such greeting. "were
the words that struck me like a voice from
the tomb, and seemed to urn nv heart to
ice. Then a hand raise the veil
that covered the upper part of the
face of the won an tlat stood before
me. We had SHIFT, d our positions slight
ley, and the light from the hallway
streamed in upon us. 1t was my first
wife. Never on the skirmish line when
desultory shots with sickening uncertainty
dropped comrades around me. never in
the full tide of battle with lead actually
raining through the ranks, had quailed
as did before that sadly calm woman.
Why did you Gomez" was all could
say.
ITO see you. | wanted to see you. to
look into your eyes once more. Have
you nothing to say to meP"
Yes. | forgive You; now make this in
terview as. brief az possible; it is painful, :"
We talked a few minutes and Won know