The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-07-06
DICKS RHVlNGB.

"They love their country a sight bet
ter nor each other, that's n fact but fol
once ne woman is at the bottom of the
feud. Dick Cartright has n wife and
baby down in that little cottage yonder,
aud Ben Rutan likes his mother hettei
than any woman living. It's not that, !
assure you, Once the lads we're sworn
friends, and would have knocked Il fol,
low down ii he had told them that any.
thing could come between them, They
both took to l%arnin', and it was while at
college that they fell out-About the
honOrs, ! guess. At auy rate they
hain't spoke to each other since they
brought their sheep.skins home, though
there is not a day they don't meet face
10 face on the street" explained the old
sexton, eager to impart the information.
"It's none o. my business, | reckon
but II would not be out OF place for you
to keep Il sharp eye on EN-; otherwise
you may have lightin' in your own
ranks, which would not be pleasant.
After this take an old follows advice
and put your hundred men between
Dick Cartwright aud Ben Rutan instead
OF walking EN- together as you did Just
now" The Captain smiled at tho old
mans fears, but promised that no trouble
should come from the belligerents' prox.
unity in tho future. This was the Fourth
of July, 1862, and before twilight tho
soldiers had taken leave Of their peaceful
homCs-many OF them forever. They
were eager to sec active service, but re-
gardless OF their murmerirgs they were
detained in camp for several weeks. The
same command that ordered the regi.
ment TO be ready to move in ten days
gave the officers the privilege Of issuing
iurloughs, not exceeding ten in n com
pany, 10 the tired soldiers. AS only one
in ten could 90 Colonel Cameron ordered
lots TO be cast in his regiment 10 decide
whom the hundred lucky ones should
be. No ono watched the box over which
Captain NARROW presided with more
anxiety than Dick Cartwright, for tho
mornings mail had brought him tidings
Of the serious illness OF his little boy.
Therefore when the last name was
drawn aud instead OF hearing Dick Cart
wright, as he had hoped, that Of ben
Rutan was read, hO turned away sick at
heart, muttering against the hard fate
that lad befallen him.
From a mutual friend Ben had heard
Of the sorrow in the home OF bis enemy
and, much as the longed for q sight oil
his dear old mother aud the girls, he
wished that the lot Ind fallen to the sor.
rowing father instead Of to himself. lie
saw the agony depicted in tho strong
mans face as hO realized the utter hope
lessness Of his case, and, enemy though
he was, his heart went out in pity to the
strickeA parent, whose child might, even
then, be dying,
III things were different l would give
up my place to him. Ben soliloquized
us he watched the Captain writing the
passes. "But he Is my enemy and EN-
braces every opportunity ofinjuring me,
No, ! can not give up seeing mother fOl
his sake" He turned away, determined
not to listen to the pleadings Of his heart
but hO could not shut out the conscious
ness Of his own weakness.
"You are Il coward, Ben Rutan!' he
said aloud through his clenChed teeth
"a coward, l sNyl You are afraid To dc
what you know to be right. II Dick did
treat you like u dog, II is mean TO retail
late now when It Is in your power. You
are u brave soldier, truly. You know
your mother and tho girls would bl
NshamGdt to have you go home and DlCk'l
buby dying" Strengthening himself NJ
Returned on his heels, muttering; "Fol
the little ones sake" and walking ovel
to tho Captains tent told him TO make
out the furlough for Dick Cartwright in
stead Of Ben Rutan. Captain MARROW
looked up in amazemOnt, but Ben madt
no explanation and only wanted II mo
ment to see that his request was carriCt
out properly.
Dick could not understand 1t, but asi
was train time and the Captain Assuret
him IL was all right, ho hurried away
intending to express his gratitude L
Ben upon his return. On account o
tho dangerous condition OF his child nj
fnrlough was extended, aud before hi
return his regiment was sent TO reinforce
the Army OF tho Potomac, then unde
command Of General Mcclellan. AT tn
expiration Of his second iurlough DiCl
was transferred TO q Western regiment
and thus his opportunity Of maxim
amends to Ben was unavoidhbly dc
layed.
They did not meet again until I'll
night after the last days fight at GeltyS
burg. Dick Ind been promoted TO
CapiAinCy, and during the battle la
lost none Of his laurels. Sometime be
tween midnight and day.dawn no wa
rudely wOkoned By Corporal Hunter
who whispered hoOrsely in his car:
"NOw's your time for revenge, Car
tain. AS waS coming across the rldg
| stumbled upon n sentinel fast asleepF
his post.
lily h lightot the moon l discoyerC
the wretch to be your old enemy, Be
Rutan. without disturbing his slnmbUi
| hpslened forward 10 warn you Thu
your enemy WAS In your power. Il
quick, or ho may wake before you ca
reach him"
"Leadon," gWpcd tho Captain, sprinI
ing to his feet. "Go ahead and don
A speak Until you reach tile spot" Il
4 muttercd, as his companion went on
!, describe tho manner IN which he Ia
made no important a discovery. SILENT
and swiftly tho two dark figures Cret
along the intervening distance, new
pausing until they stood by the pro
= irate form Of q man-a scntinOl-tht
oven on the battlefield had dared to slice
At his post.
y SEEKING tho gun loosely Clasped In IL
nervous fingers, Captain Oartwtigl
y pointed II at The CorporalR heart, sayir
stOrnly. "Swear never to reveal VIII
Won hByO witnessed tonight" Trem'
ling like u Leaf the coward took the oal
demanded and then slipped ttealthi
back 10 his quarters like q CFltninu
wondering what evil spirit had take
possession Of Dick, who used 10 la
lien worse than q mtllesnake,
TO DO certain there was no inlstAk
the Captain III q match aud closely scr
iinised the iaro Of the sleeper. SatIsle
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