Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-07-04


no woman is at the bottom of the feud.
Dick Cartwright has q wife and baby down
in that little cottage yonder, and Ben Rutan
likes his mother better than any woman liv-
ing. It's not that, assure you. Once the
lads were sworn friends, and would have
knocked fellow down if he had told them
that any thing could come between them.
They both took to larnin', and 1t was while
at college that they fell out-abOut the hon
ors, guess. At any rate they hain't spoke
to each other since they brought theis sheep
skins home, though there is not q day they
don't meet face to face On the strees," eX-
planned the old sexton, eager to impart the
information.
Its none o. my business, l reckon; but
it would not be out Of place for you to keep
a sharp eye on 'em; otherwise YOU may
have fightin' in your own ranks, which
would not be pleasant. After this take an
old fellows advice and put your hundred
men between Dick Cartwright and Ben
Rutan instead of walking 'em together as
you did just now" The Captain smiled at
the old mans fears, but promised that no
trouble should come from the belligerents'
proximity III the future. This was the
Fourth Of July, 1862, and before twilight
the soldiers had taken leave OF their peace
full homes-many of them forever. They
were eager to see active service, but re-
gardless of their murmurings they were
detained in camp for several weeks. The
same command that ordered the regiment
to be ready to move in ten days gave the
officers the privilege of Issuing furlOughsS
not exceeding ten in 4 company, to the
tired soldiers. As only one in ten could go
Colonel Cameron ordered lots to be cast III
his regiment to decide whom the hundred
lucky ones should be. No one watched the
box over which Captain NARROW presided
with more anxiety than Dick Cartwright,
for the mornings mail had brought him
tidings Of the serious illness of his little
bov. Therefore when the last name was
drawn and instead of hearing Dick Cart
wright, as he had hoped, that of Ben Rutan
was read, he turned away sick at heart,
muttering against the hard fate that had
befailen him.
From mutual friend Ben had heard OF
the sorrow in the home of his enemy; and,
much as ne longed tor sight Of his dear
old mother and the girls, he wished that
the lot had fallen to the sorrowiEg father
instead of to himself He saw the agony
depicted iF the strong mans face as he
realized the utter hopelcssncss of his case,
and, enemy though he was, his heart went
out in pity to the stricken parent, whose
Child might, oven then, be dying.
''If things were different would give w
my place to hIm,n Ben soliIoquized as he
watched the Captain writing the passes
But he is my enemy and embraces every
opportunity OF injLring me. No, l can not
I give up seeing mother TOR his saAe.n He
turned away, determined not to listen to the
pleadings of his heart, but he could not
shut out the consciousness of his own weak
ness.
''You are coward, Ben Rutanr' he said
aloud through his clenched teeth. ga COW.
ard, say! You are afraid to do what you
know TO be right. If Dick did treat you
like a dog, il is mean to retaliate now when
it is in your powcy. 1aa are brave sol
der, truly. You know your mother and the
girls would be ashamed to have you go home
and Dicks baby dying" Strengthening
himself up, he turned on his heels, mutter.
ing: For the little ones sake" and walk
ing over to the Captains tent told him tc
make ont the furlongh for Dick Cartwright
instead of Ben Rutan. Captain NARROW
looked up in amazement, but Ben made nc
explanation and only waited a moment to
see that his request was carried out prop
erly.
Dick could not understand it, but as II was
train time and the Captain assured him il
was all right, he hurried away, intending tc
express his gratitude to Ben upon his re-
, tu,p. On account of the dangerous cOndi-
ton Of fIis solid his furlough was extended.
and before his return his regiment was
sent to reinforce the Army of the Potomac,
then under command of General McClel-
Ian. At the expiration of his second fur
Tough Dick was transferred to Western
regiment, and thus his opportunity of max
ing amends to Ben was unavoidably de-
layea
They did not meet again until the night
after the last days fight at Gettysburg.
Dick had been promoted to 2 Captaincy, and
during the battle had lost a94e Of his la4rels.
Some time between midnight aBd day
dawn he was rudely wakened by Corporal
Hunter, who whispered hoarsely in his ear:
''Now's your time for revenge, Captain.
AS was coming across the ridge l STUN
bled upon a sentinel fast asleep at his post