Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-11-28

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not one dreamed of the great surprise in store.
OF the Thanksgiving dinner itself, when
the day arrived and the broad folding doors
of the dining hall Were thrown open, what
need be said save that Aunt Dilsey and her
satellites had expended upon it all the re-
sources of kitchen and farm, while the old
time house servants, proud of their breeding,
had graced the festive board with all the
beauty they could commando It was a feast
to provoke an appetite. There were rare
dishes, sumptuously cooked and sumptuously
served; the choicest fruits and wines of the
long ago; marvels of workmanship and age
in family plate, china and glass, and in
Vulnerable things delicious to the senses Of
taste, smell and sight-al insinua ted into its
composition. But it was dinner long TO be
remembered in more than aesthetic or Gull
nary respect.
Conversation was in its most eloquent and
reminiscent stage, when suddenly the old
Colonial knocker on the front door rang out
with sharp rat-tat-tat, as it had never sound
ed through the house before. What can it bea
A momentary silence falls upon the little
company while Uncle Ben hastens to answer
the summons, but In a minute he returns
with his black face fairly ablaze with light.
Miss Doroty-Miss Madg'ryn-the words
almost choke him in their joyful endeavor to
get out-"Dere's a gemlum outside wild er
red face an er big crap er whisker, who say
he like ter cum in an git sum OBJ dis dinner;
he talk SO bresh, spec better ak him." and
the faithful old servant grins from ear to ear.
The words are scarcely spoken before the
burly, broad shouldered figure of sun
Drowned man enters, and with q hearty
"Home again-Row dye al? ' rushes forward
to embrace Aunt Margery, who happens to
be sitting nearest to him at the head of the
table, Brother WITH Brother Will" and
with scream of delight the three sisters
throw themselves into his arms weeping for
joy.
Yes, after many years of absence and ad
venture, the sailor boy, now captain, had
returned to the old homestead, that he had
not seen since the war. And what a time
they had! How the gray headed servants,
forgetting the grand dinner, forgetting every
thing in their affection, crowded into the
dining room to see ynvnS ''Mer's Will" once
more! The whole plantation seemed to have
gone mad with JOY that the first Thanksgiv-
ing ever celebrated in Beverly Farms should
be so blest. Indeed, for everybody the cup
VI dpplllcSS peal GU " ddfC DCt-l ihlco W
the brim. But it was not SO. There was yet
another surprise in store
In the evesing there was such a gathering
around the big fire in the chimney pace as
the old parlor never had witnessed. With
Dorothy on one side, and Margery-her usu-
ally grave face Frightened by love-on the
other, each holding the brawny hand of their
brother, and Kate in his lap, her eyes spark
ling with delight at the possession of a new
uncle, Will recounted his adventures during
the preceding twenty years. He told them
how. after the war, he had found service on
an English steamship and, by reason of his
naval training at Annapolis, had been rapid
" promoted until he became a captain in the
Oriental and Peninsular company, but that
most of his time had been spent in voyages
between far distant ports in the east under
that did not permit him to
take a sufficiently long furlough to visit
home.
Besides, he knew from the letters of his sis
ters that their financial condition did not re-
quire his presence or the abandonment Of a
profession that was yielding him more than
a competence. However, the longing had so
grown upon him TO return to the scenes os
bis boyhooO. he at last had resigned his COM
mission and determined that henceforth Bev-
erly Farms should be his home. And TO
think Of it, he added, that have found on
the night OF my arrival Thanksgiving party
in Old Virginia brother-in-law turning to
Col. Hartley whom l have never seen and
this lovely niece. Verify, we all have reason
TO be thankful"
"But what's this, Kater' continued the
captain, toying with curiously wrought
ocket which dangled among other ornaments
from girdle around her waist.
That's trinket," replied Kate, "that be-
longs to Uncle Robert. yonder. and wear it
only by his permission. Tell the story, Uncle
Bob, for l always love 10 hear it."
1T is an incident Of the war; was the re-
ioinder, land at time like this one has no
right to recall sad memories or speak of such
j thing as battle and bloodshed-n Urged by
the others, however, Uncle Robert proceed
ID: After the assault on Pickettis division
1t the battle Of Gettysburg, among the pris-
oners who fell into the hands OF my regi-
nent was one in whom l became deeply in
crested He was large, handsome, brown
.yed man, native Of this state, and, like
myself, major Though desperately wound
ID, ard with the chances Of living all against
i'm, not a mur1nur Of regret, save for his
srnily. escaped his lips / often visited him,
out each visit revealed the fact that his hours
we're numbered One morning while seated
" his bedside, be asked NE to hand him his
AIDED, gray uniform which hung st the foot
Il the cot l did 50, and taking from
ne Of the pockets a knife, he request
d me TO rip a place in the Left breast
II his coat There found q bit Of paper
Wrapped around small hard substance,
which on further examination proved 10 be |
little star This said he. looking al il /
ovingiy. was cut from the coat Of Gen I
;tonewan jackson, my noble leader. L was
nv fortune 10 be one OF those who bore him /
o the rear when he fell 1t ChaucellorSvile. 4
nd when his coat was removed I cut this 1
tar from his collar and plaAsd II where you /
ave Just nov found it-whe7e il would al /
says be nearest mr. heart. / returned 10 tie /
'attleteli and fought as | never fought BE- /
ore This souvenir | wish 10 leave with /
-ou in order that roE u,av sometimes think * !
he Virginia soldier F0a have befrse1Ged. 4
ind this SAID he. taxing tee cruEnpssd pa
e. is tie last leave Of sbSszce Gen JACK 4
on ever gave ne Snc4la you ever have TIE
opportunity, ssEd II 10 ray wife, Before
mother word was uttered change passed
yer his fs,s and re became UNCONSCIOUS
ne -evr asv Re ria~i Shortly after that 4