Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-30

any .ninS new nao transplred In MS case IL
would have seemed wonderful enough to be
written up" But his search was not re-
warded; he was doomed to remain meritorious
veteran, who did not dare admit to his most
intimate acquaintance that he had ever been
| soldier. In spite Of having very happy
home he sometimes told himself that he was
the most miserable man in the world. He
even distrusted his own face. His wife was in
| structed to keep in hiding the picture taken of
him in uniform, and one day when he CHANGED
to IL and then look into the glass the resem-
blance was 90 close that he began at once to
grow a beard. The country was not so very
| large after all. Scarcely town in the land
| was 30 small but that some Of its inhab-
| itants found their way to New York.
Even should nothing come of it were he recog-
bear the thought that he might be ''cut'
on suspicion. Sometimes he put on his
old uniform, looked at himself in the glass
and moaned for his own sword. What had
become of it? Broken, probably, and its
fragments thrown among the camp rubbish, In
keeping with his own disgraceful memory.
Meanwhile little Phil took his lessons to
heart so rapidly that Decoration day was al
ways looked forward to by him, and he saved
bis own pennies to buy flowers to throw among
those that were massed around the statues of Lin
coin and Washington and at the tomb of Grant
"a tour Of these American shrines being made
by him and his father in the early morning
whenever the calendar brought in the flower
feast OF the loyal dead. Then father and son
would hnd doorstep commanding the route
stand OF colors or battered flagstaff passed
them.
On Decoration day, however, they reached
the avenue too late to find good positions.
Wedgeway had been 30 interested in showing
tne boy where the British and Americans had
nght on Manhattan Island that when they
reached the route of the procession there was
no room except against the curbstone. Wedge
way skirmished awhile for position and finally
found place where he could lean against
lamp post so that little Phil could lean
against him and not grow weary while seeing
everything. They we're just in time, for from
up the avenue came the rumble and thump of
drums, the shrek Of flies and the blare of brass
instruments, while the CLINT of FURNISHED
steel and the red, white and blue Of
s,lk and bunting illuminated the cloud Of
aust that enveloped the throng. Soon
after the police came the militia any one see
ing Wedgeway scrutinize each company line,
'front.' and rear, would have wondered whether
the fellow imagined himself the reviewing off,
Ger. Then came the posts of the Grand Army
in loose order, as when they tramped southern
roads at route STEP" none of them looking or
acting like soldiers, though some wore
special decorations and others displayed
empty sleeves or carried crutches. Wedgeway
knew some OF them by sight, he had learned
much about many New York veterans and their
records, and he hurriedly pointed out one after
another to little Phil, telling who they were,
and occasionally looking up the avenue to zee
who or what might be coming next that the
boy should know about
During one OF these glances he saw veritable
thicket OF old colors and fagstaffs He strained
MS eye to learn at the earliest possible second
what they might be, but within a minute or
two some obstruction caused the column to
halt suddenly some one who, by the sound
OF his voice, seemed within a foot or two of
father and son, drawled:
Strange about Wedgeway, wasn't it?"
reply.
wedgeway felt as If turned to stone: he al
ways wore felt hat closely resembling the
regulation pattern, but it was only by ire
mendous effort that on this occasion he raised
his hand to draw the brim over his eyes
as he dropped his head. Poor fellow.
How was he to have known that
q western post named for gallant
name--the ''Limping Tins post Composed
entirely Of survivors Of Wedgeway's old regi-
ment, had sent a large delegation east as guests
Of city post that once had cared for one Of
their number who had fallen dangerously i'll
while on q trip to the metropolis?
How could mar ke Wedgeway have be-
come such blank fool? Didn't he think how
twould harm his family name forever,
The wretched man, with his head still bowed
strove to press backward through the wall and
was a slight movement among the veterans in
front OF him, and Wedgeway trembled but il
seemed to be only q fusion Of two groups. for
| In moment, which seemed an hour, another
voice was heard to say:
What are you fellows Ginning about?''
"Oh, nothing. We were only remarking that
it was strange about Wedgeway"
"Umph! growled the inquirer "wouldn't
like to get grip on that same Wedgeway lust
once? never was SO mad about anything in
rnv II hara 90 - -
any patience as time goes on
What torture To make it worse little Phil
had heard 1t and was frightened. He was lean
ing against his father and trembling violently.
Wedgeway bent lower and brsvely and ten
derby lied:
Don't be scared. little chap. Those men
are talking about some other Wedgeway. I'm
not the only man of the name; this world is a
very big place. Brace up, nowr'
The child was treasured and again began to
stare at the veterans and wish they would do
something. Suddenly he shouted: Papa Look
There's crow on top of pole-I guess he s
stufed-a black crow with a white feather in
his wing, and he's got medal hanging from
his mouth What do they do that for?''
A black crow with a white feather? wedoe-
way was so startled that he forgot his fear and
raised his head: before his eye could find the
crow a heavy hand was laid on his shoulder. a
man stood before him whom he recognized as
Big Strikes, nrst sergeant of the company in
Which NO uao ufst enllsted, ana o deep voice
roared:
''wedgeway! By the piper that played be-
fore Moses BoysI'
In an instant the poor fellow was dragged to
the center of the avenue, little Phil being
tumbled into the gutter. Wedgeway struck ont
violently with both fists and shouted
Let me aloner' Then he dropped his voice
and whispered hoarsely: Don't disgrace me
before my sonny only child. 1 never did
it; don't know who did. 1 never knew any
thing about it,
who said you did, you Internal fool? Wasn't
We ell there when the whole thing was cleared
up. not long after you got sway?'
Cleared up?" gasped Wedgeway. ''where?
Who? How? never heard OF it."
Heaven and earth !" roared Stikes, looking
| around at the crowd that pressed in to see their
old comrade. DO you hear that, boys? He
never heard of it'll II that why you never let
Us know what had become Of you, confound
you?'
"f course II is" replied the dazed man,
looking backward for his child '.Here, Phil;
mere some old friends Of mine"
But no one noticed the child. The Limping
Inns were fighting for chance to grasp
Wedgeway hand and call him dreadful names,
Is Is the custom Of many strong men when
they feel unusually adectionate.
'God bless you dear old boys !" said Wedge
way, with shaking voice and filing eyes, "but
II you love me put me out of my misery. How
did il happen? Who did it?'
"Malastre," said the colonel, who was with
the post IN the uniform Of q private. .'Shot to