Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1892-03-11


asleep. We resumed our pipes anc
after a brief discussion of our guest
agreed that lie was u lrolten-dowr
prospector and that he was welcome
Then we crept beneath our blankets
and dreamed under the stars of fabu.
lous veins Of gold, while our ears heard
not the thunder OF the mount in tor.
rents leaping down the scanned and
SCARED sides of Del Norte peak 20 ioin
the foaming current Of the Rio Alamasa.
And that was how "Old Blink" came
TO our camp, pcrchcd like a speclt be-
tween a rim Of pines aud the eternal
snow. We knew not whence he came,
neither did we care We had the
broken down pilgrim IN our care and
would shelter aud feed him in a day
or two he was n fixture, and little by
little dropped his inpcnetrable re-
serve During the day he would wan
der along the mountain sides and up
deep gulches looking for Indications of
minerals lie made himself useful In
cooking our rude meals lie was con-
versant not only with geology and
metallurgy, but knew every mountain
plant and flower by name II was
"Old Blink" who. when one of the boys
was stricken down with mountain
fever, sought out in the darkest gulches
the mountain sage and gave relief to
our comrade lie found bed of
tender wild onions and added them to
our limited menu of bacon and flap
jacks He stakcd a claim, and, while
ID was worthless, we would have de-
Tended it for him against jumpers at
the risk Of our lives. ''Old Blink" was
our mascot We wouldn't have taken
the richest lode ON South mountain for
him, wretched as he had made himself
by life Of wandering and dissipation.
And then one night he told to us the
story of his life We didn't believe IL
then, but u had served 10 while away
a weary hour between supper and
blankets, and we forgave him. A pack
train from Del Norte had brought up
TO camp fresh lot of supplies, includ-
ing a keg of whisky The latter ar
ticle was the key which unlocked "old
Binks" lips. While talking his eyes
took on faraway look, as IL they
were resting on green pastures, but
his voice, became vibrant with man
hood as he talked about himself and
Phil sheridan. ! could not attempt to
give you the story in his own language,
because between me now and that
summer night episode high up on the
slopes of the Sierras San Juan, nearly
eighteen years have intervened.
His name, he said, was George
Buckley, and he was born in northern
Ohio, his family being, an influential
and wealthy one Phil sheridan was
his schoolmate, and, although PhiPs
mother was very poor, the two boys
were inseparable friends and compan-
ions. They had grown up together,
aud their affection for each other was
that Of David and Jonathan. Then
one day young Binckley's uncle, who
was then in congress, secured for him
an appointment to the West Point mil
itary academy. Wild with delight he
rushed across the way to Mrs. Sheri-
dams humble home to tell Phil the
news. The sturdy young Irish lad
burst into tears.
I'm glad OF it, George" " he at last
found voic, to say, "Eut, oh, don't |
wish | could GO, too I've always set
my heart on being a soldier, but now"
and the youthful Phil uga.n gave vent
10 his emotions odd link hurried
over this part Of the narrative. lie
talked to Phil for time and tried to
comfort him, with what effect the
sequel disclosed. lie nstonished his
parents, and almost paralyzcd his
uncle by declining the appointment
He didn't want to Gc soldier and Phil
Sheridan did On tn.s rock he stood
immovable. The world already knows
part of the result. The Irish lad, the
friend of George Buckley went to
West Point His history is part of
that of the nation. The hero OF Win.
chester and half hundred other battle
fields was made possible by a frie nd s
magnanimity and seltabncgation,
And Bincklry, what of him? Oh,
there wasn't much 10 tel, he declared.
He had gone Through college with
honors; had heCL admitted TO the bar;
had tried journalism; had printed sew
eral newspapers in Iowa and Nebraska;
had drank whisky and indulged IN the
use of opium until worn out; he had
quit Fighting and was now drifting
with the tide toward sunset aud night
and silence. lie had driftcd with other
debris OF ulctcEcd humanity into the
mountains, ami that was all, lie was
still loyal to lhil, lid Phil remem Der
his old boyhood friend and Gcnefactor?
oh, yes, Gen 'her!dan, he said, had
repeatedly offered 20 ravide for him,
but he was too 'dr gone TO 60 back.
That was al. "lhil was Il right. and
Old Blink was a J r.gi 8, iHd SO what's
the diffSreGy "' ipyiag delivered him
self of til uiGeulur ht of optimism,
our mascot tool, another drink N
whisky an MI asleep Ia his blankets,
After deciding that O Il Bink' was an
entertaining lar the oamp followed his
example, and retired 10 rest When
bantered next day about his Phil Sher-
idan romance" "Old Blink" reiterated
his statement, and, finally growing
angry, relapscd into sullen silence, and
the subject was dropped
Inc sunni tI Nantui uhu lower unu
lower crept the dazzling rim Of snow
down the mountains de Already the
moaning pines gave notice in their
dumb way OF approaching winter, The
camp, high up on the spur of the noun
tain, was abandoned "Old Blink" went
with tho rest OF us TO Del Norte, and
there we lost SIGHT Of him
Three years later ! stood on Six.
teenth street in the city of Denver. Ii
was gala day in the capital city OF
the young centennial state. The streets
were crowded by restless shouting,
pushing mass of humanity, and flags
and banners streamed from every win
dow and every house-top. Gen.
Sheridan, then In command of the
Missouri division OF the army, was In
the city, and Colorado was also there
10 honor one of Grants greatest
lieutepants. Denver was wild with
enthusiasm, and il was with difficulty
that could mnintain position on the
curb which commanded view OF the
approaching parade. Everybody was
determined To see Phil sheridan. The