The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-26
"In New Yawkf" querried Sam.
"lcs; that's were ye went T. enlist, Amt

fghtin' here than they was in New Yawk."
A sudden light dawned upon sam HeaRy.
People in Gettysburg thought he had been
in New York all through the war. That
accounted for the coOlnees with which he
was received.
Il might "a knowed,n he thought bitter
~. that nobocy'd blieve I'd ben in T."
I'VE amt got no wounds in New .Yawk. i
s'posc," continued old John.
No, j amt got no wounds" sald Sam.
looking rather sadly at his unimpaired SIX
feet of musclc:
"Wal, | dent say a, We wasn't smar. to
go TO New Yawk,' Sam Heacy. Them AS
didn't don't look so good now. Some on
'em's dead an some On ems manned.
Mabbe you might "a heerd in New Yawk
about a fight we had right here at Gettys-
buref"
Yes" said Sam. turning a grave face in
the direction of the thlrd days field, Il did
Parn sornethin' bout that tight"
"SOme good men Tell there. an some good
home folks thort putty much of 'em an
give 'em o lift Now. they's Hen'y Craw-
f'd"-
"Yes, Hen'y went to the war" said Sam.
hastily.
.Qh! ye Knowed that. ehl Yes. m he como
back. too"
with o wound said Sam. very gravely.
Seems like 20 must a heerd all 'bout t
already" said old John. tho ye amt ben
here long, l guess, either. Wal. did We hear
"e ~
Throstlew
"No, | didn' hear that"
'les, an doin' we'll. too, tho somehow
he amt as lively as he used to be. Mebbe
aittin' married sohered him up" said old
Oh" Sam said with an effort, "he's mar.
ried, is bel"
IVY, of course he is. an to one. O. the
her-Molly Culp."
Both of sam Heagy's arms straightened
down by his sides, the hands clinched them
selves tight, ana he drew himself to his full
height. while oneswift look of agony broke
from his eyes.
"Oh. yes" he said a~bsently, IL knowed
her"
Il guess ] got to be goin' now" said old
John, curiously noting the demeanor of the
Il guess" he thought. as he moved away,
"Samll wish he'd gone to war an lost both
arms rather'n Hen'y got that gal"
sam Heagy stood perfectly still for a few
minutes. while the earth seemed to crum-
bic beneath his feet. Then he walked
away. He continued to walk aimlessly,
yet III one direction, and. after o time. he
found himself under the historic ciump of
trees. He sat dOwn in the shade and looked
out over the fields which Pickett's men
bad crossed in their wOndrous charge.
All the spirit had gone ont of Sam, and he
felt as he did before the war, ~listless and
inert. only that now there was q great pain
IL hiS hCukt III io tuC udJo tutIo
had been a deep yearniDg. Molly, Molly
sue was Henry Crawford's wife, aud Sam
Heagy would be poor. lonely. spiritless Sam
Heagy all the rest of his life.
But 1t was not honestly done. No. he
knew that. What right had Henry Craw-
ford to that girls heart? Sam Heagy knew
that IL was all wrong.
''Yes'n by the Etarpal." he exclaimed,
springine to his feet he's got to know wot
THE sun had gone down behind the
mountains, and the shadows of a peaceful
night were settling over Gettysburg, when
Sam Heaay walked into Henry CrawfOrd's
house and stood before it's master. Craw-
ford started and looked uneasy when he
SOW Sam, but, forcing a smile to his lips,
he said:
Wal, Sam, glad + see We back. How's
"Ye amt glad T. see me back, Hen'y
Crawfd." said Sam. IAN We know amt
ben in New Yawk."
"Ys Amt BEN In New Yawk9 No. Sam, I
didn't know that" said Henry. uneasily.
Not ence l wen thore t enlist at the be-
glnnin' o the war"
Tho two men looked at one anotherin
silence for q few moments, and then Sam
burst into vehement speech:
~ OF right a yon got to Molly Culpp
"Wot dye meanf' asked Henry, rising in
alarm and facing Sam tremblingly.
"IOu know wot / mean. You're u lie, q
walkin' lie, with that there empty sleeve.
You know how You got 1t. We coward. an
so Go H."
"Wot are ye talkIn' abouti For Gods
sake don't say 1t SO loud-she'l hear We
mebbe she's upstairs. Wot is it We know.
Sami"
The pleading tone In Crawford's voice
and the wretchedness OF fear in his face
were pitiful.
Il know that go got shot from behindr'
~"Yes-yes-of corrse; 10y accident, by one
of onr own boys down there by the
by wot!p
by one o. our own
"By one o. the enemy. wot you'd turned
your back on. We mIs'rhle cowardw
For q moment Henry Crawford looked
as If he would faint Then with some
thing like desperation be cried:
"WOt regiment was you INF"
"Cowan's first New Iawk battery.n
"Ah-h-b! They wasn't In the fight at all!
You never saw nothin'; you was with the
Sixth Corps"
mo; we was detached an sent with the
Second Corps. and we wac on the left o.
the clump o. trees"
mo, no. cried Henry, exultantIy; "Rorty
was there. Cap'n Rorty's battery"
Yes, till he was killed. We buried him
and took his place. An l tell Sc. Hen'y
Crawfd. while | was serving my gun. |
saw Genl Webb take ye by the collar an
try to draS We to the front wen Armistend
came through. an We thrOwed down yer
gum. pulled away from the Genl an start
ed fur the rear on q foil rum: an'twas
then ye got that wound. an We know I'm
teilin' the TRUTH
"'Sh-h-h.n said Crawford. throwing ND
both hands; for Gods sake, she might
hear"
'Ye kin speak out. Sam Heapy,n said q
calm voice. Il guess I've got a right to
hear eff there's any more TO come"
Molly stood in the doorway that opened
to the next room.
Il was right In there" she said, AN
these walls Amt so thick but wot ye kin
hear tbroug IN 'em. Go on, Sarnf"
sam lieaRy looked earnestly at the pale
face and tbedrawn lines about the month
aud eyes. Then n great wave of sorrow
swept over his heart, and be dropped into
a chair and buried his face IN his hands.
"Oh, Molly, Molly" he sobbed; Il wish
to God | hadn't sa,d nothin'."
The woman swayed a moment and then
self and said:
Don't grieve over e, Sam. knOwed
there Was somethIn' strange about 1t. But
lt-it-its too late nO.. But l want We
to understan one thing. / b'lleve yOu
wasn't in New Yawk. l know now that
you was fightin' right along WI the Army
O. the Patomic. an We did your share right
out yonder on them iields."
She pointed toward the plains where the
from his chair. ana stretching out his
hands to her. cried eagerly:
God bless We fur them words. Molly"
Then he drew back, turned his face away,
and groaned:
But it's too late-it's all too late.r
A moment later he raised his eyes and
they met hers. For half O INFINITE they
stood gazing at one another in dumb
agony. Then Sam turned sharp about. and
l.Tf sha nna AraltU fAanI -