Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-05-18

his way toward camp, hoping against
hope that he might evade the pickets
and reach his quarters unobserved.
But he was doomed to dissapoint-
ment, for just as he emerged from
behind aclump Of trees where he had
been accommodating, gun was thrust
in his face, and a voice said hoarsely:
Halt! Who comes there?"
Jack trembled and felt himself
growing pale, for that voice could
belong to no one but his old enemy
Dick Bosnian. BY the light of
the moon the sentinel was enabled
to recognize the man who, unknow-
ingly, had put himself in his power.
For a full moment the two stood gaz-
ing intently into each others faces,
and then, the spell broken, Dick
held out his hand, saying
''Can ] do anything for you this
Jack?'
"Yes; you can shoot me like dog
or put me under guard as deserter. :"
Jack Roberts, we are not enemies,
but friends. Do you think | can
ever forget the time you sent me
home to my dying child? Had it
not been for that unselfish act |
should never have seen my Willie
again, for we laid him away in the
grave before my furlough expired.
| am your friend, and, so far as am
able, | will shield you from danger"
Convinced that Dick was in ear
nest, Jack took his proffered hand,
and then related the story of his de.
sertion, expressing determination
to accept his fate, whatever it might
be.
IF this secret is ours alone, we
will keep it forever" said Dick
I'll see that you get back safe to
your quaters you trust ME to pilot
you"
Il am in your hands," returned
Jack; "but remember, Dick, l do not
intend to save myself at your ex-
pense."
"I'll see you through, never fear,"
said Dick, and he kept his word.
Those were exciting days in the
army-ready to march at moments
warning-and outside of his own
mess no one had detected Jacks alb.
sense. Through Dicks exertions he
was struggled back to camp without
exciting suspicion, and the secret of
his desertion never reached the ears
of friend or foe,
A few days later great battle
was fought, and Dick fell so badly
wounded that he was never again fit
for active service. After the war
closed the two who had become such
close friends lost sight of each other
altogether,
Jack finished his education, studied
law, and in time rose to an eminent
position in his chosen profession.
Last year he was invited to make
the memorial address in Western
city, and in the course of his remarks
related the incident Of his absence
without leave, giving a glowing tri-
butte to the soldier--at that time an
enemy-who had stood between him
and death.
When he finished his grafton, a
plain, white-headed man, who occu-
pied seat near the front, rose to his
feet and asked permission to make
a statement in connection with the
incident referred to by the speaker
He then told the first part of the
story, concerning the exchanged fur
Tough, closing WITH
IL am the man who was sent home
to see my dying child, and the hon
orable gentleman who has just ad.
dressed you, then private Jack Rob-
erts, is the identical man who sent
me.
A few minutes later the two met
on the steps of the speakers plat
form, and arm in arm walked to the
cemetery to lay their loving tributes
upon the graves of the heroic dead.
After the decoration services were
over Jack accepted the hospitality Of
his humble friend, and only old SOL
diers who have passed through SIM
liar experiences know with what
pleasure the two compared warrenr.
iniscences.
During that visit Mr.. Roberts
learned Of the poverty which had
continually followed his crippled
comrade, and it was the patience and
brave endurance manifested in the
poor mans family that put it into
his heart to better their condition
by giving the husband and father a
lucrative position in his own Office.
An Incident in History.
Some few miles from Kilcolman,