The Helena independent., 1892-06-26
A RECRUITS FATE.
PRINTED IN HARPER's BAZAAR. MAY 2s. 1892.
WRITTEN BY MR.. j. A. MAcKN1GHr, OF HELENA.

/ W000OS0 uOl0AVto Au bH8 uV8pltaIUs Az bAo
gates Of paradise she will meet mot only
poor Dick. but also choir Of angels. who
will invoke An endless blessing ON her.
The wer was over and many Of its wounds
healed when lover In every respect suita-
bic and worthy began in such sautious ways
- he might 10 lay siege 70 her heart. Her
friends beloved and hoped that she would
surrender; but they were mistaken, and
| when the lovers distant investment had
| been maintained, without marked progress.
| ! fear. for four years in manner that any
mittsd 10 .s that hsr econduos sppsarsd
| selfish even to herself, and wanted me TO
advise her, 40 was her darling's nearest
friend. But on questioning her found
that her constant recurrence TO Dicks last
other suitor. and ! advised her 10 destroy
IT. This she repellsd 40 II IL had bsen an
insult, but carefully explained my mean
ing, and noticed . few weeks later that the
lover was getting more attentive hearing.
! believed that everything was working
which upset all my calculations. and made
Miss H what yol sos her to-day.
| Az she was returning from one of her
missions Of mercy she was met by the gal
! liant follow who worshiped her, and they
walked along together. On arriving at her
noon-they saw . ragged and rspulsive-
looking tramp seated ON one of the rustic
benches in the garden. Miss H--'s first
impulse WAS to 60 to the stranger. inquire
into his circumstances. and give him such
aid and advice a. he seemed TO need. Tho
tramp leaned forward and rested his face
in his hands. He appeared to be- sobbing,
and acted like ono under the influence of
strong drink.
The tramp looked up with dali stony eyes
q Miss H spoke to him, and she saw
that his Rrizzlsd hair and beard met in q
hoary tangled mass about his head.
Pm the caisson-wheel. and I'll roll over
'em ell-the black furies-and I'll run on,
on, on, on, till md it. I've seen the gate,
and III get there soon. know I'll GET
He again dropped his head, and his frame
shook.
He must have been an artilleryman."
said the gentleman in whisper. "and, poor
fellow, he is dsmented."
Yes; he talks like other poor creatures
who have lost their minds in the war. How
my heart blesds for him! He may have
dear ones livinR-a mother. wife, or 4
child. who do not know Of his fate, which
il. alas! worse than death. Have you no
home, my poor frisnd?" she asked, with
voice of almost superhuman compassion, as
his shoulder.
He glanced mp % il startled by the
touch. stared at her a moment and then let
his head fall % before.
He looks % weak and il, I'm afraid he
is starving. He has not strength TO speak
Let rs help him into the house,
Really, Miss H, think you might
lot me look after the man. will send for
an ambulance and have him taken to the
hospital. You may harm Others, and can
do him no good by taking him into your
house."
Perhaps you are right. Yes, you shall
send him to the hospital. But meanwhile
let rs take him in and give him some food.
Come. friend-come into the house; you
are as welcome as if it were your own
home.'
The tramp sat motionless, az If he had
not heard her.
Perhaps he is too weak to stand. Take
hold of his arm, and let as lead him.
Her friend complied, but az they endsa-
vored to raise him up. the tramp made show
back upon the bench, to which he clung.
sinking his nails into the wood he again
looked up strangely, and said:
"Pm at the gate, the very gate. and pn
run on, on, on-till 60 in. Her eyes see
me-.they are looking into mine-and can
reach out my arm and touch her."
As he said this he slowly rose to his feet,
staring wildly into Miss H--'s face, and
stretching towards her his bony right hand
as if he would clutch her. Her companion,
quickly advancing a step, laid hold of the
mans arm, and gently urged him back to
head upon his knees, and 90 remained mo-
tionless. ~
Miss H. went hastily into the house.
Her companion hailed policeman who was
passing on his beat, and asked him if he
knew anything about the stranger.
mo" said the policeman, II can't say
that ] know much about him. He 'aint
been in these part more'n few days, an
guess he's loon o. some sort ass come
from some other place. He's been prowlin'
round this block though ever since l first
noticed him. an there amt no tellin' what
move on, get out o. thisn'
Had not Miss H appeared at the mo.
ment, her friend would probably have per-
mitted the policeman to earn dollar by
driving away the Objectionable object. She
again made known her Wishes and the
policeman went away to send a call for an
ambulance.
The lnsn was too feeble to make much
show of resistance whom they removed him,
but he hung back and Rritted his teeth In |
'Oh. don't take me back! don't take me
backp'
Miss H told the ambulance attendant
that she would be responsible for the pa
tient, and would call next day to see him.
Meanwhile he must bs given every atten-
who was expected to pay we'll, for he was
certainly a soldier, and for a soldier who
had come to his sad state in the cause Of his
country nothing could be too good.
10 please her, Mr.. P, her suitor, went
to the hospital that evening to see that her
orders were carried out, and she was more
contentsd when he brought back word that
the man had taken little nourishment and
was resting quietly.
"Ihey have made a new man of him in
appearance already." said MIR. P, smil-
ing. "IM afraid you will not recognize
your protege when you SEQ him tomorrow,
and, indeed, do not know that any good
purpose can be served by your bothering
yourself further about him."
But Miss H had way of "hothering
about" people whom Others deemed of no
consequence, and was at the hospital next
day as early as she could be admitted to the
wards. In strict compliance with her direc-
tions, the patient had been placed in u prl..
yate ward, where he was quite alone. The
matron. who met Miss IL most grac-
iously in the parlor. said the doctors had
been much interested in the poor mans
case, and after he was cared for by the bath
man and the barber, had instituted an ex-
animation which convinced them that he
had been soldier. and probably lost his
reason through wound on the head, the
ugly scar of which still remained. Since
early III the morning he had been fast
asleep, she said; but his case was hopeless,
us, by long privation and exposure, his sys-
tenn was completely wrecked, und he could
only survive, at most, = few days.
nurse presently notified them that the