The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-03

tain and his colonel we're TO he there. and num-
Der or the boys whom he had not seen TOT
years. The friendships formed I'm those bitter
times. when mems souls were brought close to-
Eethcr, survive separation aud absence, ana
Know no change. lie was poor-he had neen
aillng good deal lately. and could work but III
tie; but when the quarterly instaiment of pen
sion was paid in August nc would have enough
10 take him 10 the reunion. 90 be lay there
aud waited for the formal notice that his pen
sion would he payable on Aug. and for the Ger
tneate To he signed and forwarded before the
check would come Four times n year Tor III
teen years this notice had come TO him. ana nj
ways 10 brought "a thrill OF pride and pleasure
This year II was n little slow ian arriving July
was reaching an end. and IL had not come Tie
veteran III the shabby back room iTetted n Mite
Not that doubt OF Its final coming entered
his mind, but he was methodical. ana liked
regularity. Besides SO much depended on this
payment. He would he up aud about before
ceptember this was only one OF The little SICK
spells be was subject to- he said, and everything
must be In readiness for his journey. lie had
heard, this summer. of pensions being suspended
oy the rebel sympathizers In charge OF TINS gov
eminent bureau, and had been very INDIGNANT
bnt somehow. lac had not dreamed that tho
cruel hand could touch him. Had it not been
granted freely. and was II not his-a MANIFESTO
ton of his country's gratitudel
But July went by and three days or August
passed. and 1t had not come. The night OF Aug.
8 was hot and the air heavy. lie could not
breathe well. and the old wound throbbed
sharp pains shot through his lungs. and he
dreamed that he was crawling once more
through the marshy underground OF tho Wilder
ness. Next morning the doctor was called ana
looked grave. There had been u hemorrhage-
ut was nothing gasped the soldier nothing.
He had had such attacks before. But the doctor
spoke quietly 10 two or three old friends ana
comrades, ana one by one they dropped IN.
There was one thing on his mind-but one. tie
wanted his pension, for without IL he would miss
the encampment. and the fever was higher In
his feeble frame because or the unaecountable
delay. He was very weak and his eyes were
dim. Looking at him and remembering the doe
tors gently spoken words, one comrade con-
celyed a plan FOR his RELIEF. The doctor had salu
that he could live but few days at most that
i'll view OF his wound and other ailments result
ing from his army lfe the wonder Was that he
had lived so long 30 the veterans consulted To-
gether and after due care and preparation
went again to the sick mans room. Just after
they entered camo the landlady, hearing letter
auuresseu 10 the waiting pehsloh-
like a government O missivo in appearance,
and TO q CLOSE observer IL bore suspicious marks,
but the sick man could not see well to-day
something unaccountable allied his eyes, he said.
aud he asked his visitors TO open and read IL for
him. 1t was the long looked Tor pension notifi-
cation, one told him with soothing voice. Some
thing had delayed IL, but here 1t was. HeOught 10
have known better than 10 worry himself into
a fever for fear HOke Smith would cut him OF.
Smith would not dare. Here was the order. at
ali events, and he must sign 1t and have 1t for
warded at once for the check so they brought
In stranger 10 the man on the bed.
A notary public. they. said, and they
held the sick man up and Gnided his hand
theirs "a witnesses the notary acknowledged
the signatures. and the thing was done.
feebly, and the return Will come In two days.
And then he closed his eyes and slept.
1t was a fraud that had been practiced upon
hin, but the perpetrators had no conjunction.
IL a government that he had served so faith
fully could hasten his departure from life bv a
cruel injustice they were at least excusaDle LOT
making MS last hours peaceful by conceailng
the wrong This WAS their argument, and NOR
aists can consider il for what IL is worth.
Another day passed. and though the "old
man was no better he was serene and smiling.
Next day he WAS very weak, but he wore
look OF expectation. The doctor
came in twice and. as he went ont the last time,
whispered TO The landlady on the stairs that he
would not he needed again. In the afternoon
the three comrades came in softly, one 10y one.
and sat by the bed. The landlady came To the
| door with another letter. she laid IL In the sick
mans band, with compassionate glance at him
and significant one at the visitors. He fingered
| the envelope gently and smiled.
lit is tho pension" he said; "Open IT,"
Some one cut the envelope and handed a
| folded Enclosure. liz felt like check; IL looked
and read like one, but it would have drawn no
money at tie bank. Again The sick man smiled
| as he touched IT. he could only see as through a
| mist the laces OF lis comrades and could hct
read the printed words. but lac had no doubts.
II will 10 10 the reunion next month";" he u ur-
| INJURED: "we Will all 20, boys, and have good
time"
Then he wandered n little and talked of old
army days, the happenings or camp ana blYouac
and ioraging trips-the little nothipgs that go 10
make the monotony endurable. Again, he bah
| bled OF home. and mother, and sweetheart, ana
all the bitter intervening years were as II they
had not been.
When the was low in the sky he reused
again and Looked abOut with clearer vision
Come on. boys. on" he cried; follow the
flag, and the rebels are ours"
And with his last look at the banner on the
wall lie fell back and closed his eyes forever.