The Russellville Democrat., 1893-09-07

SNtu II ue uduu ~ nave u1W1SO him, and so would any man in that company wonder. " And Feeny points to where c troop stands resting after it's charge.
 You knew him then"
 Knew him instantly as de- serter, thafe, highwayman and mur- derer-knew him as Private Bland in Arizona, and would know him anywhere by that scar. ]"
 A policeman bends and wrenches loaded revolver from the clutchiLg, quivering fingers just as Wing comes striding back and shoulders way into the group.
 "Is he badly hurt, doctorf That was an awful whack."
 ''lt isn't the lientenant, sir, says Feeney, respectfully, but with strange significance in his tone as he draws policeman aside. "Lookl" l"
 And Wing, bending over, gives one glance into the dying face, then covers his eyes with his hands and turns blindly, dizzily away.
 That evening a host of citizens are gathered about the bivouac of the battalion at the water works while the trumpets are sounding tattoo. A few squares away the familiar notes come floating through the open win dows of room where Jim Drum mond is lying on most comfortable sofa which has been rolled close to the easement, where every whiff of the cool lake breeze can fan his face, and where glaneing languidly around, he contrasts the luxury of these surroundings with tLe rude sim plicity of the life he has lived and loved so many years. Gray-haired George Harvey, kindly Mrs. Stone, his sister; blissful, beautiful Fanny Wing with burley baby Harvey in her arms, and her proud, soldierly husband by her side, and a tall, lovely, silent girl have all been there to minister to his needs and bid him thrice welcome, and make him feel that here, if anywhere on earth, he is at home. And here the bat talion surgeon and the family I rhy- sician unite in declaring he must remain until released by thei orders and here for three days and night, he is nursed and petted and made so much of that he is unable to recognize himself, and here sister Fuss comes to cry over and kiss and bless him, and, in her turn, to be made much of and forbidden to leave, and then after her big broth er's return to duty with the battal- ion, now being fed and feted by all the North Side, he must needs come over every evening to see her {; and now that presentable uniforms have arrived and the rough boards have been shaved and the men of the old regiment look less like "toughs," but no more like American soldiers as our soldiers look in the field of their sternest service, her sisterly pride in her big brother is beautiful to see-so is her self-abnegation, for, somehow or other, though he comes to see her he stays to look at Ruth Harvey, shy, silent and beautiful, and soon. as though by common consent, that corner of the big parlor is given up to those two, the stalwart trooper and the slender, willowy girl. And one evening he comes earlier than usual iii evident discomposure, and soon it transpires that important orders have reached him. Fanny turns pale. "Are you-all-ordered backf she cries, and is for instant radient at his assurance that the order involves only himself. He is called to the department head qurrters to report in person to the general commanding, who is about to make a tour through the noun tains in Northwestern Wyoming, and wants Drummond with the es- eort. She is radient only until she catches sight of her sisters face. It is not so warm an evening yet she marshals the household out on the steps, out on the back yer anda-anywhere out of that parlor, where, just as the faint notes of the trumpets are heard, sounding their martial tattoo" and just as Lieut.. Wing, returning from 8 tiptoed visit to his sleeping boy and escaped for the moment from the vigilance of his wife, now happens to go blund- ering in there is heard from the aimly lighted corner near the piano the sound of subdued sobbing, the sound of deep, manly voice, low, soothing, wondrously happy, the sound-a sound-indescribable in appropriate English, yet never mis- understood-a sound at which Wing halts short, pauses one instant irres- olute, then faces about and goes tiptoeing out into the brilliant sheen of the vestibule lamps-into the brilliant gleam of his fond wife's questioning reproachful eyes.
 And for all answer, it being per maps too public spot for other de. monstration. Wing simply hugs 
 That night. under the arching roof of the great railway station, the so long united bJ the ties of such respect and affection as are only by years of danger