Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-03-25

Not long after the close of the civil
war was assigned to staff duty in the
city of W. One evening while l
sat in my private apartments going
over some official papers, a card was
brought to me, on which 1 read the
name:
HENRY II. c.,
Lieutenant, -th Cavalry.
/ was very busy and preferred not to
be disturbed, and having pondered
over the name for few minutes, while
the servant stood waiting, without
being able to identify my intended
visitor, 1 looked up and was about TO
excuse myself, when certain uncon-
trollable impulse seized me, and 1 sent
message to the Lieutenant to come
up. In three minutes he had crossed
the threshold and closed the door be.
hind him. knew him at glance.
"Ah!' said 1, sit is you. And to
what, pray, am I indebted for the
honor of this visit ?" 1 hesitated a
little before speaking the word "honor,"
and he perceived it at once.
Il understand" said ne, in voice
that had more sadness than resentment
in it, and for the life of me I could not
help feeling sorry for the fellow. But
you need have no fear, Major my rank
is real, not assumed for the occasion.
won it in the hot blaze of battle during
the late war, and 1 prize it too highly
to trade upon it. Nor have come to
ask anything of you save advice. /
have no claim upon you, even for that
small favor, but you are from my native
town. you know my people, Major, and
you are the only man in the army that
l can approach with feeling of con.
tidence that the advice I seek will b
good and honest"
But how is it," said I, that 1 see
you in the uniform of the army and
bearing the title of lieutenant, when the
last time 1 heard of you you were"
In prison, yes, and for theft" re.
sponded my visitor, in somewhat broken
tones. You need not hesitate to speak
the truth about it-heaven knows /
have heard it often enough to get used
to it I have heard it so often, in fact,
that I can stand it no longer, and have
come to a supreme resolution am
going to end it all by taking my own
lifeI'
At this [ made an involuntary m otion
of astonishment, and then for the first
time realized that had not asked him
to be seated. Criminal though he was
Or rather had been-he should be
treated with some respect as my visitor.
Come, c." I said, take seat,
and let's talk the matter over. I hardly
think it so serious as that. A soldier
has no right to take his own life That
belongs to his country. Besides" I
continued, as G. took the chair that
placed for him, you were very young
when you committed your-fault; you
had bad associates; you were led off.
Above all, you have expiated that fault;
you have served your country; you
have won your epaulets in battle-tha'
counts for much. Why can't you for.
get that early misconduct and its re.
suits in the honorable position that
your after life has won for you %
Heaven knows would forget it all,
Major, most gladly, replied the lieuten.
ant, 'for look back on it with the most
unutterable loathing, but they will not
let me forget it. Even as crossed the
threshold of that horrible prison,
where had been sent to serve for five
years, the overwhelming infamy of my
crime swept everything but remorse
out of my heart, and I was changed
being. But what hope is there for
man with such stain upon his name?"
The hope of rehabilitation, 1 said,
1.-The hope of leading a good and honest
life, and thus wiping out the stain.
"Ah, Major" said C., .'if they
were all like you But they are not
they think that crime, even though it
be committed when one is young,
thougbtless, easily tempted, makes one
criminal for all time F.; that there is no
possible reparation, no possible recov.
cry for the poor devil that allows him.
self to fall, even once. But 1 do not
wish to weary you with recital of my
sorrows. Let me say only this My
conduct in prison was so good that |
was pardoned at the expiration of my
second year. The Superintendent
seemed to like me, and W hen he brought
my pardon to me felt as if my heart
would burst for Joy for seconds time,
then 1 felt as if it would burst with
grief. For, as said to him, what can
l do, where can go, the jailbird, the
convict 2
"'Go and fight for your country,
said he, she needs your services l
believe that you are sincerely and hon
estly sorry for the fault that brought
you here. Go and begin new life in
the army
81 took his advice, enlisted at sta.
ton where 1 was unknown, but-how
it happened 1 can not tell-before I
could be formally mustered in my COM
rades began looking at me in a queer
way they avoided me, and finally one
of them, bolder than the rest, came to
me and said that had been found out;
that it would be best for me to leave at
once, l went to the recruiting officer
and told him all He was as bad as
the rest I; he told me to go, that | was
not yet legally bound, and that he pre-
ferred not having any convicts in his
company"
I confess that this sad story was max
ing great impression upon me. 1t
was told so simply, with absolutely no
attempt at working upon my sympa-
thies, and all the while the Lieuten-
ants voice was shaking as if he were
laboring under the most distressing
agitation of mind.
,.T l.