The Portland daily press., 1893-06-20

with every one, the soul OF convlyIanuy ana
one of the best story tellers at his club.
Twas his guest few nights since, and as
he delights in the society Of younger men
he might easily have been the father of any
of us.
The talk had been about athletics, in
which the younger men, some OF them fresh
from college, were much interested, and all
of whom told some story Of his own Prov
ess in some particular field.
Walking, cycling, running and Jumping
were the chief topics, and when these began
to flag the judge, who had been silent but
an intent listener, said:
Boys, did you ever suspect that in my
time have been q famous walkerS"
mo-" replied one, ''but can easily be-
heve that before you took on flesh you could
get over the ground very fast"
well, could, and I'll give you an illus
tration. When the war broke out, I was
working on my fathers farm up in Yer
mont, and although I'd play second fiddle
to some in those days when it came down
to pure, unadulterated patriotism, yet I
must confess that it was a yearning to get
away from the awful monotony of that
farm quite as much as desire to preserve
the Union that prompted me to enlist.
II got lieutenant's commission in the
Third Vermont, and looked, or thought
looked, so1killingly handsome in my full
dress uniform that wore it in and out of
season. I would have you understand,
gentlemen, that I use the word 'killingly'
as applicable to my influence over the
ladies and not in connection with my con-
duct in front of the enemy.
''We were sent over the Long bridge into
Virginia, and our tents stretched like a
canvas city from Arlington heights to
Alexandria, seven miles below. This was
after the battle of Bull Run, in which am
happy to say was not
sit was easy for an officer to get leave
in those days, and as Washington was full
of lovely women at the time managed to
be there oftener than was in camp.
"Of course soon fell in love-was never
out of love in those days, and I haven't got
over the weakness yet. The object of my
ardor at this time was beautiful Pennsyl-
yania girl, the daughter of a famous con-
gresham. might have been as happy as
a man ever can be who is in love were it
not for rival. This rival was young
West Pointer and captain of troop of cav
airy. Because of that girl, l hated him and
he hated me far more than either of US did
the enemy in gray.
''The captain used to take the lady out
for horseback rides in the daytime, and I
used to escort her to balls or the theater at
night SO that, in her own language. she
was having real lovely time
AT first the captain and I used to ex-
change the customary salutations on meet
ing, but at length this gave way to stiff
bow, till finally we didn't speak or bow at
all, but just glared at each other. :
'But about my walking. Well, one day
brother officer told me that he had heard
the cavalry captain make an insulting re-
mark in connection with my name the day
before / should explain that at this time
my regiment had been moved to Fairfax
Court House and that the captains COM
mand was in the District of Columbia, 20
miles away. I had no horse, but boiling
with indignation and jealousy determined
to find the fellow before the sun went
down and if he did not apologize on his
knees to thrash him within an inch of his
life
II got leave. and off started on foot.
You can imagine how fast travelled when
Itellyou that under a broiling sun I walked
to the captains camp in just four hours
and half"
Here the judge stopped as if he had fin
ished his story. AS the ending was not sat-
isfactory, asked
'But how did you return, judge2"
How did return? Oh, yes. Well, I
rode, back"
"On the captains horse?"
mo, in an ambulance, and with doctor
holding my pulse and nurse wetting my
bandages."