The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-05-25

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GOOD GoD JACK MARLoNp'
''Her scorn and contempt drove me into
the army. She told me she had always
loved you the better and added that she
now hated me. That is all. l enlisted to
be killed"
Cd you, you deserve it!'' cried the
helpless soldier as he sank back supinely.
For some moments all was silent save the
steady beating of the rain. Then Walker
said:
II am going to try to find an ak and cut
that tree. The surgeon can fix you up, and
you may pull through. AS for me, I'll fight
it out till dropped by rebel bullet"
He turned and disappeared in the thicket.
More than an hour passed before he re-
turned, darkness having fallen. He called
to the wounded soldier, and Marion an
swered. When he came up, he had an ak,
and he began on the log Immediately.
The darkness, however, was battling, and
he could not see where to place his blows
effectively. This delayed and bothered him
for hours, but he finally succeeded in cut
ting the tree and dragging it from the leg
of the friend he had betrayed. Then he
lifted Jack Marion in his arms and sought
to carry him from the thicket
The night was murk with driving rain
and the tangled thicket almost impossible.
For hours Walker staggered afmlessly on
with his burden, now and then pausing to
rest. Not many words passed between the
two, for Marion was in a semiunconscious
state the most of the time.
1t was near morning when Walker reeled
out of the woods and came to the river.
Then cry of despair broke from his lips,
for the food had swept away two-thirds of
the pontoon bridge.
Jack" said Walker as he put down his
burden, ''we're left. Idon't know how you
feel, but have no fancy for rebel prison.
There is only one chance for rs, and that is
to get out of this locality, find some dead
Johnnies and swap clothes with them. II
it works, you will go to the hospital, and
you can tell any kind of story you please.
I'll risk but can lie my way through,
though may have to sack rebel musket
till can give them the slip"
\ r.
When Lee advanced to the attack on the
following morning, he was astonished to
discover the Federal troops had retreated
IA,uulrnAA1u =. --a ..'~'.-: 900
beyond the swollen river. As Walker had
predicted, Jack Marion was picked up and
sent to the hospital. He did not have to
make an explanation, for he was delirious
and remained so for along time. When he
recovered, he found he was minus an arm
and leg. He was shrewd enough to still
keep up pretense of craziness, and when
Lees army moved northward in June he
was left at pleasant farmhouse, where he
was tenderly cared for.
Rob Walker carried Confederate mus
ket for time, but he finally escaped into
the Union lines. There he found he was
branded as deserter, which forced him to
enlist in new company and under false
name. He fought bravely through the rest
of the war, continually counting death, but
coming out unscathed in the end.
But the shameful brand of deserter was
on his name, and when he appeared at his
old home not even his wife would listen to
his story. So he turned away and only
came back when death had fastened it's re-
lentless grasp upon him. His wife had
cared for him during his last moments, but
no one knew the whole truth, and he filled
an unhonored grave.
SoAAA
lived. Having no friends or relatives for
whom he cared, and not daring to remain in
the same country with the woman he loved,
as she was the wife of another, fancying
himself a9physical wreck that must be re
pulsive in any woman's eyes, Jack Marion
went to Australia There he became sheep
rancher, at which business he prospered
and grew wealthy.
After long years he wondered if Rob and
Agatha were still living, and q great long
ing led him back to his old home He Wis
tied the cemetery and Robert Walkers
grave, and then he crossed the stream and
raped at Agatha's door.
Some words Of her dying husbands de
lirium had caused her to believe Jack Mar
Ion still lived, and hope had never quite
persisted in her heart. She knew him, fol-
all of the vast change in his appearance
when she opened the door and saw him
standing there with the sunlight on his face
agatha" he said, II have come to see
you"
She, turned very white and chung to the
knob Of the door for support. =
II knew you would" was her reply. u
have been waiting for you, Jack"
y
| The whole of c. knew THE true story
of the deserter in few days. They also
knew John Marion had returned, for hi
wentaround among his old comrades and
told them how they had misjudged Robert
/ Walker.
When next Memorial day came round, a
it shortly did, the deserter's grave was M
longer hollow overgrown with grass and
weeds. A sodded mound had been built
and q marble shaft stood at the head of thu
| grave. bearing the name Of the dead soldier
and q record of his faithful services for hi,
country.