Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1893-10-06

commanded respect,
and OH the strength of that old army
Overcoat he received many o meal and
inhibited many a drink that cost him
nothing but q florid account of his
valor on the field of battle. He was
drinking now and alone. There were
Others present, but none who cared to
acknowledge the company of the
wretched object in the army overcoat,
though one of the men had included
him when he ordered the drinks, and
the tramp had shrunk away with his
potion to rid them of his presence.
He had finished his glass when from
out the company n man approached
him. an elderly man, who limped with
a cane. He then throwing open his
coat showed on the lapel beneath the
badge of the Loyal Legion.
Are We comrades% he asked
sternly.
I'LL guess SO, boss" answered
the man humbly.
What company were you imp" To-.
Company, Second Michigan Cav
airy" stammered the tramp.
Its q lie! You never was in any
company. You've no right to wear
that army %overcoat. You're a fraud
and an impostor, and I'll prove it, too
"You-you can't! Look mt the sears"
and he held out q trembling hand,
scanned with cicntrized wounds.
AYE. and look ut this! A cork leg
where there should be one of flesh and
blood! 1 left my own on the battle-
field of Shiloh. See the hole in my
cheek. there's o bullet in there yet.
Now. where were you wounded?
Those r not battle scars, and I'll
prove it! OFF with that coat! You
shall not disgrace that uniform another
day!"
He took the outcast by the shoulder
and shook him as if he had been a rot.
Easy, easy there" said the man,
struggling away from his indignant
captor, you've told your story, COM
rade-yes, I'm a comrade all right
now let me tell mine. Our luck has
been a little different, you touched the
tramp on the shoulder, and see. Twas
in Company = of the Second Michi-
gan Cavalry all right. fought in the
battle of Shiloh, too, and was men
toned for promotion"
This looks like it," said the other
man, angrily. "If you were deserving
of promotion why didn't you get it?' =
why didn't I get it? Because 1
exchanged into Libby Prison for my
brother. My gold paid for the privi-
lege, and he vent home to his family.
He lived in Michigan on the old farm,
and when lie was we'll of his wounds
he went back to the army and finished
with the war. 1 served his time out,
and when 1 was liberated L looked like
u scarecrow and was q wreck from
fever and hardship. And I tramped
home to the old place to get nursed
we'll and be made over into a new man,
and lie didn't know me and set the dog
on me for a vagabond. He denied that
i was his brother, and fed me outside
the door as he would have fed his dog.
L got up and went away, 1 don't know
where. but 1 guess into some hospital.
It's a blank, You see. comradc, when it
amt o prize. 1 heard afterwards he
was sorry and was looking for me. but
it was too late. 1 guesshe's dead, now
Il wish l n l sometimes wish,
when Tn very bad, that I'd a let him
die before 1 threw away nv life for
him."
mo, no. don't say that! Don't say
my brother Luke-brother, friend.
comrade. Why, I've hunted the world
for you just 10 tell you that it was q
dreadful mistake. How could I be-
lieve that my handsome brother could
have changed like that? Why, Luke,
if your mother had been alive she
wouldn't have known YOU"
Yes, she would; she'd know me
now. Is it really You, Joseph? I'm
glad you look SO prosperous. Don't
take it from me-it's all I've got-this
army overcoat is the only true friend
I've known. 1t has given me food and
Lodging when 1 had neither"
They embraced, holding each others
hands and looking into each others
eyes, after. oil those dreadful years.
Joseph took off his badge of the LOYAL
Legion and fastened it to the breast of
the old army overcoat with a ~reverent
touch.
Il have no right to that badge-I
haven't % any battles-I had no
c~hance.that badge isn't mine"
You have won q greater battle than
any of us. Wear this till You have one
OF your own. You've been q wanderer
thirty years. but now you've come
home: Brace up, brother, your luck
has changed"
y
sHe often gets those fits" said one
Of the habitues of the place. Il guess
there's something wrong with his Iead.
Give him air. He'll be all right in a
minute"
.Luke." said his brother, leaning
yer him. adon't you know me?s
@No. I don't know ycu," said the SOL
dier. opening his dim eyes very wide.
II haven't any brother. Listen! It's
the bugle call! Boots and saddlesi
I'm ready-r-e-a-d-y!"
He was buried in the old army v
coat at his home in Michigan, and last
Memorial Day was the first one since
his death. It doesn't matter much to
the man who sleeps below, whose life
wos q failure, il the flags Ay and the