Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-08-03

the strength of that old army overcoat
he received MANY meal and imbibed
many drink that cost him nothing
but 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 over
coat, though one of the men had in
Guided 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 a 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 comraaes?" he asked, sternly
Gil guess SO, boss" answered
the man, humbly.
What company We're you in?"
Company --, Second Michigan cav
airy" stammered the tramp
Its lie! You never was in any
company. You've no right to wear
that army overcoat. You're a fraud
and an imposter, and I'll prove it, too"
''You-you can't! Look at the scars"
and he held out trembling hand,
scanned with cicatrized wounds.
AYE, and look at this! cork leg
where there should be one of flesh and
blood! l left my own on the battlefield
at Shiloh. See the hole in my cheek,
there's a bullet in there yet Now,
where were wounded? Those are 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 rat.
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 little different, you touched the
tramp on the shoulder, and see. / was
in Company - of the Second Michi-
gan cavalry all right. l 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 Ito"
why didn't get it? Because ey-
changed into Libby prison for my
brother. My gold paid for the priv
ilege, and he went home TO his family.
He lived in Michigan on the old farm,
and when he was well of his wounds he
went back to the army and finished
with the war. ] served his time out,
and when | was liberated l looked like
a scarecrow, and was a wreck from
home to the old place to get nursed
well, and be made over into new man,
and he didn't know me, and set the
dogs on me for vagabond. He denied
that / was his brother, and fed me out
side the door as he would have fed his
dog. got up and went away, l don't
know where, but guess into some hos
pital. It's blank, you see, comrade,
when it amt a prize. l heard after
wards he was sorry and was looking
for me, but it was too late. l guess
he's dead now-I wish was. some
times wish, when I'm very bad, that
I'd "a let him die before threw away
my life for him"
No. no, don't say that! Don't say
that, dear brother Luke, for you are
my brother Luke brother, friend,
comrade; why, I've hunted the world
for you just to tell you that il was a
dreadful mistake. How could be-
lieve that my handsome brother could
have changed like that! Why Luke,
if our 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 50 prosperous, Don't take it from
me its all I've got-this army over
coat is the only true friend I've 4nown-