The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-06-16

server.
Just ten years after the close of the
war, on account of his children, the
colonel moved from the city of Boston
TO beautiful rural home near Somer-
vile. In the adornment of this place
he took great delight, and there are
soldiers of every State in the Union
who will remember, with pleasure. the
happy times spent there rs Colonel
Ford's guest.
One night, just before Christmas in
1876, the colonel stayed up in his Ii
brary long after his usual time for re-
firing. 1t was one o'clock when he
went to bed, but the matter on his
mind kept him awake till the clock on
the mantel chimed two. His bedroom
opened off the library, and he was just
sinking into doze when he vas start
led into wakefulness by hearing n
chair turned over in the next room.
Quickly and silently he got out of bed,
and having no other weapon at hand,
he picked up IA bootjack, which was
near the washstand, and in his bare
feet slipped into the library. BY the
light of lamp burning on the grounds
outside he saw the figure of man
bending over his desk, and with move
ments so cautious and catlike that he
was certain that it wns not one of the
servants, and also that his own en-
trance had not been observed by the
burglar.
The mans back was towards him,
and knowing that fight would follow,
in which he might get the worst of II
If he gave any alarm, Colonel Ford
sprang forward, brought the bootjack
down with "A number one cut, ;" and
the next instant with groan the in
truder fell in heap at his feet.
The colonel lit the gas Immediately,
and turned the burglar so as to expose
his face. AS he bent over him, Chan
cellorsville and all the incidents con-
nected Herewith flashed through his
mind. Here was the man he had been
so long in search of, the brave fellow
who, at the risk of his own life, had
saved him from the sabre of a mount
ed Confederate.
The colonel was about to summon
the servants, but suddenly changed
his mind. He had the necessary slim
ulant at hand, and he at once proceed
ed to revive the unconcious burglar.
After few minutes the man was re-
stored to his senses, and rising un-
steadily from the floor he rubbed his
eyes, and in a dazed, frightened way
surveyed the man standing before
him.
"Who are you, and what brought
you here?" demanded the colonel.
Before replying the man staggered
into chair, and then in broken
voice, replied;
"My name is Tom Rushmore. Ny
God, sir do not have me arrested y
"Not have you arrested !" repeated
the colonel. "What else can / do
with you? find you here as burg
lar trying TO rob my house, and fortu-
nately / have been able to prevent
you from that crime and perhaps from
the greater one of murder?"
Murder !" echoed the man, as he
pressed his hands to his bleeding head.
Before Heaven, sir, had no thought
of that. You will not believe my
oath, but if you could / would swear
TO you, and with truth, that this is the
first time in my life that ever know
ingly attempted a crime. Ny wife
has been an invalid for nearly two
years my children are suffering for
food, and L am out oil employment.
For days and weeks l have searched
far and near for work, but without
success. have heard that you were
rich, and in my desperation tonight
entered your house, hoping that ]
might be able to pick mp something
that, without serious loss to you,
would have enabled me to buy medi-
cine for my wife, and furnish bread
to my starving little ones.
"were you a soldier?" asked the
colonel
eyes, sir, was the response, "and
think brave one. Here is some
evidence of il, and he tore open his
flannel shirt, exposing a scar across
his right breast.
Were you at the battle Of Chan