Middletown transcript., 1894-05-26

York Entering RESCUEA
as managing clerk the Office Of prom
inent legal firm, he worked his way up
/ by ability and steadiness of purpose un-
til in couple of years he was admitted
as Junior partner and could look with
confidence upon very promising future
Edith after time enjoyed much her life
in the metropolis, but often regretted
that she had quite lost sight Of her cous-
in Clara, whose home was somewhere in
that indefinite region ''away out west -
One spring when Mr.. Townly was
stout, middle aged lawyer with an es
tablished reputation some legal affairs
called him out to Chicago and he made
a pleasure jaunt of his business trip By
taking his wife with him. In the fair
city by the lake he had the good fortune
to find a couple of old Virginian friends,
who received him very Hospitality, and
among other endeavors for his entertain
ment introduced him in their Southern
society, an organization composed al
most entirely of men who had wcrn the
Confederate gray. Genial good fellows
he found them, free from sectional bit
terness, as almost all are who fought
their fight out on the field, and the most
amicable feeling existed between them
and the members Of Grand Army post
which met in the rooms adjoining theirs.
So perfect was the good understanding
existing between the two organizations
that when Decoration day was drawing
near the post extended to the society
cordial invitation to join in celebration
of the anniversary, and the society with
pleasure accepted
Mr.. Townly accompanied his friends
on the occasion and found himself in
hearty accord with the prevailing senti-
ment Of the day. Toward the close of
the public exercises one Of the post Off
GERS approached him, saying in an in
terrogative tone, Lieutenant Townly, |
believer"
THAT is my name " replied the gen.
tleman addressed 81 trust you will |
pardon my defective memory, but though |
your face seems familiar cannot place |
you"
''Did you get back to camp ell right |
from Toms Brook Crossing?"
"Ah, now | remember! You are the |
man who saved my life there! Well, |
am indeed happy to meet you again,
even if you did leave puzzle in my |
mind that has worried me ever since by |
saying that it made us even, and that |
'one good turn deserved another ; Z"
The Grand Army man laughed "You |
shall understand today. But, first, to |
introduce myself, married your wife's |
cousin, Clara"
"Oh, then you are Mr.. Gooding?"
"Yes. And now let us get out Of this
crowd to my carriage Clara often
speaks of you and will be glad to see |
you at dinner"
''But my wife is at the Sherman ex-
pecting me-"
Edith here! Better yet We will go
and get her."
Mrs. Townly received the Chicagoan
as an old friend, and when her husband
looked surprised said, "He came court
ing Clara at the same time you were
courting me- That puzzled him, and
when he wanted to know how it chanced
they had never met under such circum-
stances Mr.. Gooding said, "Wait lit
tle and you shall know, but only at my
house.
-
When the cousins, now middle aged
women, but with hearts still young. had
embraced and cried little together out
Of sheer happiness at their reunion, Mrs.
Gooding introduced her two pretty
daughters, who sang a medley of south
ern and northern songs appropriate to
the day. While this was going on Mr..
Gooding excused himself for a few min
utes on plea Of attending to some neg
lected business Presently an old negro
shuffled in, carrying scuttle of coal for
the CRATE fire.
Great Scottl" exclaimed Mr.. Town
ly, recognizing him at once "Are you
alive yet?''
eyes, sab. Ah'm alive yit-khem
norf same time Mars Goodin kem. Nuf-
fin bettah foh niggahs dan ma medicine
tea" And he showed his battered old
coffeepot, which he carried suspended I
from a string about his neck. ma
gracious, how dis yer coal do duty up
q body's han'sp'