The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-01-05
81 VIM By 4 BADGE
4 gvo6r THAT ,Nitt lN11nesT AL
cotLfnz 1lEN. |


Enbiem Was secn By ons
The sixfieth annual dini
ma Beta was certhinly 4 gp'
At the long table sat 15o Sd
ages and from all parts Of
The feast was ended when tho
arose from his place near the I'D Of
the board Straight Of figure and alert
Of eye, he-bore his so years lightly.
Boys. says the captain. II haven't
been TO . Gamma Betz dinner for 40
years. The last time went was q boy
In college As look around me am
glad am not the Oldest alumnus here.
for / feel ns young as any freshman.
But came here tonight to tell You
story, and n you have patience to hear
me I may rs well begin. Remember,
we old ones are garrulons at times and
stop me when you have had enough
His audience was all attention, and
the captain lighted . fresh cigar. blew
out puff cf SMOKE and began.
81 wac the first northern man to
plant cotton in Arkansas after the war.
The state had declared for the Union
early in 1884. but there was plenty Of
lawless sccessionism abont, and q north
erner's life and property were none too
safe Before / had been long nt my
planting got a notice from some Of my
secessionist friends that must stop op-
erations or leave the district IL ! had
any regard for my life---in short, they
gave me to understand that IL they
caught me they would string me up TO
kl.. ,u,x. xxyan n
Jim Roberts. Now, didn't intend TO
stop planting, and didn't intend to be
hanged. SO went ahead and told them
they could hang me.-if they could catch
| me.
About a month after that was rid
| ing across country one afternoon to get
little business done in the nearest
town As entered lonely piece Of
road O dozen men jumped ont Of the
woods. pointed their guns at my head
and ordered me to halt and dismount.
! saw could do nothing but surrender
| ut discretion, so came down from my
horse and was marched off in silence.
In few minutes we turned into lane
that led deeper into the woods and kept
on until we came to little clearing.
One Of my friends brought out a rope.
slung one end of it over the limb Of q
convenient tree and had the other end
slipknotted around my neck in jiffy.
Probably none Of you has ever felt q
hangman's rope around his neck, SO you
can't appreciate the state OF nv feelings
at that time. IN tell you. felt pretty
serious and thought my lease of life had
run out for certain But man clings
to life at such times, aud all at once
had a happy thought. ] remembered
that had package of excellent cigars
in my pocket, and drew it out
'Gentlenen, said, with as much
GOODNESS as l could muster. 7 know
that have but few minutes more te
live. Iwant to ask one favor. Give tne
time to smoke out cigar before you
swing me into eternity. Will you joiI
me? You will find them most excel
lent
my captors grimly assented. and We
lighted our weeds together No ont
said a word. Well, boys, made thai
cigar hold out, you may depend. But il
would burn. Little by little the ash be
gan to get longer aud drop off nnti
there was just SO mnch left. And thu
!. captain held up his smoking stump
measuring its small remainder critical
ly with his finger.
Well, thought to myself. her
goes for few more puffs anyway.
and was just getting the very last o
them when we heard a horse -coIuipi
through the trees. A fine looking fellow
rode up, who seemed to be sort O
commander of the company Hello
boysr he called ont, 'who'ye you go
here?' We've got Roberts. and we r
going to hang him, said they. al
right, said the officer and came over
have look at me.
"Now, ! had on my watch chain thi
+ little badge here" and the captai
/, touched q jeweled monogram of gol
that hung to his breast. II have alway
. worn il there and expect to as long as
a live. My coat was open, and as the Cor
=, federate came up his eye caught II
!, badge. Well, sirs, he turned all sorts ,
a colors, and leaning close to my e'
!, whispered the name Of our fraternit,
!. ct the same time grasping my hand wit
the good old Gamma grip, given wit
the strength of giant Then he turnt
to his men. Boys. SAID he this ma
is my friend, You must let him &c
And in an instant he took the rope fro
my neck, led up my horse, pulled pa
!: OF pistols from his pocket and hand'
one to me- Now, brother, said he, d
fend yourself and get away as best y
can't l lost no time in following his a
wee and made my escape. And here
am today, and that is all. +"
There was a storm of applause VIII
a the captain had finished and had tax
" his seat.
Il But, captain, cried more than on
n you'll have to finish the story. W
y was the man that got you free, and q
you ever see him again?"
The captain arose again, smilir
who was he? Well, he belonged to c
Of our southern chapters. And di'
ever see him again? Yes, | did. "
The captain laid his hand on
shoulder of an elderly man in the s.
next to him. Yes, can see him t
minute. Ned, tell the boys your side
the storyi''-New York Tribune.
Different Opinion.
l Contributor-I have here an arti
on What Poets Have Said OF
Moon"
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