Connecticut western news., 1896-05-28
ancient, iokes with him

''tnat story or yours makes me th1nk or the first time you told 1t, just after the war closed. You remember, heys"
 'Well, I don't know, !" said parson Bean. His mind was not so much upon the story as upon his silent comments.
 "Why, you see," said MT. Hingham- botham, crossing his knees, "this Is the way it was: You came in here, and you had had letter, you know, somebody had sent to you to give Jason Sparks. You remember Jasonp He was likely fellow enough, warn't hep Only his hair was a little mite too oarrotty. A good mark for the bullets, they used to say to tease Jason as he was going off to the war. We'll, you had had letter from Jason, and nobody knew where he'd gone to. You remember Jason cleared out just after the boys come homep Then you told this same ere story-this one about the two dogs, and"-
 "Did IF" exclaimed the minister, and he looked so stanled that Mir. Hingham both- am peered over his green glasses in sur prise at him.
 By the way, did you ever find out where Jason Sparks went to?" asked the minister irrelevantly.
 Well If he isn't dead" said MT. Hing hambotham, ''why, he is living, and that might be over in Sandman. You know his wife's father lived there, and when Jason went to the war he gave up his own home and his wife went to live with her own folks"
 The minister got his tall length out of the chair into which he had planted him. self and reached forward and took the postmaster's rusty penholder.
 "Hand us sheet of paper, will you, Mir. HinghambothamP' he said briefly.
 And when the letter was finished MT. Hinghambotham, not being able to see over the parsons shoulder just what was being written, received 1t after 1t was stuck together in its envelope and duly stamped, peered at 1t on all sides and on account of the minister's presence being unable to hold 1t up between the light and his eyes Ca method which he religiously observed with all other postal matter), he dropped 1t into the box with sigh.
 "Now,' said Pastor Bean, turning around and facing him, If you can gather anything else about Jason Sparks-I have not thought of him for score of years, or any one else that was in the same company Company c, you know, of Vermont guards) you just let me know as quick as you can get down to the parsonage.
 The next day Rex and Natalie had queer, solemn looking missive handed in by the minister's maid of all work. It was directed to both of the young people, and inside was very short letter that re- solved itself into four words, "Come over this afternoon"
 Never was bidding more joyfully ac- copted, and that afternoon in the pastors study there was a conference of three, so quiet and secret that not even a whisper escaped through the study walls.
 'Now, not a word to any one, !" said tho minister land don't you look as though you had anything that you could tell if you wanted to"
 It was the night before Decoration day, and it was prayer meeting night, the serv Ice being held in the old vestry There were not many there, to be sure. Perhaps they were saving their energies for the next day. But there were enough to be astonished when Pastor Bean said at the end of the service
 "There is an act of justice to be done here in Brier Hill tonight so startling that it will require large hall, that all the hearers may be seated. Every one who wishes to go can adjourn after this meet ing to the town hall. This Is all I shall say now"
 It was not necessary for him to say any more, and the few at prayer meeting could scarcely wait with decent patience until the minister said 'sAmenl' and adjourned the meeting.
 Then there was scampering over to the town hall, those at the end of the procession fearing that they would be unable to get seats, and all lost in wonder and amaze at the whole thing.
 Nobody knew what they were assemb bled for; whether the bank in the country town had burst, or whether the minister was going to resign and thought the church would be too small for the audience that would naturally be interested in tho news, or whether a dozen and one other things were about to burst upon them with one fell swoop.
 The tumult of all this whispering and excitement suddenly ceased as Parson Bean entered the side door, the seleotmen close at his heels, and then there were seen to emerge from the two doors of the com mittee room, back of the platform, a small crowd of people, each looking as if he had something interesting to communicate The parson stepped right to the front of the platfor m and said, "Let us pray!" Down went every head, although some- times eyes peeked out between the fingers of the hands held decorously before their faces. It is safe to say that very few per sons knew what the parsou prayed. Ev- cry one was watching the group on the | platform.
 But after the prayer was ended the | heads were up again, and 1t was the proper | thing to stare in straightforward way as | Parson Bean drew forward tall, angular old man, bont and withered, who seemed | to have great difficulty to walk even few l steps to the front of the platform.
 "Friends and fellow citizens," said the | minister in deep tones, i've have with us ] a resident of another town who has emerg- ed from the seclusion that has enveloped him to do simple act of justice to one of our townspeople. This Is Jason Sparks. | Perhaps some of you know him."
 Two or three people in the audience l started, craned their necks and stared long and hard at the old man on the platform, | but the rest looked on carelessly, not knowing in the least who Jason Snarks was.
 | "Now, then, Mir. Sparks" said Pastor Bean, "tell us what you know about the l battle of Bull Run--the little episode in which you and your oomrade, John Duns- combe, took part"
 | At the mention of John Dunscombe ey- cry man was alert with indignation, and the women also had curious look of scorn on their faces, so deep had been the feeling of anger at the one citizen of Brier Hill | who had been a discredit to them in the eyes of the world.
 T was with John Dunscombe," 7" said thc trembling voice of the man. "It Is [ good many long years now, and I've kint of forgot bout most of it, but 1t was 1T this way:
 "It was just this way: John said to me 'Comrade I am feared, am, but tain for myself It's that the country will los'
 this day Now" and the old mans voict
 trembled, "I was feared, too, but it wa
 because l was thinkin that my legs wa
 agoin to carry me off. I knew l shoult
 run. They made us charge with our bayo
 nets all pinted at the rebs, and l did,"
 At that the men stiffened involuntarily
 and the women all exclaimed under thei
 breath, "Shane on himp'
 1 s.Gn nn O soid the rnarsnr in a low voice