Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-11-03

even tnougn MS voice, the eyes ana the
perfect profile assured him.
Has the grave given up its dead?'
he managed TO ask
''No, Valentine, but the time has
come when the clouds should roll away
from our lives. That this has not been
done before is not my fault, rs you
shall see "
"Oh! If you are Frederick Weldon,
/ should be delighted. said Lawyer
Bliss, putting the bundle Of papers un-
der his arm and dry washing his lean
hands.
DO not interrupt me. | am now speak
ing for the information Of my kinsmen
and friends here assembled" Captain
Brandon, or Frederick Weldon, conduct
ed his brother to "A seat facing the people
and continued:
My position can only be understood
by telling you in rs brief way as pos
sible my story since the sad night when
last ] saw my brother. -
The captain hesitated, while cough
ing and shuffling Of feet told Of the
profound interest Of the people. He went
on:
"When / returned 20 consciousness
after the blow / found myself in hos
pital where Union troops were being
cared for, and my nurse told me the
place was Cincinnati From this man
learned that scouting party If the
Twenty third Ohio had come upon "a
man robbing the body of another whom
he was supposed to have murdered. By
the glare Of the lightning they recog-
nized this man as noted bushwhackcr
and fired at him. He plunged into the
river, and his was the body found after
ward. but Of which knew nothing un-
til recently.
''The officer in command, believing
rightly that was Union man, after
ascertaining that / still lived, had me
placed in an ambulance and sent 20 "a
hospital. Some Of his men kindly gave
mt change Of clothing, and, rs they
Were soldiers clothes, the physicians,
though having no record Of my case,
sent me on with the wounded troops.
Il had been unconscious, il seems,
nearly six weeks Ny brain was affected,
ed For several months my organs Of
speech were affected. and when asked
my name il seems they understood me o.
say Brandon, when | meant Weldon.
Every one about the hospital called me
Brandon, and form brothers sake | de-
termined % adopt the name.
AT first | Thought 10 return home,
but the war spirit ran high, and rea
soned that my presence would bring
trouble to my brother, and that If | BE-
came as one dead he could inherit the
property for his children. So gave up
home and fortune entered the Union
army when became strong enough and
came out u captain at the close Of the
war.
Then | wanted 10 20 home, for !
ycarned g. tell my brother, who belong
III W lll' u'dt'H rL'Ift NAAt LAW l'A
given him and that all my old love went
out 10 him But thought | am look
ed on as one who is dead. Why should
go back; The people think that He'd
at the time Of my disappearance. for |
never dreamed that my brother was sus
pected. Ny every thought was to shield
him -
God bless you, Frederick. God bless
you, my brother!" sobbed Valentine.
$50, continued the captain, Il de
cided to 20 70 land where | would
meet none whom knew. and there live
us a hunter and prospector. Fourteen
years ago | came 10 the west, and IN
,hesc mountains met the Prophet. |
told him my story and made him swear
perpetual silence before the altar. II
il had not been for this, he could have
saved Us all this trouble New scenes
and associations gradually banished old
memories, and as Captain Brandon /
was quite willing 10 spend the re-
mainder Of my days in the wilderness. y
"In Gods land. captain In Gods
land" interrupted the Prophet
1T has truly bcen Gods land 10 me.
Last spring went 20 Omaha for sup
plies, and there fell IN with a party Of
immigrants bound for the far west and
anxious 70 secure guide. They were
told 10 come to me. and they did 50. AZ
first / hesitated 20 lead them, bit when
| learned that DR.. Blanchard and his
family might be Of the party hcsitatcd
no longer OF course knew DIR. Blanch- |
ard, but the seal had placed on the
Prophets lips was on my own, and
was resolved 10 keep my identity 10 my
self. Yet my heart went out TO the peo-
pie Of my kin. and | yearned to take
them to my heart and say, 1 am Fred |
erick Weldon.
Il met Henry Kyle as we neared the
mountains, and having heard evil re
ports Of him l was glad when he and
his companion, Robb, went. had long |
known Of Mr.. Kyle, but never imag-
ined that he was my brother.
This is my story This can prove. |
But my heart is too full 20 think Of
other proof now. Come, stand beside |
me, Valentine. Hold my hand as you
did in boyhood when we climbed the
mountains The grasp is stronger and
truer now that we are entering the val |
ley"