The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-25

hearted and wounded deeply In pride. His
youth could picture no worse catastrophe.
Ruin stalked grimly before him Life was
a yellow, arid desert. He could never face
his friends at home. Like many a boy be-
fore him, he set forth for New York, wan
dered over to the Brooklyn yard, made the
acquaintance of sailor or two and en-
listed in the navy.
These events. insignificant to the careless
great world, but tragic 10 a loving smaller
one took place in the first year of the adj
minlStration of Chester A. Arthur as PreSi-
dent OF the United States and of William
T.. Chandler as secretary of the navy.
The hrst information the doctor received
of his sons precipitancy was a fearful, fu-
rious, heart-broken letter. boyish in its in
tensity telling his ruin and reiterating his
unalterable intention never again to be seen
of his erstwhile friends and companions.
The doctors army life had made him
man of action. He threw a few things into
a satchel and reached New York the next
noon. He went to the Brooklyn navy yard
and stated his mission with a rough,
straightforward eloquence made more for
chile by the strong undercurrent OF pater-
nal love. The commandment could do MOTH
ing: he was sorry, but the doctor had bet
ter go to the secretary OF the navy. 1t was
an unusual case, and perhaps he might sue
coed in getting the boys release Ii was
mere improbability which had not yet tax
en- on the character of an impossibility. 70
Washington the doctor went he never
stopped even for his dinner
At the home of Mr.. Chandler he was told
that the secretary was with President Ar
thur at the White House. Both men We're
sportsmen, and had planned run down
the bay for duck. The secretary of the
navy had gone to meet the Preslq yen, a LOT
tor was greeted by servant
rs Mr.. Chandler in?" he asked the man.
Yes, sir
Il would like to see him at once"
II am afraid you cannot see him. SIR
the man replied. -
II tell you | must see him. Do you hearF
The servant looked at the tall, square
shoudered old man, and met MS hasiins
| eyes. :.
Il will speak to him, sir; but / think 1t
will be useless
Mr. Arthur and Mr.. Chandler were starring
on a shooting trip, and that Mr.. Chandler
would have to be excused. Would he can
again day after tomorrow?
9sWhere are they?'' demanded the doc
tor in tones of grim determinations ana
the astonished servant Involuntary
| to it and raped, then walked in. Before
him stood the President of the United
States and the secretary of the navy. Two
guns in leather cases were leaning against
a table. A couple of boxes of shells and
two cartridge belts We're lying on It, me
doctor had once peremptorily ordered
the armies of the United States, out OF the
line of fire at the battle of the Wilderness.
He began at once to speak
Il am DR.. Blank, of B." he announced,
briefly land l want my son.
He told the two men the, story of the
boys foolish pride and headstrong action.
They heard him with evident interest.
Your story, sir" said Chandler, lis UNI
usual l fear however. that you will have
to wait. President Arthur and myself are
going away this morning on shooting
trip And Chandler bowed
There was an interval of silence. The old
man looked Arthur and Chandler full in
the face He glanced at the guns and car
tridges on the table. He drew himself up.
His eyes blazed.
what, sir Do you think ! am going to
let my son stay on that ship another day?
Do you think that l am going to break my
heart to let you kill few ducks? Look at
me- sri / have not eaten food for twenty
four hours. / have not brushed the dust
from my coat. Have l travelled night and
day to be put off that you may shoot your
powder and bring home your game? Who
are you? You are my servant. Who pays
your salary? do. Who owns the boat you
are going on? l do. BY God. sir, if you do
not give me an order releasing my boy from
that ship now you will have to fight me
before you kill any ducks this day.
The room was in absolute silence when
the ring of the doctors last words died
away. Chandler was breathless He looked
at Arthur. He made motion as If to
touch a bell Arthur, who had not moved
before stopped his hand
Chandler, he said, Il think that before
we start perhaps you had better write that
order and have it done with. I'll counter
sign it,
Chandler wrote it.: Arthur countersigned
it. They went shooting. Two days afterward
the doctor ate some OF the duck at the
White House table.