The Press., 1898-05-26

CAPTAIN OF
 THE INVINCIBLES.
Iris the star spangled banneri

Oh, long may it wa-avei" Sang the shorter of the two men to the music in the distance, and he threw his cigar end into the grate. #s##t E In through the. open windows of the hotel, along with the sunshine and the sweet, warm air, came the undertone of a multitude, while the overtone was struck by the military band at the head of the procession which was coming down Fifth avenue.
 Well, said the Georgian, eff any one had told me in 1861 that should be ever sitting here in New York listening to that tune and content, mind you, I'd have knocked him down." And he gave jolly laugh and stretched himself as he began to look for his hat through the ( order of the room. "Al things come round to him who will but wait.''
 "I don't know about that, Walt" said the taller and handsomer man in a grave, musing tone. "Time hasn't given me back my past yet.
 His friend laid his hand on his shoulder with a oaressing touch and looked re- proaohfully into the upturned face.
 "Don't, old man; for heavens sake, don'tl You'll be having one of your bad times again. What do you want with any more past than you've got? There ism t a man in Georgia more honored than you,
 
 with you. You're Uncle Jim to Nelly's children just as much as I'm Uncle Wal ton. live tried to make it up to you, old fellow you know I have" And the strong voice broke little.
 The older man sprang to his feet and caught his friend by the shoulders. "Gwin- nett, Pm selfish beastl Made it up to mel Indeed you have, if any one could. Only it comes over me at times with a T Sky1 %I %I4 drums and the flags that have done it to- day. It's hard, knowing a fellow was a soldier and yet not knowing which side he fought on!''
 "Jim Smith, stop that rotl You know what that Paris specialist told you Put your hat on and come out on the balcony. They Ire almost here."
 | The two men picked up their hats and were about to step upon the little balcony before their windows when the door was | burst open and panting, rosy boy in a white serge sailor suit raced in. "Hello'' cried the intruder. "What are you doing heref'
 i've thought we were in our own | rooms," said Mir. Gwinnett, with mock humility, "but perhaps we're mistaken" The boy-he was about 10 years old had been looking about him in bewilder- ment. Then he burst into a merry laugh. q beg your pardon. must have come up one flight too many. I raced ahead of Aunt Grace, who waited for the elevator. Oh, deari The-~'s the procession, and ] may miss fat her after alll'' "Colne out on our balcony. I'll send a bellboy to your mother and tell her where you arr" l" said MT. Gwinnett cordially. .A2efore he had finished speaking the boy
 outside waving his white cap and
 Hing to some one below.
 There they are, the floor below, two
 7es a1ong.'h Then, "I'm all right
 he called out to one of the
 aAe ladies who were gazing uI
 6hishment. The gentlemen
 le1ass,s tlfe ladies seemed to ac
 situation, and they all settled
 bo reviewing the parade.
 Bay, said the boy, "I'm glad made
 mistake, for you can see better ur
 e-that is, with polite afterthought
 I-do not trouble you.''
 | S"Just you wait till the New Haven In vincibles come along, then you'll set marching. I'll bet they beat the Seventh Fathers the captain of Company A. That's the first company. I'm going to join when I grow up. There's been a Trumbul ir the Inyincibles for over 100 years. My grandfather was a captain, too, and he go1 killed in the war. Ah, there's a battle flag. Hurrah, hurrahl
 ''I love to see the old, tattered flags, only it makes grandma cry. You see, it re minds her of grandpa. That's my grand mother in the black dress and that's Aunt Grace in the bonnet with the poppies We've just been down to Tiffany's to gel my dog collar, It wouldn't lock. And that's mother with the blue flowers in hel belt. They're for Yale, you know.''
 The splendid Seventh had just swung Nr1tn Modi stand to the sound of a mighty cheer which had enoompassed them down Fiftl avenue. 4 @ ... Behind them came the guests of the day the New Haven Invincibles, militar organization almost as old as. the days o John Davenport. The blue and buff O colonial times, the bearskin shakos, tn pure white faoings of the elaborate uni forms, all made them the mark for tn eyes of the multitude. Their alignmen was perfect.
 "There's father," said the lad, 'tat th head of that company. See? The tall mai with the plain face. Oh, tell you he's dandy!''s { , He had sunk back in his chair, his fai face all aglow, and he looked up at tn older man with friendly confidenc charming to see. "I'm sure of it," sai MT. Smith heartily. Suppose you tell ID your name nowP Mine is James Smith. "Francis Trumbull,', said the bo proudly 's1'm the third of that name Have you got little boyP" } There was. perceptible pause, whio made the boy curious, before the man sai slowly:
 "No." r-..--
 ~"That's pity, said Francis compas sionately. "It's great thing for ma to have 8 little boy. I don't know wha they'd do without me-" ~..-. !, He was so sure of his own importance so serene in it, that it touched the lonel man beside him. Had he ever been of 6 } much account?
 t "Have you got little girlP" went O the boy.s s &s Et "I have no one in the whole world be longing to me. That gentleman, Nil Gwinnett, is my friend, and we old bachs lors live together in Atlanta
 There was pause of full minute bt fore the next shot fell. l. :