The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-31

der. He went down at point where a
small body Of Confederates were pi ess-
ing us hard; and as we temporarily
yielded our ground we saw nothing
more of our gallant sergeant, and the
war department records to this day
have his name entered as among the
missing.
Where have you been all these
years, Billy?" asked.
"Oh, hereabouts and thereabouts,"
he answered quietly.
I did not press him in manner cal
culated to annoy him. I was conf
dent Of the nature of the emotions that
were astir within him. still retained
his hand in mine and looked steadily
into his eyes. Again he averted his
glance, and then, as If to relieve the
embarrassment of the situation, which
he seemed to realize that his own
manner was causing, he half-indiffer-
emily asked:
Whats the news down around the
old placer"
We had been school fellows together
and enlisted at the same time. 1t was
a natural question therefore. 1 replied:
Everything Is about as old-fashioned
as ever. Why haven't you let some
of us hear from your"
What was the use?" he replied,
looking up with a peculiar CLEAN in
his eyes.
1--WE had all supposed you were
dead" said !. That is, all except one
or two, who refused to give you up for
lost"
II didn't imagine anybody thought
that much about me-" he replied, in a
half-cynical way
Croft was an orphan when he left
his native village, and a very poor, but
hard working boy. There were, con-
sequently, no family ties linking him
to the spot. But he was popular, and
fare. He had learned the trade Of
wagon making, and he lacked only q
few weeks Of the attainment of his
majority when the war broke out. And
among those who mourned over his
absence and his mishap was the most
attractive girl of the place; and she,
unlike every one else, chung persistent
ly to the faith that he would one day
return and receive the reward which
she was ready to bestow upon him.
1t was a tedious process to extract
from him a history of his Wanderings
and his life since that fateful day on
the battlefield Little by little, how
ever, I learned that, falling into the
hands of the Confederates, he had been
also badly wounded, to the home of
the latter, following the surrender at
Appomatox; that the two had formed
warm attachment for one another;
that, on their recovery, they had taken
up together the study Of civil engineer
ing; that they soon found employment
in the transportation industries spring
ing up after the restoration of peace,
and that Croft had drifted northward
by reason Of his abilities in the line of
his occupation and his merits as
man.
I gradually drew him into general
conversation and led him to throw
aside his formality and apparent cold
ness of manner. until he began to dis
play unmistakeable pleasure over our
unexpected meeting. Finally, and with
a purpose, I said:
We'll, Billy, I suppose you are mar
ried, like myself, and settled down."
He did not answer at once. but final
ly he said slowly and seriously:
mo, no. I can't think of that. I am
still single-handed all around, and shall
always remain so.''
"Of course you draw a pension" I
remarked.
I shall never forget the response and
the manner of it's delivery which 1 re-
ceived to this careless suggestion. I
was promptly reminded that I had
touched upon a tender spot in his
manly, Independent character. His re-
ply came with such suddenness and so
thrillingly that for moment 1 was
startled
What do you take me for?" he ex-
claimed, as his piercing eyes looked
squarely into mine. when I said that
morning that 1 would give my right
arm if that battle might be the last of
that wicked slaughter of men, I meant
what I said, and I gave it willingly.
To HI with your pensions! Do you
suppose I would go crawling around
the heels of the government asking
them to pay me for something that I
had already given willingly?"
Inasmuch as 1 was incapable of argu-
ing against such lofty deductions and
conclusions as these, I remained silent
for several minutes. There was novel;
ty, too, in my situation, a fact which
I have later many times appreciated,
inasmuch as I actually stood in the
presence of . man who, having so
bravely earned a pension, absolutely
refused to accept it.
But, Billy" I ventured to say, at
last you ought to have come back and
fulfilled your promise to that lovely girl
who remained so long steadfast in her
constancy to you"
He darted a glance at me, full of
meaning. Then, with some hesitation
he replied slowly: well, perhaps
ought. But you see," he added, Il rea-
soned the matter out in this fashion
When I went away and she promised
to walt for me, I was a whole man.
When the war ended I was only part
of a man-that is, I was a cripple. /
argued that it would be mean on my
part to go back and keep her to her
word, when 1 had lost my right arm
on which she must rely for support.
Besides, l thought she would believe
that I was dead, and 1 knew there were
plenty more to take my place"
Again he turned upon me that half
malignant glance. But only smiled as
1 added:
But she loved you and you knew it;
and your affection under such heroic
circumstances would only have en-
deared her to you"
"Bosh!' he exclaimed, impatiently.
What nonsense. I always loved her
and believe love her still; but we were
viewed from a practical standpoint.
Besides, such sentiment as you try to
picture never exists outside of novels
and poetry, and 1 have no use for
Them
We'll" replied you cannot blame
her then for giving you up for dead,
and making the best marriage posi-
BILE"
mo, I don't" he answered, looking
seachingly at me. II hope she is hap
py, for she deserved to be happy if
anybody ever did,
Dropping our general conversation
there and without any inquiries by
him as to her choice, but which he
parted. after 1 had exacted from him
o prornise to iOin me at the hotel for