The National tribune., 1898-01-13
CHAPTER. I,

regiment rs ClegQle. satlnteTed up and dowT
Chestnut street. Philadelphia. one day in May
1868, noting with curious interest the name:
upon the signs and over the doors OF the place,
of business. He was boyish-lookiDg fellow.
slight with a thin. dark face and the line OF
a silky black mustach relieving the long upper
lip He was man. however, despite his
boyish face. For more than a year he had
held Il Lieutenant's commission. given fol
gallant and meritoriouS service, that was at
tested by wounds received in the first great
battle of the war.
1t was q bright day in May, vet he wore q
long coat which almost brushed the pavement,
and biz hat These were counterinlanced
by a air Of natty to-, roots of a style no en-
listed man were The incongruiiy OF the
costume was enhanced by the wearing of the
heavy coat on balmy day in May. Many
turned to look at him with curious question
ing in their eyes, but he Sauntered on paying
no heed
- Guess he dOesn' know what time of year
it is, said one young fellow to another, rs
they passed by. Yet DO man was more likely
to know that particular season than Clegge.
May was his luck-month. He had been born
in MAJ. and most of the good things that had
come into his life had made their appearance
in the month of flowers. However shabhily
the other members of the duodenal sisterhood
might treat him, she had always brought him
good fortune.
This rule held good from his birth to his
Doth year, when the climax of good fortune,
as he thought. was reached in the discovery
that Amy Lane. the prettieSt girl In the region
where he lived, returned the love he had long
cherished for her Yet when next his natal
month came round he found the mensal fairy
had not deserted him, for she brought not
only the duties of completed manhood, but
the special privilege of serving his country in
the army of liberty, then mastering for the
defense of the Union.
Nodoubt it was a sore trial to his sweetheart,
but she sent him out TO battle with smile,
hiding her woe in her heart that he might
have a pleasant memory TO carry with him
into danger. When two months afterward
he returned with a wound which threatened
TO destroy his future, even if it spared his
life, she gave herself to nurse him back TO
strength
When the next May came, ii brought him
the commission that was the reward not
only OF his gallantry but also Of her faithful
ness. And now, for the third time. May had
dawned with the war cloud vet dark above
the land, and brought him fortune so wonder
ful that all the others seemed commonplace
IN comparison with it.
For six months Cleggie had been a prisoner
of war. For the greater part of that time he
had seen the sun and sky only through the
barred windows of Libby Prison. That is
why he wore the overcoat in the bright May
day The air was chill to one SO long ac-
customed TO an Oyercrowded dungeom-there
were more than 800 men in the room where
he had been confined, When May-day came,
there had seemed little hope of release His
l. -
fortune in store. Three DAYS later. the prison
doors flew open: two days later he was at
Annapolis and used his last dollar long
kept for sorest need" to telegraph to his
sweetheart Of his deliverance
The idea that Jimmie CIegg did not know
that it was May
F. Smith and Company said Cleggie,
reading the names on big plate-glass
window. GOOD old name Smith-and
looks like a good place. ! believe Ill make
my first venture here"
He sauntered in and asked of the first clerk
he saw unoccupied if he might speak with
Mr.. Smith. The clerk looked him over.
coolly, and said he believed Mr.. Smith was
engaged. - All right" said Clcgg, conten-
tedly, sitting down on one of the stools be-
fore the showcases full of pretty things, "I'H
wait" For time he watched the women
and girls as they tripped past, looking so
sweet and fresh TO his eyes. long unaccus-
y0med to such dear sights: then the clerk
came and said that if he would give him his
name and tell him his business. he would see
if Mr.. Smith could attend to it,
Oh, he doesn't know me.'' answered
Cleggic Ny business is to make his
acquaintance" The man tore a scrap out of
his note book, and Clegge wrote his name on
il with as much composure and with as big
flourish as if he had been Major-General.
The clerk went into the ground-glass in
closure at the end Of the store, and returning.
asked the young man to follow him.
When they reached the Office door. he said
the biz man who was writing at the table
was Mr.. Smith. Cleggie entered the man
looked up; nodded toward chair. and went
On with his work. Cleggie sat down and
waited. Every now and then. Mr. Smith
emitted a sonOTous humph. humph :" in
tone that seemed TO fill the building. Cleg-
gie remembered to have heard il in the outer
room, and to have wondered what il was
Finally, having apparently completed that on
which lac was engaged, Mr.. Smith whirled
about in his chair. and said:
Well sir lhumph humph.) what can
do for you?''
y u can lend me So, said Cleggie, in
nOcen;ly
Humph, humph " said Mr. Smith. look
ing al li'n with great gray eyes that hardly
seemed - wink. Why not make it a hun
dned. OF a thousand for that matter?"
We'll answered Cleggie, with an artless
laugh, -" have no use for such sum, and
might find it difficult 70 ray it back"
You think Of paying it back, then?
Humph humph /" in the same tone of NUT
teTing thunder
OF course. or ] wouldn't have asked it.n
Humpl, humph That's right. Your
name Is - consulting the slip OF paper that
lay On bis desk
- Clegg-James CIegg.''
Jusi 80. Humph humph Lieut. Clegg?''
" Yes sr Lieutenant of the --th Ohio
Inf, " promptly.
- Humph. humph! Do they officer Ohio
regiments with boys"
- Yes with laugh, "when The bows
have seen service and have fair record"
. Humph, humph Aud ] suppose you
have seen a good deal of seryice?"
Two years and some days-long enough
TO get two wounds and six months in a Con
feoerate prison" answered Cleggie, a little
tartly.
Humph humph? Where were you con-
fined ?"
in Libby, and several other prisons
q VOC don't say Humph, humph /.
When?''
- was released four days ago"