Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1898-05-28
FROSTBURG, Md, SATURDAY, MAY %, 1898

chair. His heart beat against his ribs, the
cold sweat stood upon his brow as he asked
himself the question. Then from under
meath came the answer as the dead self
rose from its grave and God said, "Loose
him and let him co.
Baldur was his dog, and this was Bal
dur's collar. He had had it made in Swe-
den, in Lund. The quaint old peaken roof
shop the silversmith and the some one
who was With him. Some one who was
young and beautiful and who loved him.
His bride, Barbara! A rending groan
burst from him. and his head fell forward
on the table, but his hand still clutched
the collar. One. after another the mist
curtains rolled away little by little the
lost years came back. Thanks be to God,
there were no awful guilt spots upon this
risen self of his in this his day of Judgment.
He saw Il happy, sheltered childhood,
flowing into the enthusiasm of youth, and
the steady purpose of manhood. He saw
himself responding gladly to his country's
call, though Barbara and the baby clung
about him. Then the long list of battles
burned their way through his memory,
ending with Atlanta.
Some one opened the door quietly and
came in.
cllil' ufc you SUN. tdlleu NWlnneCU
anxiously. The face that was raised to his
was distorted by anguish that it was al
most the face of a madman.
"Walton, Walton, know who l am! 1t
has all come back! l am Francis Trum-
bull of New Haven. For Gods sake bring
my wife, quck!''
He rose to his feet, took one reeling
step, then fell his full length upon the
floor.
81 don like the looks of things at all, )"
said the hotel doctor a few hours later
"We'll get nurse here in the morning,
and I'd like to consult with a specialist
His tover's high, and his hearts not right.
It's an unusual case, you see"
"4ou don t suppose there's any auth in
what he says, " faltered Gwinnett.
Hardly" said the doctor dryly.
Things don't come about in life so dra-
matically. It's easily accounted for. You
say your friend has been morbid and de-
pressed for a time. The excitement of the
parade, with all the subconscious men,
ories it induced, has been too much for
him. He has caught this child's name
the last stranger he met-and dressed it
up iii a personality. Depend upon it,
that's all. If he persists in the morning
well, We'll have to prove to him he's mis-
taken. Hell sleep for some hours now,
but III be in before he wakes.'
The city woke, but the man slept on.
Gwinnett was standing by the window
with the doctor listening to the directions,
when there came Il stir from the bed. How
the glad light rushed to his eyes as he
heard his name called, for he had feared
that waking.
"Here's tho doctor, Jim. You've had
one of your bad turns, but you've slept
and are better"
Jim Smith turned glad, sane eyes upon
Them Then he said:
yes I'm better, Walt; but have you
seen my wife YETI"
Walton hesitatod and looked helplessly
at the DOCTOR
"There, there, my dear sir, it, all right.
She'll come by and by"
A little smile came round the corners of
the sick man mouth. He must take the
reins himself.
''You think l am delirious, doctor.
Well, l am not. This is matter in which
you cannot meddle. Walton, what time is
it? They must have finished breakfast. l
want you to go down stairs and find that
boy father. Tell him l am his father,
Francis Trumbull, who was born in the
old house opposite the Green in 1888; that
| am graduate of Yale, class of '5S; that
l married Barbara Sherman in 1859, and
that l went to the war in 1861 as a capt lin
in the Inyincibles." "
His voice was low and steady and car
ried conviction to one of his hearers. "See
him alone and let him break it to-his
mother. Only'-here the excitement
which he had bravely kept in check broke
out in IA moasure-"only, for the sake of
heaven, be quick"
Walton Gwinnett went down the stairs
in maze. While he was listening it had
all seemed true, but now he doubted. AS
he reached the floor below he met the New
Haven party just coming out of the eleva-
tor. The boy rushed to him as he stood con-
fused before them At the sight of them
his tale seemed absurd. Yet there was the
black dress of the Oldest woman, and he
must speak.
Can l see you moment alone, Mr..
Trumbull?"
The young man turned and faced him,
and in one glance every doubt was stilled.
Out of all the world this was Jim Smiths
son.
The ladies walked ON, followed reluc-
family by the boy.
The men sat down in the seat by the
elevator, and Gwinnett began his story.
In a half hour he was back in the sick
room. The doctor sat beside his patient.
''She's coming, Jim," he said hoarsely.
doctor, it S true.
The doctor went into the other room.
'Do l look very old? Oh, Gwinnett, do
you think she can love me stillr'
For answer Gwinnett brushed the gray
hair hack from his forahpad and the hot
tears fell on his face.
God bless you, old fellow Now go out
and let her in n!''-Independent.
The Remnant.
1860.
Who are these who march so proud
Past the pushing, cheering crowd?