Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-05-25


avenue.
Behind them came the guests of the day.
tho New Haven lnvincibles, a military
organization almost as old as the days Of
John Davenport. The blue and buff of
colonial times, the bearskin shakos, the
pure white faoings Of the elaborate uni
forms, all made them the mark for the
eyes OF the mulsituds. Their alignment
was perfect
There's father, said the lad, "at the
head ofthat company. Seer The tall man
with the plain face. Oh, tell you he's a
dandy"
He had sunk back in his chair, his fair
face all aglow, and he looked up at the
Older man with friendly confidence
charming to see "I'm sure Of it." said
MIR. Smith heartily. Suppose you tell mo
your name now? Mine is James Smith. ,"
Francis Trumbull, said the boy
proudly. I'm the third of that name
Have you got a little boy?"
There was a perceptible pause, which
made the boy curious, before the man said
slowly:
No"
That's a pity, said Francis compass
sionately. Its a great thing for a man
to have a little boy. | don't know what
they'd do without me-"
He was so sure of his own Importance,
so serene in it, that it touched the lonely
man beside him Had he ever been of SO
much account?
Have you got little girlP" went on
tho boy.
Il have no one in the whole world be-
longing to me. That gentleman, Mr.
Gwinnett, is my friend, and we old bache-
Tors live together in Atlanta.
There was pause of full minute be.
fore the next shot fell.
Were you in the war;
For answer Mr.. Smith pushed back his
gray hair from his forehead and showed d
long ugly scar that ran up into the scalp
Tho boy gave low whistle. "Cracky !
That must have hurt You were ON the
southern side?"
~ don't know, said tho man And he
smiled, though his eyes were grave
Don't know" said the boy; don't
know which side you were ons Oh, come
now, you re foolingw
mo" said the man, ~ don't know
and I've boon 80 years trying to find out
I've been to the best doctors in Europe
and this country but they cannot help me
Do you think you CAM"
The boy hitched his chair nearer, forget
ting the parade, and laid his hand-it was
a long, shapely little hand-on the mans
knee, while he gazed at him with his clear
blue eyes, full OF amazement.
II was wounded at the battle of Atlanta
in the chest and on the head. Mr. Gwin
nett, who was on the southern side, found
me unconscious and nearly dead on the
field. where the cavalry had been charging
L
stepped on me. A any rate, when came
to in the negro cabin where MIR. Gwinnett
had left me l could remember nothing l
had no past. In a few weeks as soon as |
was able, l was moved to Mr.. Gwinnetts
mother IS home In Atlanta was long
time getting we'll, but l never wore out
their goodness. My memory never came
back and had to begin all over again
learn my A b C's even"
But, " said the boy. there was your
uniformY"
'some one had stripped me of that,
thinking me dead Well, | took the name
of James Smith and started life over
again. don t know what have lost |
know l gained the best friend God ever
gave II man.
There was something in his face as be
looked at his friend who was watching
the soldiers. that made the boy swallow
quickly
II say" said the boy. and there was
little CULVER around his sensitive mouth,
that was rough on you. And he slipped
his hand into the mans and gave it a
hard squeeze,
The boys face was very grave as he
said, "Goodby. and he ran back to throw
himself on Mr.. Smith and whisper, 1t II
come back some day, see If it don I, -
Good little chap, said Mr.. Smith as
he stood listening to the sound OF his feet
as he ran noisily down the stairs.
Yes, he's u regular boy: no cherub
business about him But, Jim, you look
tired
My head feels thick, - said the other
Its this COMPOUNDED procession. wish
we hadn t waited over l don't know why
you insisted" And his friend kicked his
heels petulantly against the table on which
he was sitting
walt, l wanted to try another expert
ment TO see if it would suggest anything
l thought perhaps il had been northern
man and l saw the old flags and all that
it might bring something back, but it has
not
"Of course 1t hasn't for you re south
ern fast enough. Sec here, Jim, suppose
you got your past back-and it might be
a past you would not choose now-havo
you ever thought that the chances are
you d lose the interims That the last 30
years would go-all your manhood-and
and along with ity"
He spoke with an angry vehemence He
was afraid and jealous OF those unknown
years.
II don't want my past without you,
Walt, " said his friend simply.
1t was evening Mr. Gwinnett had gone
to the theater, leaving his friend to recover
from his headache. He sat in the dusk
though his room was full Of reflected light
from the street below. All day long he
had been in singular state Of anticipa-
ton, behind which there was lurking ap-
prehension. His head throbbed, he had