Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-06-14
MY SUBSTITUTE.

tackled up at the foot of the steps leading
TO the little hall in Kingston The crook
ell characters, labar.ausly formed, pro
claimed t" the world that a company would
be organized ON a certain night. Without
any intention whatever of being present at
the meeting strolled TO the village that
evening and mechanically assembled the
steps n1s that had any intention Of en-
ruillhg-EOne in tho world. Kate and
had been married but three months,
and / knew 1t would break her heart if |
left her then. And, besides, my profession
required my constant attention. If things
had been SO l could have left, would
have been among the first to put down my
name--I guess | would Still, impelled
by some marvellous fascination, l wander
ed in. My old friend Troutman. fellow
whom l had tolerated with sort of pat
ronizing Indifference, was making Wig
orous speech, and the listeners howled APP
prevail mt everything he said, though, good
ness knows, it was dull enough and yio
lated every rule of oratory But l suppose
to their un:utorcd ears it sounded very
fine. At its conclusion Troutman invited
every one who wanted to join the company
to come forward and sign the roll. a
rush was mnde to the front ] started to
go out, when that chump of Troutman
announced that ono more man was need
ed He waited. and | noticed several
glanced at me. | looked over in a corner,
and my eyes rested on Jack Hastily. He,
too, was gazing at me with slight look
of contempt, | thought. With curious
glance at me he walked to the register,
took up the pen and completed the list by
signing his name. | met him outside,
drew him in corner and handed him $50
he took 10 and thanked me with a little
more feeling than | thought one of his
breeding could exhibit Then | noticed
that he wasn't such bad looking fellow
after all. He had u broad forehead, clear
cut mouth and nose, dark intelligent
eyes, and then he had a resolute air about
him that made you think he was some
thing Of man, even If be was a pauper
After that came the Santiago fight and
some Of the Kingston volunteers got hurt
| was sitting in my study, and my
thoughts involuntarily reverted to my
sub. - 1t was u warm night, and all the
windows We're up. | don't know how he
got in. there was no noise of the door open
ing, but when | wheeled my chair to the
desk | saw seated opposite me the subject
of my meditation. | was naturally some
what astunished, but welcomed him as
courteuusly rs | could under the circum
stances He gazrd YEARLY around the
room. His complexion was IA curious mix
ture of pallnr and sunburn. His face WAS
much thinner than when / had seen 1t
last and lie had the arpearanceof one who
hud hren about starved to death. His eyes
roycd constantly, but they lacked luster
and intelligence. l told him l was glad
Ia see him and asked how the boys Were.
He jumped all preliminary movements
and began describing the attack on san
Juan ard IL Caney heights His Voice
sounded strangely unfamiliar, but l at
trihuted it to his rough experience.
1t won't do to say those Spaniards
can't shoot" he went on, because as
We went up the air was AS full of bullets
as lees around a hive. l had never been
under FIRE before and l believe l would
have gene back If 1t hadn't been for she
brave fellows around me. We rushed on,
tore down those damnable barb wire
fences, and l began thinking we would
soon be at the top and give raaslHs
cheer for the American flag, when l was
struck. | think, by six Mauser bullets.
one passed directly through my heart. =
jumped out of the chair and cXelaim-
ed What on earth dc you moan> 1on
must be mistaken, Jack How in the
mischief did you recover SO soon:
'"' u'"" i'oINt'! Ho s"'' .''.''
AN ti'ero w siiiHor'" anu i.'''g''
ava" e,HS from MN 1neii NJ W. va
n"U "H"' GHino 70 s'c 70" 9",u''
VIM. ou It "''IU tllo oi'Is "',,H We
an! ''n''ii W.T. "ii'' "an0 va ~ Wv '''o .
Then l noticed TIE surken condition of
''' 'EtS an" nav mas iii'' NV 4-'''' 80
"Hlir ne ""a ''iN'Hs'
liu Abruptly a7hea'
mere N"'c:
Aashea at 'he ia'ti'iiar iieingt u re-
ierfihs 10 my VIC anu coIuiy 'o4u MN l
supposed sho ma" re'lteu'
nc iooheu U'salpolhteu anu saul us II
III hurry 10 ciI'ii39 -, ,he suDJeo r.,
" h"t l WANT viii IS TINS AHeS nave
GOT me llallteu on the sue oi one Oh ,h"'e
cray mis- down thefe Along "Ith 4ot Oh