The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1900-05-24

she Won't be helped by me. Here, read
what dot sword says"
| He had stopped through the frowzy
silks that hid the window and now held
1 the blade cautiously in his two hands.
took the beautiful sword, in which
the inscription lay almost as indistinct-
" as a watermark lies in writing pa.
Der: n
independence Day, 1857.
This sword Of honor is presented to
| Capt. Horatio Polk Blagg
| by the inhabitants of Blagg City, California,
| to replace his veteran sword destroyed by the
recent FIRE .-.,. I.
and in token Of their admiration for his glorious
record OF valoF In r.. +
The Army Of Virginia,
a. we'll their profound esteem for his character
| as \ Gentleman and his services ON the
| late Vigilance Committee. I
"The army of Virginia. said 1. "Why,
he was Confederate! ..:.. 49,. F
"Confederate!' said Amminadab, who
had immigrated long after the war clos
ed. whats Confederater"
"a southern captain"
'"The .cabtain vas on the Confederate
side?' --E'
Eyes, certainly. General Lees army
was called the Army Of Virginia. Our
army against him was called the Army
Of the Potomac"
well, / spend more as 80 cents in
postage to the war department and the
pension agents trying to get a pension
/ for dot child. The government don't
/ give pensions to ther' children Of such
soldiers, hey? .
mot yet. But the captain? We may
find some relatives Of his in the south
yet"
"Rachel!' he called loudly, and in
came q handsome, fat young woman
through the door from the back shop.
Rachel, you wait here, IL you please.
I want to tell this gentleman about the
cabtain. Maybe he can find out how to
help dot child-he vas a soldier himself.
But hold on-you vas ON the other sidev'
"That's all right" said. North and
south are all one now. l shall be glad
to do anything can to help the captain
or his daughter"
Zach, but that's the sad story" said
Rachel. '.It was one day was waiting
In the shop for Amminadab. He'd
"I'll tell dot story myself, il you
please" said Amminadab sharply and
drew me hastily into the back shop, a
storeroom for dingy pledges and place
to which customers were brought for pri-
yate bargaining.
"It vas so, 5ust as Rachel vas telling.
Vun day l vas looking at some jewels in
here, and Rachel opened dot door and
said, 'Amminadabv SO l come out into
the shop. There stood an old, tall man.
His hair vas very white and long, and
be carried something under the long cloak
dot covered his arms. So l just said,
'VellY
"At dot he kind of flushed and catched
at vat he had under his cloak, and he
nd ~ fo0
dot l vas kind of ashamed hadn't spoke
kinder. So said, Maybe you vas want
ing to buy something you saw in dot
window, STRIP
'No-no-not that he said, very
nervous. L came in because and he
stopped as il he vas too sorry or
ashamed.
"Then Rachel said, ANY gentleman
may be stuck for money now and then
these hard times
"'You go away, Rachel said. I'm
doing pisness here And so she come in
back here, and someways the old gentle
man don't seem he vas feel SO ashamed
ven there vas no woman to be plying
him. ..
81 do want to raise some money he
said. Not for long. 1t can't be for long.
will pay you soon.'
/
don't lend, money except on goods, and
80 keep my security all right
HE flushed up again. I give you my
word he said.
"'All right, sir, all right. l prefer to
deal with a gentleman Of his word, but
it's pisness to look at the goods. You
got something there, sirT
HE fumbled at his cloak and drew out
something narrow in long, black oil
cloth bag. It's my sword he said, and
he looked hard at the street door and
said: I suppose some one may come in ut
any moment. Have you no private
placer So said, please come in here,
SIR and Rachel went back to mind the
| shop.
II offered him a chair, but he wouldn't
sit down. He stood right there and pull
ed the string at the end Of the bag and
drew out dot sword as careful as if it vas
q baby. Then some ways, with a quick
motion, he wrapped the bag round his
wrist, and his left hand was on the scab-
bard, and his right vas ON the hilt, and he
stood up very straight, and out flashed
dot sword so quickly l jumped up with
my two hands out before me like dot. I
don't like the way that sword fash any
how. But l know swords like l know
everything, and it vas easy to see dot
sword cost a big lot more money than
anybody would ever give for it again.
"'1t's the last thing I would borrow
on he said, and indeed it's all I've got
left of any value. But l must have
money today
sword, sirY
"'Why, OF course and heard him Wis
per to himself, MY God, my God, that l
should be brought to thisp
"'Vell, sir, dot sword is a good sword,
but there's no kind Of security in a
sword
"'What! You can't lend on it? It's a
valuable sword. 1t cost and he STOP
ped as If he was ashamed to speak more
about dot.
"'How much was you wantingY /
asked.
AS much as possible. l will certainly
pay it back. couldn't lose my sword.
All, it can't be but shall get some better
employment to himself, you understand.
might advance S. on it, 1 said.
"'F'ive dollars! Five dollars! Oh,
dear heaven! Why, the sword is WORTH
And he stopped again.
Dot sword don't cost no less than
$780, l said. Dot ivory Is carved very
fne, and dot blade is Toledo inlaid with
gold. But, sir, it amt salable one bit,
and can't make use of it in my family.
Five dollars-.-I can't do BETTER
l "Vell. he gave cry out and stared at
me so hard ] vas scared. Then he Wis
pered to himself: 1t may save her life.
Five dollars! 1t will buy the medicine
and wine. I'll have to take your offer.
OF course you'll not put my sword in
your window?
mo. sir; not as long as the ticket
runs I said, and l made him out the
ticket and gave him the money, and he
turned away as he vas in a dream of
| SORROW. Just outside the street door he
| stopped. and he clutched at the left side
Of his cloak as ii he missed the sword,
and at that he looked just dreadful, and
be went tottering away, bowed down,
among the stream of peoples. And dot
the first and last time ever see the cab
tain. cae-.
/ "Vell, sir I put away the sword In it's