Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-02-14


carried her TO the inn, where she shortly
recovered, and explained that she was
the wife OF Captain Sanford. He had
married her several years before in Eng
iand, and finally deserted her. locking her
IN madhouse as a means to be rid Of
her. She escaped and caused report to
De circulated she was dead. He, believing
the report, gave her no thought, and
made no effort to conceal his where
abouts. The poor young woman follow
ed him, and on her way to Philadelphia
fell in with him at the Birney Tavern"
Ihey held a long consultation that
night and Maurice took his departure to
his humble, but safe, quarters on the
same street. Next morning he was early
at the home Of the laundress, limping
about on his cane, mending fires, watch
ing the pot boil, and aiding her in every
way he could.
Now, sister, femme take the washing
to the lieutenant" he said finally.
Molly was rather afraid to trust him at
first, but his disguise was so complete
and his acting so perfect, that she
thought he might go in safety.
''Now, look here!'' she said, as he took
the basket on his arm, ''ye must be stu
pid-very stupid
what name d'you go by at headquar-
ters?"
''Sally. Martin"
chats easy to remember. am your
brother, Bill Martini
"Be keerful. Bill
Never did a more woe-begone, stupid
looking individual walk the streets Of
Philadelphia than Bill Martin. He was
rOund-shouldered, lame, and had but one
eye, the other being covered by black
patch. Men and women paused to gaze
at the singular object~and children laugh
ed outright at his odd costume and quaint
manner.
Meanwhile Bill hobbled on, looking
more stupid, and growing more lame as
he went. He was compelled to sit down
and rest. Soldiers and officers passed
him; some smiled contemptuously, and
others cast sympathetic looks at him.
The nearer he reached the quarters Of
Lieut.. Orricks regiment, the denser be-
came the crowd of soldiers and officers.
At last a sentry stopped him short with
the point of his bayonet against his
stomach and in an angry voice cried:
"Ragmuffn, what do you want about
here?'
Il come t. find a man. He be called
Lieut. Orrick,' the lame man answer
ed, in slow voice which indicated an
impeachment in his speech. His words
were uttered with short pause after
each.
''What do you want Of Lieut.. Orrick?"
asked the officer.
"Sister Sally, she sent me with washed
linen for Lieut.. Orrick. He be the great
man what live at headquarters, an come
here t. fight Gineral Washington, tn
rebel; she give me the basket and say,
Now, Bill, We go up that street | show
We last week, an stop at Lieut.. Orrick's
quarters an there do We leave tn linen
which is his. Now. I'll tell We the hon
est truth jist how Sally come by this
linen-she didn't steal tit amt hers;
she only took it to wash for him, and he
be gon' t pay her a tuppence an "Trip
pence for it"
| The guard stood gazing at the stupid
| laundryman, wondering why such crea-
| lures were permitted on the streets. lie
/ called to another soldier and sent him
| to Lieut. Orrick's quarters. All the while
| Bill Martin was staring about with his
| one eye in open-mouthed wonder. Ihe
messenger came to conduct Bill to the
| lieutenant's quarters. There was look
| of disappointment on the face of the lieu
| tenant as the unprepossessing face OF
| Bill Martin appeared at the door.
| The officer scrutinized the badly used
| I'D man very closely, and asked him
! about his sister. Whenever Bill dropped
! the more agreeable topic to discuss his
| own ills, the officer flew into rage ana
| swore he did not care to hear of himself,
| but of his sister Sally. When was his
sister coming to the quarters! Bill look
ed stupid and answered in his thin, piping
voice that he didn't know. Would sister
| Sally have any objection to his calling to
see her, and then a look Of supreme stu
| pidty oyerspread the big brothers race
as he answered first that he didn't
know" but as the idea gradually worked
it's way into his mind, he interposed the
feeble objection that sister Sally was very
busy, as she had so much washln, to 90,
| and kept him busy carryin it round.
every we'll, l will come and see her
| anyway"
..She be monstrous busy now, Bill
| stammered, as he left the lodgings OF the
| lieutenant Bill had scarce reached the
! street when the officer rang bell, which
| summoned a boy of sixteen.
| Here, Tip, look out from the WINDOW
and see if you can see lame fellow
with a patch over his eye, and basket
on his ARM
Eyes, sir; 1 see him." Tip answered
from the window.
/ .'Follow him and see where he goes.
(To be continued)
|