The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-24
Found in a Coat Pocket
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Found IN Coat Pocket
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The SOth Of May was raw and chill
in Aurora. a small village near the
edge of the northern pineries The sun
had hidden behind a cloud and a keen
blast from Of the great lake swept
over the country ike a parting taunt
from the long furious winter that had
just taken leave A sharp frost
had touched the gardens Of the night
before. and the meager bounty
cf bud and blossom that they yielded
for the day seemed to Yisibly revive
and ireshen under warm, human
touch. All things partook OF the in
nuance OF the day and weather The
eomber forest that encompassed the
place took on new dignity and gloom.
Houses aud fields. which a month be-
fore had been robed in an enchanted
mantle Of gllstenlng white. and a
month hence would be gracious with
vines and flowers. stood out upoa the
landscape IN naked ugllness. The
men and women who had gathered to
do honor to the memory Of their fallen
heroes we're wrapped IN sad retrospect,
looking again into open graves, or llv-
ing over anew that period OF heart
breaking suspense that had ended In
tidings OF suffering and death. Even
the veterans who In a grim school had
learned lessons Of fortitude and cheer
we're singulariy depressed, and forgot
the gay jests and badinage with which
they were accustomed 10 silence pain
ful memories
Aurora and her outlying district had
sent three companies to the war.
Barely a dozen men walked in the
procession this day. Some OF the sorry
remnant that returned had gone fur
ther west in search OF health or for
tune. A few were shut up in their
homes, too weak or too broken to ven
tnrc out; OF those who answered the
roll-call the majority we're ailing or in
firm, and mufned to the ears to pro-
pitiate the physical man for the au-
uaclt9 OF tne Spiritual.
John Sexton was one Of the younger
men among the veterans, but he had
stepped to the door that morning.
viewed the sky and faced the biting
wind. then went &c cedar chest and
took from 1t a garment that had lain
there undisturbed for many years.
blue overcoat, soiled and faded. aad
With a bullet-hole through the right
sleeve that hung empty by his side.
The procession formed at the head
of the main street, before the old
church in which the memorial services
had been held There were memories
clustering about that old frame church. /
John Sexton recalled some OF them.
The first call for recruits had been
made there; the fiery, imDetuous
speeches. the rush Of youngsters. amid |
the cheers Of men and the sobs Of
women. He had been among the first
to enlist, a beardless boy with a mahs /
heart lKindled with patriotic fire.
Within the samC gray walls, at the
parting supper given {, his regiment /
4he night before it marched, he had
ahyly asked Hetty Plympton to be his
wife some day, and she. half laughing
and half weeping. had told him that
when be came back wearing his epau-
lets she would marry him. And he
had gone away glad aud proud. buoyed I
MP with hope The eqaulets seemed /
so easy to win, the chances OF disaster I
or failure so remote. Then there came I
the hard discipline Of the camp. the
long. forced marches. the carnage Of
battle. the secret night mission. the
rife ball that cut short his military
career.
He recalled how be came back. Her
face had been the first he had seen on /
his return. Descending from the car.
maimed. feeble. wasted BY long sick
ness. his head reeling from the ex-
haustion Of the journey. kind hands
assisting him 70 the platform. he had
caught sight of her. standing apart,
pale. silent. her eyes intent upon him Z
with an expression that he could not .
then understand. but that be afterward /
construed into q shrinking horror of
the wreck he had become. A crowd /
on neopie had sureed in between I
them -neighbors. friends. indifferent +
acouaintances. The majority with 1
hearty words Of sympathy on their
iirs. few moved by Idle curiosity % I