The National tribune., 1901-07-18

Previous to this he had come to me one
day with a letter in his hand. "Licuten-
ant" he said, this In from my little
sweetheart. l can't make it all out. l
would ike to have you read it for me, II
you please"
l found 'the little gals" chirography
rather difficult to decipher, and her or
biography somewhat after the phonetic
order; but l made it out to all intents
and purposes, and promised to not give
it away" "And now," Tom continued,
las one good turn deserves another,
would like to have you write an answer
to this letter for me-"
"Yes, Tom, l will. Just tell me what
you wish to have written to her, and don't
be backward about it."
Well, / wrote it just as he poured it
forth for me, with an unusual amount of
agony mixed In.
From this time on nothing noteworthy
occurred till along about the 18th of
March, when Tom got letter from his
Captain stating that their term Of en-
listment was about out, and for him to
meet his regiment at Moorehead City, n.
c., where they would embark for New
York and thence by rail go home, to be
mustered out. So, procuring for Tom the
necessary transportation papers. l accom-
panied him down to the wharf to bid him
good-by, and as we stood there with
clasped hands he broke down and sobbed
like a child. AS soon as he could articu-
late he said: Lieutenant, l feel that
owe you a debt of gratitude that | never
can pay. While | was with my company
they treated me like a dog. and | acted
like dog. | had lost all respect for of,
fcers and all self-respect. | came TO you
with a chip on my shoulder You did
not notice it, but treated me white. You
have made a man of me, and the resOlu-
I. al i.
and useful life is due to the encourage
meut that you gave. God bless you; I'll
never forget you. Good-by."
a few weeks after parting with Tom
l read the sad news in the papers that
the ship on which his regiment had en-
barked had sunk, with all ON board, off
Cape Hatteras.
In the Spring of 1887, while making a
Arkansas, l stopped off the train in a
lively railroad town. 1t being about noon,
L went into nearby restaurant and took
seat at one Of the tables. When | had
about finished my meal, the proprietor
of the establishment came in. | soon rec
ognized the fact that he was q general
fayorite among his patrons. 1t was
Hello, Tom How are you, Tom?' and
Tom here, and Tom there
In a subdued voice, l said to my neigh
Dor, Tom whoT He replied, Fair
banks" Well, | was through eating, and
in jiffy had him by the hand
This is Tom, and not his ghost"
Taking square look at me, he de-
clared:
The Lieutenant, as sure as I'm alive"
and fairly dragging me into an adjoining
room, called out, .Alzina, come in here"
In response, came in from the culinary
department a smiling, rosy-eheeked wom-
an, fat and forty" standing six .eet in
her stockings, and tipping the beam" at
260.
Lieutenant this Is the little girl that
you wrote the letters to for me-" said
Tom. Cordially greeting me, she gave
expression to her joy in meeting me.
| then told Tom how l had been meurn-
ing him all these years as lost in the
depths of the briny deep.
He then explained that when he ar
rived at Mcorehead City his regiment had
embarked aboard a ship that sailed the
previous day. He followed on board
another vessel, and upon reaching New
York learned of the sad fate of his regi-
ment. He then took the cars for Spring
field, H., where he was mustered out,
found the little girP' waiting for him,
and short time after took her for bet
ter or worse"-of course, for better Then,
acting on II. G.'s advice, went West,
grew up with the country, and prospered.
And never touched another drop of the
crather."
If any of the old boys of my little de-
tachment should happen to read this.
will be happy to hear from them.-"THE
LIEUTENANT" Co. I'll, S0th Ohio, Box 7S
Highlands, n. G.