The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-04

He had a vague idea that he would win
his way as a soldier in the war which
had just begun; visions of coming home a
stern and famous officer-eaptain at least
crowded his boyish mind. and with his
hopes there mingled, singing sweet, the
sense that at last he might have brought
home to Lucy and her people a realiza-
ton of the fact that he was not all bad.
A scrubbed note on postal card telling
Lucy that he was gone into the army
was all they heard about him at Buena
Vista for three years after that. The
Hardings read all the war news with
eager curiosity at first. hoping to get
some news of Louis, but their interest
waned again and again, to be family re-
newed with the actual beginning OF the
fight. But there was not word about
Louis, not even his name among the
wounded. sick or dead, much less notice
of his gallantry or promotion. Not till
TIE Cuban and earlier Philippine cam
paigns had dwindled down into intermit-
tent skirmishes IN far parts of the islands
did there come hint that he was yet on
earth. Then just a line in the list of
dead from disease"
Tappan. private company K, Twenty
third infantry; dysentery."
And there ended the career Of Louis
Tappan the worthless young man of
Buena Vista.
The station agent at Culver, ten miles
below Buena Vista on the Louisville and
Nashville, saw the last train hesitate
at his door, and was getting out his key
10 lock up when well dressed swarthy
young man with small bag dropped off
the rear coach and approached him:
This is Culver, isn't it?'
Yes sir"
do you know where Mrs. Tappan. Mrs
Louis Tappan lives?"
Don't live here, leastways not in town
7 know EN- al. No Tappans and Moth
ing like that name round here. I'm pref /
" sure
Moved here from Buena VISTA sug
gested the stranger wistfully, moved up
about q year ago"
"Oh, holu on. Tappan-oh. her name
amt Tappin no more. She's married 70
Bin Chesebrough. They were married At |
Buena Vista a year ago. and come up
here to live. Sure -
The stranger coughed a few times. look /
ed up and down the tracks and then:
Her first husband, Patten, lanen-'' 1
"Tappan." murmured the uneasy visi- I
tor
"Tappan. he died in the Philippines. He 1
was no good, bum and deserted her and !
the kid, so she ups and maTries Bil Ches-
brough. Bill is rich. owns all them quar-
where they live, take you right past The
door
''No-oo." unused the visitor, half aloud.
and fumbled in his pocket. 4 guess 7 4
won't go up. What did you say her first
name was. Lucy
Yes, that's her. She was Miss Lucy
daughter Of old 'Skinfiint' Hard
ing, down to Busna Vista, richern he'll
and meaner still He
Yes I know was thu Interruption.
but you're going past the house. her
house2
yep"
Would you mind stepping iE with this7
handing over a photograph. It's a pic
ture q Tappan for the boy. his boy. You
see we. Tappan and I. were IL the same
regiment and when he got Sex. he asked
for me to-for the boy YOU know. his
daddys picture. ! promised 10 give II 20
nim "
~Oh. the Tarpaa kid. the ore BY her
first husband. he
Yes. that's the ore How Is he9 Does
be lock Ike
~Ch. thai me died the first wee'z they
some here. diptheria got him. tie just
But the newcomer vas oHt or esrshet
before the station agent could finish
Down the tracks he went toward TIE e9st
walking like fury. with his head down
and his little bag swinging in she din
ighr - the yard lamps tlis 1he ziehE
swallow ca hiRl-
The station ase1t whlstsed note ~
wonder looked * The photograph d. 81.
.oldser standing hsareig e sal-te and
arnaf il over. On me back was writer.
Fsr Lusi- Tarlsn Nfzie haT
Tise station asut sssr~a g lnfa hls
everest Eeekst-
~ llat sl,an Was & bus ~ mss
81 IS D. walked fesaca tiie fnes -
sruss tsf I guess ~ ieit-r give fae
= salk ~ g. guess Z = better ut Taf
.s dead ffa ks& q afaa e1 SIS a
eselrar- ~ Is jeaisgs - a. so nsa1
re fara lhe an1t szrazhs irlo smaa ls.ls