The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-22

Sheridan. The post was new and untn-
ished. The great city lay temptingly
near. The November gale swept spray
laden from the stormy pillows OF the
lake. and snow squalls had driven the
command 10 their overooats long weeks
before the townsfolk ten leagues Inland
began TO think OF turning out In winter
garments. A bleak and forbidding spot
IL looked when the wtntry waves beat high
on the bluffs, but there was one homeless,
weather beaten traveller 10 whom at
nightfall of that dreary day IL seemed
blessed refuge. Against the stin blast IL
was a long walk from the station to the
messroom; but, supported by the suohs
arms OF two sturdy boys In blue, the
new arrival was fairly rushed along over
tho hard beaten path. He had no over
coat and the civilian garb he wore was
OF the cut and style OF three years gone
by and fitted him all too snugly. lie was
numb from cold and fatigue, and his brain
was a bit muddled by the heroic treatment
administered by those amateur physicians,
the soldier boys. He had fallen across
their path, faint from hunger and sleep
lessness and disheartened by his expert
ences OF the morning. Recognizing him
instantly, for they were OF his own regi-
ment the gunners had borne him 10
ne~shboring bar and brought him 10 with
that military cure all, Kill all, whiskey.
They had read trouble and suffering and
hunger In his thin, white face. and their
hearts were bigger than their purses.
The free lunch hour was nearly spent, but
they succeeded In getting bowl or not
soup and a huge sandwich, and while
one OF their number stood sentry over his
late superior, huddled in chair by the
stove. and answered evasively the In
Vulnerable questions OF the inquisitiVe
hangers on the other ran ten blocks 10
a recruiting office, where he told his story
10 the sergeant on duty and borrowed "
until pay day, when. had the sergeant SO
demanded as many did in the so-calied
good old days of the army, ne wouiu
gladly have paid back s. for the accommo-
dation Thus re-enforced Corporal Ryan
returned TO his friends. Langdon was
led 10 the railway station and given a
more substantial lunch, he the while ac-
cepting the bounty OF these soldier sa-
maritans in mingled helplessness, humihty
and gratitude that would nave broken
Rodney Mays heart could he have seen
Il all and set Morrow and lie Duo 10
swearing The man was dazed and be-
numbed by the weight Of his troubles and
the potency OF soldier whiskey. He was
trying 10 pull himself together ana thihk
He knew by name several well 10 90 pro-
fessional and business men OF Chicago
who at one time or other I'm his past at
the Point. at Newport or Fort Monroe had
begged him to let them know when next
he came TO Chicago and no Thlcasoah
concelves the possibility OF life without
coming TO Chicago. He had the cards or
some OF these gentlemen somewhere IN
his trunk but that was at the station
He had the check still in his pocket, but
not a cent wherewith 10 pay an express
man to take 1t somewhere IL he had any
where To tell him TO take II. lie reasoned
that with a nights rest, a bath ana
clean linen he could muster up strenstn
and pluck 10 go I'm search Of these cordial
associates and guests OF the old days.
There must b. employment TOR Wiling
hands and brains, he argued, ana All IN
dustries could not be dominated py Ma
than A. Co But the nights rest ana
ba th breakfast and trunk, how were tney
10 be had? His conductors were full OF
hopeful suggestion, of loyal, Comment as
surance All the lieutenant had 10 90
was TO go with them out to "Shurd n,
and the officers would welcome him win
omen arms Who was thereY he asked
Al ves. Merriyale He was n classmate
ar the Point. Nelson? They were to-
pether i'm the same battery at Monroe
IIyatt Hoyt and Stanton, three boys Ike
May and Woodrow. Yes, they would wei
come him for auld lang syne, and yet
he shrank from II with utter repulsion.
lie VIM had ever been leader and au-
thoritv. how could he appear before them
now, so broken, so humbled, so stricken
with poyerty and shame? There was Just
one thing left 20 him, his watch put trat
had been his fathers, and the thought
of pawnIng it gave him keen distress
stili ne asked Ryan as they sat In the
stufYy waiting room IL he knew where
tho watch could be accepted as security
for n suitable loan, and Ryan said they
were going out TO "Shurd'n' TO attend 10
all that--without security. Languon pc
ran TO feel drowsy and numb all over ana
begged them 10 take him into the air,
They did and tramped him up and down
for IS minutes. with the result that ne
was soon again chilled 10 the marrow ana
sh,vering They corhpassionately soushl
90 give him more whiskey. but ne shook
his head Something told him IL was not
helping him Then they took alarm
man must be III indeed In the eyes OF the
celtic soldier when n drink won't help
him. IL still lacked half an hour OF tram
time. They had medical practitioners OF
small 'caliber attached to the recruiting
stations I'm those days, and Ryan sent
his comrade on the run To the North Side
office and. as luck would have IT, back
came the doctor Brief examination was
more than enough.
you've got 10 get 10 bed and nave
good treatment was the almost instant
yerdiot and helplessy Langdon bowed
his head upon his breast. IL was dusk
when the way train let them OF az Sheri-
dan RYAN sought TO wrap his overcoat
about his failing patient, but Langdon re-
fused The honest lrishman thought IL
was because the OFFICER was 'oo PiVuu "
be seen in a private's uniform and felt
no rebuff. The officer would have taken
IL gladly had there been another TO spare.
'If / weren't too old to list no had
said 10 his humble companions In Chica-
20. "Td take a blanket on the spot"
They hurried him against the rising gale
toward the officers club and messroom,
we'll knowing that there they would be apt
10 find moro OF the commissioned force
than elsewhere. lie was breathlcss. weak.
shivering. when they reached the door and
were confronted at the very thseshold by
two officers muffied I'm their capes, plung-
ing out into the blast.
what on earth have you got here7'
rrtTrfy uueried the foremost. halting
shor. IN dlspieasure at the sight
IT'S Lootenant Langdon. SORT" saio
Ryan. with a touch OF his cap. We found
him sick and starved in town. and Dr
Fovnes said fetch him straight here"
''IIere7 Man alive. this is no.