Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-01-17


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 renewed with the actual begin
ming 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 promo
ton. Not until the Cuban and earlier
Philippine campaigns had dwindled
down into intermittent skirmishes in
far parts of the islands did there come
hint that he was yet on earth. Then
just line in the list of dead from dis
ease:"
"Tappan, private company X, Twen-
ty-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
d Nashville, saw the last train "hesi-
tate" at his door, and was getting out
his key to lock up when well-dressed,
swarthy young man with small bag
dropped off the rear coach and ap-
| preached him.
"This is Culver, isn't it?"
eyes, sir"
DO you know where Mrs. Tappan,
Mrs. Louis Tappan, lives?"
Don't live here, leastways not in
town. l know 'em all. No Tappans
and nothing like that name round here.
I'm pretty sure"
Moved here from Buena VISTA" sug-
gested the stranger, wistfully; "moved
up about year ago."
ooh, hold on! Tappan-oh, her name
amt Tappan no more. She's married
to Bill Chesebrough. They was mar
ried at Buena Vista year ago, and
come up here to live. Sure L"
The stranger coughed few times,
looked up and down the tracks, and
then:
"Her first husband, Patten, laf-
fen"
"Tappan," murmured the uneasy
visitor.
"Tappan, he died in the Philippines.
He was no-good bum and deserted
her and the kid, so she ups and marries
Bill Chesebrough. Bill is rich, owns all
them quarries over to Hopeton. I'll
show you where they live; take you
right past the door,"
"No-oo," unused the visitor, half
aloud, and fumbling in his pocket, 81
guess 1 won't go up; What did you
say her first name was, Lucy?"
Yes, that's her. She was Miss Lucy
Harding, daughter of old 'Skintiint'
Harding, down to Buena Vista, richer'n
hell and meaner still. He"
"Yes, know" was the interruption.
but you're going past the house, her
house?"
"Yep."
would you mind stepping in with
this?" handing over photograph.
ITS picture of Tappan for the boy,
his boy. You see, we, Tappan and I,
We're in the same regiment, and when
he got sick, he asked me to-for the
boy, you know; his daddy's picture. 1
promised to give it to him."
"Oh, the Tappan kid; the one by her
first husband, he"
Eyes, that's the one. How is he?
Does he look like"
"Oh, that one died the first week
they come here, diphtheria got him.
He just"
But the newcomer was out of earshot
before the station agent could finish.
Down the tracks he went toward the
east, walking like fury, with his head
down and his little bag swinging in the
dim light of the yard lamps till the
| night swallowed him.
The station agent whistled note of
wonder, looked at the photograph he
yet held in his hand, saw it was of a
young soldier standing bravely at sa-
lutte, and turned it over. On the back
was written:
For Louis Tappan's little boy"
The station agent showed it into his
| overcoat pocket
"l'll bet that chap was bug" he
unused, as he walked toward Cheese
! brough's house, "but guess I'd bet
ter give the picture to Mrs. Chesb-.