Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-01-29
THE MAN IN
THE MIDDLE


rThat was the pr udest moment OF
- ne. said Summers at the gather
49,, N confederate veterans.
.u.h.t M uientT asked Nenabie.
.rh, n,o,uent when General Ice re-
,,.,..d 10 me- in Gathering terms. which,
i.onfess. | did not deserve"
..Wl,at? General Lee referred to you!
vheng How
u, was during the lighting before
p,.rr,ond. one night just before taps
,nebted a fre and was making some
cvllee"-
.t,oree? ChIccry. yoa mean. We had
s,r,se.- interrupted Venalile.
., say coffee. and moan coffee"
ewbere did you sct itr'
81, Yankee camp we had walked
,vsr during the day. Well. as was
s.,,.,ny. lust as the coffee began 10 cult
bs delicious odors the sergeant called
~, Summers. you're wanted. And
VIM And you. speaking to different
men Of our company"
Il was there" said Venable. u re
member perfectly. lie called me too"
.There were dozen OF u.s." Sum-
uers went on. assembled In an or
chnrd"--
"an apple orchard"
-yes an apple orchard. Well. the
serreant ordered US to fall 10 and
n,rched us 70 the coloners headquar-
,,rs The officer OF the guard was
.,.re with several OF his men and
,nonr them n fellow--I don't know
who he was. but he didn't belong to
our company or to the regiment The
colonel looked us over. and we were
taken. the stranger along with Us. to
General Lee"
"And drawn up In line before his
tent" put In yenable. "the stranger
between you and me-
al have forgotten about the stran-
cor" Summers went on. but remem-
her that General Lee came out and
looked at us as II searching for some
one. Presently his eye lighted on me.
and be sald
aThats the man. wish ! had a
dozen like him. I could use them ALL
with that he went back into his
tent. and we were marched to camp"
DO you mean to tell me-" said Ven
able. shat all these years you have
thuught the general referred to your
"0f course he did"
awhy. be not only looked at me, but
be pointed at me-"
"Yoaf"
"yes, H.
swell. now, like that. Whatever
put II into your stupid poddle that he
referred to your
Because shortly before had been
detailed as his orderly. and when l
left him he commended me for my
faithful attention"
sAnd had held his horse under fire
while he climbed to an emInenct to
get look at the enemy. | tell you
It was hot down there In the hollow,
the shells shrieking over my head"
Summers got up from his chair and
staiked about. with his hands In his
pockets. glaring Ike a tiger.
I'm sorry TO destroy the Illusion of
lifetime" remarked venable. but
truth Is mighty and must prevail"
"The egotism OF some people II fired
at an enemy would have more effect
than a machine gun
The self esteem Of others is worse
than charge OF dynamite"
~ this moment a white headed man
entered. The veterans made him well
come, placing glass before him. He
dlled his pipe and sat smoking in that
stolid fashion especially to be noticed
among the German people.
We're glad you've come. Mark
heim.' said one of the assembled vet
Grams. mot only because we love our
enemy, but we needed some one to
stop wrangle between Summers and
Nenable"
Vat wrangleY' asked the old man.
"iI state the case. and you. being
Union veteran and consequently Inn
partial, may be able to decide between
them"
"Vell, 90 on
une night when we were lighting
aetieiian before Richmond. Summers
ana Venable were marched with a
squad OF dozen men TO General lees
tent They were drawn up In line. The
general looked them over and said:
inats the man. wish had dozen
nae him. could use them all Sum-
lnefs claims that the general referred
n'm. since he had served him faith
.uiiy as orderly. venable claims the
aonor' since he had held the generals
'olse under fire. Which Is rightT'
Nelder Sheneral Lee point to me.
vas der man In der middle"
lou the man Ia the mlddleg cried
thereT
4 vas spy"
a spy" cried the company in "a
0,ea'h' Tell us about It,"
lou see" said Markheim. Il vas a
sVuhg feller shust come from sherma-
-, una didn't know vat TO do ven
so' % dis country. so vent into der
eAiuA army Won Aus. ,,..- ....... - .lgtfs,