The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-05-30

tub ana emerged NJ last Ellhtenlnk
clean lie was more alert than
usual. As matter OF fact he had
gone 10 bed sober the might before -
which had very few prccedenh In
his memory
Sarah vas taking down dishes
and pans for the making Of break
fast when he came back into the
Kitchen. lie stood In the door aud
watched her as she moved about OBJ
liyioun to him. aud he noted some
thing like her mothers manner and
Rilped a little. when at las, her
eyes caught his figure sho started.
II was almost the first time that she
had not had 20 pound again and
again at siB door to arouse him
from hia dull nlumber.
Where's Willisy" he asked.
He's dressing
"He ought "a been up before this. /"
Hell be here In a minute"
Sarah. I'm Eoin 10 get the break
fast this morning the way we used
TO, do In camp. You just leave
things"
Why. father"
Come. clear out"
Father, Are you going to-"
Just clear out don't want you
fuhain around.
Sarah hurried 20 the parlor and
sat primly ON the horHe-hair sofa.
She could not forget 10 be prlm In
this room even In the moment Of
surprise Her eyes wandered vague
~ from the handicapped stand.
xtth It's red plush photograph al
bum. lAbeied Old Friends. 10 the
Telegraph OF Perry at the battle Of
Lake Erie. then To- the wau flowers
under their glass ease on the man
tel. She looked up 90 the wall
above the flowers and gave n little
exclamation. Everything was sud.
denly clear 60 her. And yet all abe
aaw was az old drusn. battered and
dentsd. ia sticks framed diagonally
above.
Tom corcorans drum. High in
the place OF honor. II was the con-
slant reminder Of a departed but
unfAdea service Whatever old Tom
vas nov. he had given -four years OF
life 20 bis country. Though he hung
around the barroom in the hourly
hope Of earning a drink by some
odd Job or Of being treated by Walt.
ors Who enjoyed h!s garruloua re-
eitals Of great battles. though he
neglected his two children. letting
Sarah. still in her teens. wear out
her slender fingers with a needle
for the food and clothing IL seantlly
bought. though he was useless. the
butt Of youngsters when he stag
grrod. the contempt Of the deccntly
tisposed-h had served his coun-
try. The drum testified for him.
when he sIunE II over his shoulder
on rare occasions people did not
tear. With the drum before him
and the two sticks tn his hands he
wAs mastss Then he could stir the
blood OF mcn--conld do with them
what he would. The respect that
others felt for his drum be felt too.
but he made that martial mastery
no excuse for his degradation. lie
would never drum for a drink. no
matter how desire parched him.
Sarah remembered that this day
waa the greatest In the history OF
the town. The Grand Army men
were coming There would be a
sham battle on the fair grounds and
band contest. and over all would
preside as Judge and distributor OF
prizes Gen. ------. CorcoraA old
commander. She understood. there
fore. her fathers unexpected mood.
Just then Willie came into the
parlor.
what's the matter with Dadf"
he asked "Didn.t he come home
last niEht1"
SSH. Yes. Hes getting break
fast"
"Hef"
Don't say anything. You know
the band contest Is today"
ia he goin' to drum
~ don't know. Don't say any
thing"
The meal was eaten IN silence.
Whatever the old mans mood. he
Rugged II close. eat.ng reflectwely.
with distant glances out of the win
dow. when he pushed away from
tho table he went 20 his room and
took from a drawer IN the bureau a
faded army uniform. lie laid Il on
the bed and brushed IL carefully.
smoothing out the wrinkles In the
shoulder was n mended place. n
cavalry sabcr had made the rent.
As he noted Il the old scar seemed
to- throb on his arm. lie looked 10
the wals. where his honorable dis
charge hung In its walnut frame
There was a trace Of weakness n
his bearing Conauering the emo
ton. he put on the uniform and
went 10 the parlor. whore he took
down the drum and adjusted the
straps over his shoulder. Sarah was
watching him furtively through the
open kitchen door and throwing
Significant looks To Willie
Old Tom drew the sticks softly
through his fingers. His eyes glazed
a little with some memory, but he