La Junta tribune., 1907-11-02

was ever heard OF Harry Treadwell
after that, except the governments re-
port that fell like n shadow upon his
parents life.
The records stated that he had been
one OF a party of seven seasoned men.
who, having passed through SO many
1 battles. decided nos 10 face the i'm
1 pending carnage OF chat day and de-
serted.
"You couldn't blame Harry" his
mother said In her effort to soften the
blow to her husbands pride.
MARY Trcndwell. Never speak to
me as II you believed 1t again! Our
boy never did such n thing. Its some
awful mistaken
No. Aaron, never will.' she re-
piled. Il didn't mean that believed
he had done it. But even II he did
But he didn't. He never could. 1t
wasn't In him-not our boy! It's hap
pened before, such mistakes, Mary.
They cannot always tell
But IL he did he might come home
AGAIN. Mary Treadwell's voice
broke as she thought OF how much
obloquy she would endure to see her
son again.
Come home again. He never can,
Mary. Harry's life has gone for his
country. He is dead. and we must
make his good name liver
As the years rolled on the proud ia
ther lived up to his faith In his sons
innocence. Bravely he faced the little
world at Trescott village. Once only
he ruised his voice in his sons defense
in the old brick store.
MY boy never deserted he said,
with proud conviction. You folks may
think what you please. But never for
get that Aaron Treadwell knows that
his boy died at Gettysburg; that he is
proud Of him and always will be and
Is glad that lie raised him to do his
share OF the fighting on that day"
Thus for nearly forty years Aaron
rreadwell walked among his fellow
farmers with head erect. To him his
son was dead to all but honor.
Whenever the great annual encamp
ment OF the Grand Army came to New
England he made n point OF attending
with his wife The faith he had Kept
alive for generation brought him in
to some prominence with the veterans
of his native state.
Some effort was made to clear the
record. but II was impossible to find
evidence that would overthrow the
governments position. 1t WAS clearly
established there had been party OF
seven who had escaped from the lines
that night
There's no use trying to do any
thing, boys" old Aaron Treadwell said.
II don't care for myself what the gov
crnment says. 1t doesn't make any
difference with what I think. | would
he glad II 1t could be done. but ever
in Harry's fathers mind he is an innO-
cent man. l knew my son, and know
he never deserted the ranks"
There was something grandly appeal
Ing In the firm confidence Of the white
haired man, and II WIS not without its
influence OH others. He was an old
man now, and his unbroken belief was
wonderful IN the eyes OF those who
heard OF It,
His townspcople came almost to
share 1t, and oftentimes they endeav-
ored TO dissuade him from taking
long journey TO some encampmcnt.
This was especially true when the
great gathering was held in Boston In
1904. Aaron Treadwcll was over
eighty years old, and they feared the
exertion would he too much for him.
But he shook his head and persisted.
II know we are old, Mary and ], but
we must stand up for our boy as long
as there is the breath of life in us. He
was a good boy: brave soldier He
fought seventeen battles. and he's nev-
er had any one else TO stand up for
; him"
And so the aged father and mother
spent that week in Boston, feeling that
all the wonderful display OF patriotism
and honor was as much for their son
as for the others.
They were tenderly cared for by
these who knew them. Captain Lang,