The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1909-06-03

"Ill tell you. young SeltleuleH, SdlO
he colonel refiectively. that in this
life Of mine | have had at least one
.xperience that would drive some men
n drink" And the colonel looked
around suggestively.
The colonel, Il one armed veteran Of
the civil war. was the best racOnteur
If the club and as such was eagerly
listened to by the younger generation.
4 tap OF the bell brought Il round Of
his fayorite beverage. and after SAM
bling it. with glasses in easy reach, we
all settled back in our chairs to listen
to the story that was sure to come:
"You fellows have all heard how
lost this arm at Pine Ridge! When I
another Young fellow, | left sweet
heart at home whose promise had been
given HE. beautiful, high spirited
girl. who kissed me goOdby and saw
the regiment march away with cheer
on her lips and but few tears in her
eyes. Before we parted she slipped a
ring on my finger and as left she
said: Wear this. dear. Bring 1t back
with you and be true to your flag and
me-
our ion: hard campaign until that
Pine Ridge cannon ball came along,
took away arm and ring and left me
unconscious ON the battlefield After
hospital experience I finally recOv-
cred sufficiently to be sent home, with
colonels commission, discharged as
unit for duty.
AT the old home I was of course
treated as a hero. The young ladies
insisted on showing me dattering at
tentions. l was asked everywhere and
was quite the lion of the hour.
Isabel, my tiancee, was as devoted
as before. | suppose. but her nature
was such that she was too proud to
show her feelings as plainly as my
vanity sometimes wished her to do,
and as a consequence 1 began to think
that She had changed toward me. 1t
may be that another girl. little,
plump black eyed charmer, had some
thing to do with this idea, but at any
rate | soon began to notice other
charms than lsabel's
"One night my tiancee and l attend
ed q reception. and Sadie, the black
eyed charmer Of whom I have spoken,
was there also. Isabel and | had tired
OF mingling with the throng and had
found secluded place in the con-
seryatOry. We talked until weary and
sat there in silence when Sadie came
ID. She did not see us. and as she
stood by the side Of large palm in an
attitude of unstudied grace thought
she formed the most beautiful picture
mat had ever seen.
Almost involuntarily l contrasted
her charms with those Of the proud
beauty at my side 70 my eyes the
advantage all lay with Sadie. Her
beautifully rounded figure seemed to
De my ideal of loneliness, and / wished
that l might clasp her in my arms
arm. | mean-and tell her how sweet
picture she made. The longing grew
almost too strong to be resisted, and
nsd half risen to my feet, forgetting
lsaoefs presence. when l was stop
pea Dy strange thing that was taking
pace Family outlined. mere va
pof at first. but growing palmer with
each succeeding second where Sadie
stood there appeared the figure Of a
mans arm clothed in a soldiers sleeve
Of blue.
Inc arm slowly curved itself
around Saddles. waist, and as it tight
ehed itself into firm hug, like star
VI hight, ring on the hand showed
Nseif to my startled gaze. My eyes
seemed to be starting from my head
III anazement, for the ring was that
winch Isabel had given me. and the
nahd that l looked at was the exact
likeness OF my missing one.
A cry at my side of mixed fear
anu rage brought me to my senses
isabel was standing with outstretched
srms pointing to the apparftiOn
what does this mean, sir?' she said
ner voice aroused Sadie, who, seeing
Tue image around her waist, promptly
tainted.
i have told this story to seyeral