Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-07-06

! Our regiment was only ordered TO
Camp Meade, but It was a start. The
days there were dreary ones. and I
shall never forget the shout our boys
put up when the order which turned
our face to Camp Thomas, at Chicka-
manga, was read to them. It set our
blood on fire, and I cannot repress my
feelings Of state pride even now when
I recall the happy faces Of those Bay
State fellows as they prepared to
shoulder their muskets and start for
the south. A majority Of the regiment
wanted 10 be brigaded with other regi.
ments from Massachusetts, but with
wisdom and foresight the chief execu-
tive commanded that the troops from
the north should be brigaded with
those from the south and west. 1t
was a wise policy that threw the men
from Michigan with those from Texas.
and those from California with those
from Maine and Vermont. and the men
from Massachusetts with the honest
fellows from Georgia. The spirit OF
friendship which had been growing for
over thirty years was to be cemented
by nm alliance against q common enc
my. This was how we found ourselves
in the same brigade with a Georgia
regiment and with another from Ken
lucky.
We mingled with one another from
the first on friendly terms; we shared
one another's rations and nursed one
another's sick. l met every Georgian
with an outstretched hand, for l felt
somehow that they had claims on me
which the others did not possess. The
! individual was lost In that great,
! crowded camp, and those with whom
I talked of the Turpins did not seem
to know them. But ! was destined to
hear news Of my friends much sooner
than I thought.
had been sent to division headquae.
tors one day with a message from my
colonel. As l stepped under the avn
ing of the tent I saw an officer In Z
majors uniform sitting at q table read
ing some reports. The face was par
TALLY In shadow. but I saw at once
that 1t was Bud.
How much he knew I did not know.
I was eager to learn. He saw me be-
fore I spoke. and, not waiting. 40 I had
done. he leaped from the table. scat
tering the contents owe the floor. and
rushed to me with arms outstretched.
Impulsively he threw n arm around
my neck and with the other grasped
my hand. He saw how deep my feel
ing was and did not speak at once.
"Bud," I asked finally. "how are all
at the Pines?" It was the question
which was most natural to my lips,
for I had been hungering. yet dread
ing, to hear news Of them.
"About the same. Nothing ever
changes there" he said.
sYour father and mother?" I asked.
"Both are well. thank God"
~And Miss Ellen!' I ventured.
For q moment his face cloude6
when be told me she was not Ike
what she used to be. Then suddenly,
as II some idea had shot across his
mind for the first time. he dropped my
hand and. looking me squarely in the
face, said:
"She has never been the same since
you were there He seemed suddenly
to stinen with dignity AZ he added:
palmer, II l thought your visit there
had wrought this change heaven only
knows what l would do. Before tax
Ing my hand again answer me honest
~. Palmer, did you tribe with my little
sister when you were with % ct the
Pinesr'
Before God l did notgs I cried. 'she
rejected my love, and that II why I left
% suddenly. I will tell you all about
II, Bud, a. | wanted to do before !
left" l said.
n believe you, Palmer" he said, lay.
Ing bis hand on my shoulder again.
'But keep your secret, whatever Il may
b, for II ID hers also. and you have no
right TO betray It"
grasped bis hand again and stood
looking out into the dusty camp street.
and over the bills In the distance
"Who y with thsm!" ! asked pres
emily.
my younger brother, little Brent. He
= keeping the family alive while ! an