The Detroit times., 1913-06-14


thiuk Of you: but maybe there's some
ono else you're thinking Of hardest or
all! guess she'll be glad enough to
see You back. chr"
That Was all settled when | got
nv first f,irlough." said stephen laugh
Ing. and that was over three years
lgo."
Was II though. Well. | guess We
can consider this rumpus at an end:
| understand General Grant and Gen
oral Lee are going to get together and
| see what can be done to stop the effu-
q complainant mood, there's never any
harm in making II easy for the other
fellow to quit" He paused, and look
ed the young man over attentively.
"Ah---Ohio regiment, An Ohio man
yourself. captain" interrogated the
general beaming blandly upon him.
Yes, born there, and lived there
until enlisted answered Stephen.
What part Of the state do you come
FROM" inquired the general after an
other brief pause.
The central part Of the state. q lit
tie place called Benson"
"Benson-the devil" cried his Ques-
| toner. starting. II lived there my.
self once-owned q paper there, In
fact"
did you indeed?" said Stephen.
Yes. sir, l did, and had q pretty
wide acquaintance. Dabbled q bit In
politics, too. and knew everybody In
the town. and pretty near everybody
in the cOunty-what's your name,
sir?"
"Landray?" cried the other. Why.
God bless my soul. young man. knew
your father well--we were the same
ss brothers, for I take 1t you're Bush
rod Landray's son-yes, OF course,
you're Bushrod LAndray's son. for
Stephen had no children"
Yes, my father was Bushrod Land
ray" said Stephen: he wondered who
the stranger might be.
He was one Of my most intimate
friends. man I admired immensely.
I'm pleased to know you" and he held
out his hand. His delight seemed I'M
bounded. for he wrung Stephens hand
with q hearty goodwill. Well It IL
a small world, amt It? And to think |
I should meet you here after all these |
years. Ell. you want to know who I
an? Gibbs is my name-General |
Gibbs. Of Missouri. formerly Of Lyons |
stan" II rolled generously from hts |
lips.
Il have heard OF you, General |
Gibbs" said Stephen
Il bet you have" said the general |
81 mean they have not forgotten
you at Benson" Stephen made haste |
20 say. He was rather embarrassed, |
however. for he was aware that he !
had never heard anything Of this old |
friend Of his fathers that was In any |
sense creditable: indeed he had not !
known until that moment that he had
been a friend OF his father's-but
Gibbs himself seemed very sure of
that point.
"Of course they amt" still chuck.
ling and unabashed II usually man
age to make myself felt in one way
or another-aint always the best way
perhaps. butts usually warranted to
last. Tell me about everybody-your
own folks--I love any man by the
name OF Landray!"
i've not been home In two years"
said Stephen.
"How's your MOTHER
Didn't you know-but, Of course.
you couldn't, she Ia dead
God bless my soul. you don't tell
me. I'm shocked to hear It," DRIED
Gibbs. "lnexpressibly shocked to hear
II, when did 1t happen
Years ago, she died out In India.
She had married again, and had gone
there with her husband who was a
missionary
You don't tell me-" repeated Gibbs.
And your aunt. Stephens widow"
She Is we'll: or was when I heard !,
from her last"
Never married again, eh?" said
Gibbs.
NO
Remarkable, but reckon 1t want |
TO-. any lack Of opportunity, she was a
mos; beautiful women as recall her"
She is still a very beautiful woman"
sai6 Stephen. but for some reason he !
did Eot care to discuss Virginia with |
Gibbs He had felt no such reluctance |
where his own mother was concerned. |
What about Jake Benson? I've /
sort OF lost track Of him, we used to |
exchange occasional letters, but | |
drifted about a good deal. was liv-
ing in Alabama when the war broke |
out. but ! got back to ST. Louis in a !