The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1913-07-25
A CRIPPLED
SOLDIER
His Life Was Marred In One
Way, Perfected In Another.

tiouhifoH b'bE On. 'PN'A"e DNN'' N~~~
piping Of nest building birds. Strolling
down the mall. met perambulator.
pushed by negro boy, In which sat
young man Of twenty-five or twenty
three years. As he passed me l no
ticed melancholy look on his face
which bespoke some great grief To
my surprise he gave me glance OF
recognition. Besides. his features were
familiar to me. ! turned, and he look
ed back.
"You don't remember me, colonel"
he said.
81 admit ! can't place you"
mot remarkabl BILE since you have not
seen me since wore cadet gray, was
clean shaven and had my hair cropped.
You were teaching me the art OF war,
which I'm my case meant how to make
wreck Of myself"
"You were Of that class graduated in
advance to take part In the Spanish
war;"
II was; Granger-Ward Granger"
Suddenly 1t all came back to me.
This man had been one Of the promi-
nent men In his class, n cadet captain,
IN excellent student. an all round pop
uIar man.
my dear boy" exclaimed taking
his proffered hand. II remember you
perfectly for an honor to your class.
and know by your war record that
You are an honor to your country
"A retired honor. with no feet" he
said gloomily.
A picture flashed before me-a ''hop''
mt West Point Granger was q grace
ful dancer. and had noticed him es-
pecfally sailing past me In all the
freshness and confidence of youth with
beautiful girl to whom he was en-
gagged to be married
LET me see," said musingiy. sit
seems to me that you and Miss
'TowneT
Eyes, Miss Towne."
I'VE were engaged when 1 went to
Cuba. When l was sent back in this
condition. His voice trembled.
Surely she did not
she showed herself noble girl. 1t
was ] who would not consent"
your
Yes. l." he went on bitterly. "Do
you suppose ! would permit a young
inr' OF twenty to enter upon the care
OF man condemned to live a cripple.
10 witness every day his wrecked
hopes. to see him trundled about like
this. to turn her course at the very be-
ginning into a chaunel which must
grow darker to the end? Not I. You
colonel"
Though ! mad', no reply, 1 felt that
he was right. T.
NO"
S"l uo' wn on a wooden bench. The
nesro ent short distance away. and
~, M" ,er and talked for an hour.
i. II left him, bidding him goodby.
Or ! had been ordered to a southern
post and was to leave the next day.
A year later received an envelope
by mail from which I took cards an.
nouncing the marriage of Lieutenant
Ward Leighton Granger, U. 8. A.. re
tired. and Hela Airline Towne. BY the
same mail came a letter from the
bride:
Dear Colonel B.-ward has asked m,
to write to you to CONFESS" what h
calls his ''shaineful retreat" from the po
sition taken tgy him at the time he las
saw you. l bear witness that he main
:aihed that position for a year. durint
which time resolutely fought to carry 1
both by asrault and undermining HI
says he gave you his reasons. and 1t onl,
rgmuina for n YninA-viZ
could not live without him.
laid the lett er down with a sigh.
was sufficiently experienced to under
stand the burde this woman had TAX
en- on herself and considered hel
course and the yielding Of her hus
band mistake. / wrote note Of en-
enlargement. bnt refrained from ex
pressing any approval Of the union.
Three years Inter while exchangin:
stations passed through New York.
knew | ought to Gull on Ward Grange
and his wife, but dreaded to do so. OK
pecting. even after few years, to Sc
the effects Of what I considered an un
fortunate marriage Nevertheless
called. I was ushered into the hbrar,
and In few minutes heard the thuml
~ crutches above then Granger com
ing downstairs. Beside him. holdin
with one hand to a crutch and wit
the other to tho balusters, walked
boy Of two yeslrs. chattering like
magpIe. Mrs. Granger followed. nd
monishing her son to be careful an
not get In his fathers way. l nd
yanced into the hall to meet them an
NJ n glance saw that Granger was n
longer mental sufferer His fac
broke into a happy smile. while hi
wife. nlso smiling. exclaimed:
"You thought wed made a mistake
colonel. didn't YOUR
mistnke--I assure you
"A nice letter. OF congratulation 70
sent us-cold mr., an 1cicle!"
Admit, colonel" said the husband
Tint II you wtre OF court martial
Try me for a silshonOrable surrende
you'd convict mo"
And you'd convict me-" said tn
wife. "of reckless sness and stupidity"