The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1914-04-02
b. JOHN TURNLEE


Icuulr~S Mother did not bear mp
long under the misfortune, and when
she died my sister and ], not having
any near relatives 10 take an interest
IA Us. were reIcgatcd TO au orphan
asylum. Edith was eleven years old
aud | was five.
A lady came to the asylum one day
looking for child to adopt and. tax
iHg great fancy to Edith. took her
away 10 her home. | remember that
young as | was cried bitterly at
parting from nay sister, but the day
came when she passed completely out
Of my mind. | passed through many
Vlcissitudcs hardships would be a bet
ter word during which | received a
few years Of schooling. and at the age
Of seventeen enlisted i'm the regular
army Of the United States. | was not
OF the required age but | was consid-
cred excellent material. and the re
Cruiting officer winked at my being a
year too young to comply WITH the
army regulations
Having enlisted in the cavalry | was
sent to post beyond the Missouri river
The cOmmandant was Major Thorne
a man about thirty five years old, a fine
soldier and a gentleman. His wife was
an attractive young woman some
twelve years his junior | saw her Of
ten, Of course. for we were OF the same
garrison, but being a private and she
the wife OF an officer-the commandment
at that did not come very near her
till her husband chose me for his or
derby.
| was smooth faced boy, and / sup
pose | showed my birth in my person.
Mrs. ThOrne took fancy TO me and
did me favOrs. which | was anxious to
return. So used to do odd jobs and
errands and carry messages for her.
The Indians had not all at that time
become pacified. and we had some
trouble with them. The worst of these
was on an occasion when they broke
away from their reservation and be
gan to murder and plumber the settlers.
The command marched against them.
and, being but two companies, the ma
jor cOntented himself with one orderly
as his only personal attendant During
the fight that occurred his horse was
shot under him. and an Indian raised
his tomahawk to dispatch the major.
l had a revolver in my hand with one
charge in II, which put out of existence
the would be slayer just in time to
prevent his tOmahawk being buried in
the majors skull.
When we had accomplished our work
and returned to the fort Major Thorne
made a good deal OF this act Of my
saving his life. / shall never forget
the look on the face Of his wife when
she first saw me after hearing his &C
count of the matter. 1t seemed as II
she could scarcely keep from throwing
her arms about me.
1t was Mrs. Thorne who suggested
a means Of rewarding me for the serv-
ice / had done her husband She pro-
posed that they make an effort to Sc
cure me an appointment to the United
States Military academy. In those
days the congressman, who held the
appointments, used them for political
purposes. But the president has al
ways held a number Of appointments,
which are intended for the sons Of
army officers. Mrs. Thorne decided to
go herself to Washington and ask for
one OF those appointments for me.
The day before she was to start for
the east she sent for me to come to
the commandments quarters and receiv-
ed ME in her living room.
Jack" she said-she always called
me Jack and did not know any other
name for me-"Pm going to Washing
ton to see II | can't secure you an ap-
pointment to West Point | don't do
this alone to make some return for
your saving the majors life. but be-
cause / have liked you from the first
moment l saw you. | have a brother
somewhere in the world, IL he still
lives, who is about your age. have
not seen him since he was a little boy
OF five. but there is something about
your expression at times that recalls
him TO me-"
1t did not occur TO me that l had |
found my sister. Indeed. l said moth
ing and asked no questions to estab-
hsh such a relationship. I simply
thanked her from the bottom Of my
heart for her kind intentions.
What's your name. JackT she |
asked.
Walker"
Walker Why, that was my name |
before | was married"
Still it did not occur to me that she |
might be my sister. But 1t occurred TO |
her that there was a possibility Of my |
being her brother She asked me a |
Few questions as to my parentage and |
Childhood and suddenly surprised me |
by throwing her arms about me and. |
with eyes wet with tears. covering |
my face with kisses.
Thirteen years before. as children |
we had drifted apart on life's ocean. |
ana now we had come together again.
Edith had been brought up a lady and |
married a gentleman. | had not been |
polShed by such influences as had |
formed her, but ! was not unrefned |
ana later a four years training at
west Point took away any cause for
my sister being ashamed of me.
Some persons would have concealed