The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-09-30
AReuniion
By JOHN TURNLEE

peunlesS Mother did not bear up
long under the misfortune, ard when
she died my sister ana |. not having
any near relatives to take an interest
in us, were RELOCATED to an orphan
asylum. Edith was eleven years old
and | was five.
a lady came to the asylum one day
looking for II child to adopt and. TAX
Ing Il great fancy to Edith. took her
away to her home. ! remember that
young us | was | cried bitterly ut
parting from my sister, but the day
came when she passed completely out
Of my mind. | passed through many
;cissitudcs -harlships would be Il bet
ter word-during which | received Il
frW years of schooling. and 1T the age
of seventeen enlisted in the regular
army of the United States. was not
OF the required age. but | was consid-
cred excellent material. and the re
cruting officer winked ut my being 4
year too young to comply with the
arlny regulations.
IIavin" enlisted in the cavalry I was
sent to Il post beyond the Missouri river
The comnlantlant WIS Major Tlioric.
a man about thirty-live years old. Il fine
soldier and Il gentleman Ills 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 bein" a private and she
the wife OF an officer the commandment
at that did not come very near her
Ill! her husband chose, me for his or
derby.
was Il smooth faced boy. and sup
pose showed my hirtii in my person
Mrs Thoruc took II fancy to me and
did me favors. which ! WAS anxious to
return. SO | used to do odd jobs and
crrands and carry messages for her.
The Indians had not all 1T that time
E.cnme pacilled. and we had some
trouble with them. The worst of these
WAS on an occasion when they broke
AWAY from their reservation and be
.an TO murder and plumber the set Tiers.
The command marched against them.
and. being but two companies. the ui;l-
ior contcntpd himself with one orderly
us his only personal attendant During
the fight that occurred his horse was
shot under him. ANA an Indian raised
his tonaIlawis to dispatch the major.
had Il revolver in my hand with one
charge in it. Which put oat Of existence
the would be slayer Just In time +"
prevent his tomluluwk being buried in
TIE ma ior's skull
When we had accomplished our work
and returned to the fort Major Thorne
made 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 nc-
count of the matter. 1t seemed as X
she could scarcely keep from throwing
her arms about me.
1t was Mrs Tliorne who suggested
a means of rcwurding 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 Eut the president has al
ways held !, 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 d;y before she WAS to start for
the east she sent for me TO come to
the commandments quarters and recciv-
ed me in her living room.
Jack" she Said-Shc always called
me Jack and did not know any other
ton to see if can't secure You an APP
puintment 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 | saw you. | have Il brother
somewhere in the world. if he still
lives. who is about your age have
not seen him since he waS Il little boy
of five. but there is something about
your expression ut times that recalls
him to me-
1t did not occur to me that ] had
found my sister. Indeed. ! said moth
in. and asked no questions to estall-
thanked her from the bottom of my
heart for her kind intentions.
whats your name. .Iack:" she
asked
''Waktr.''
walker? Why. that was my name
before was married"
still it did not occur to me that she
might he my sister. But it occurred to
her that there was Il possibility of my
being her bro! her She asked me Il
few questions as to my parcnta%c 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. rs children.
we had drified apart ON LIES ocean.
and now we had come together again.
Edith had been brought up Il lady and
married Il gentleman. had not been
polished by such influences as had
formed her. but | was not unreiincd.
and later II four years training ut
West Point took away any cause for
my sister heiu" ashamed of me-
Some persons would have concealed