The Washburn leader., 1914-03-06

By JOHN TURNLEE
By JOHN TURNLH

My father spent his money as fast
as he made it and when he died left
my mother, my sister Edith and myself
penniless. Mother did not bear up
long under the misfortune, and when
she died my sister and l. not having
any near relatives to take an interest
in us, were relegated to an orphan
asylum. Edith was eleven years old
and was five.
A lady came to the asylum one day
looking for child to adopt and, TAX
|. ing great fancy to Edith, took her
away to her home. l remember that
young as l was cried bitterly at
parting from my sister, but the day
came when she passed completely out
Of my mind. passed through many
vicissitudes-hard would be bet
ter word-during which l received a
few years of schooling, and at 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-
cruiting officer winked ut my being q
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.
man about thirty-five years old, fine
soldier and gentleman. His wife was
an attractive young woman some
twelve years his Junior. l saw her Of
ten, of course, for we were of the same
garrison, but being private and she
the wife of an of1icer-the commandant
at that did not come very near her
till her husband chose me for his or
derly.
I was smooth faced boy, and sup
pose l showed my birth in my person.
Mrs. Thorne took fancy to me and
did me favors, which was anxious to
return. So l 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 plunder 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.
I had revolver in my hand with one
charge in it, 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 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 ac-
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 sery-
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 Il number Of appointments.
which are intended for the sons of
army officers. Mrs. Thorne decided to
60 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 commandant's quarters and receiv-
ed me In her living room. 81,
$ jack she said-shet always called
me Jack and did not know any other
name for me-'l'm going to Washing
ton to see IL 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 saw you. have brother
somewhere in the world. IL he still
lives. who is about your age. ! have
not seen him since he was 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 I had
found my sister. Indeed. I said moth
Ing and asked no questions to estab-
lish such relationship. simply
thanked her from the bottom of my
heart for her kind intentions.
WHAT'S your name. Jack?" she
asked.
walker
walker? Why, that was my name
before I was married"
Still 1t did not occur to me that she
might be my sister. But 1t occurred to
her that there was possibility Of my
being her brother. She asked me
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. a 's
Thirteen years before. a. children.
we had drifted apart on life's ocean.
and now we had come together again.