The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-03-19
An American Soldier
Meets His Waterloo.
BY EDGAR WHITE.

dressed young man got out. Seated
in an old chair Titled against the
weatherboarding was an old man
smoking. This was Jep, the head of
the house.
"Good-morning," saluted the we'll
dressed young man.
"Mornin'," returned Jep, without
rising. 1t was a warm day, and he
wore no coat.
This Mr.. Hathaway"
Yep"
I'm CASTOR Gabrialdi, representing
the Grafton History Company of Chi
cago. We are now compiling his
tory of your county. l was told you
had been 2 soldier in that terrible
struggle between the States"
You bet your boots, sonnie, was
there" answered the old man, with
sudden interest.
Good! Then you would make
splendid subject for our history. We
desire to print biographical sketches
county, men who have really done
something worth while--soldiers
statesmen, preachers and the like.
Would you object to my taking a
few notes Of your war experienced"
and the agent laid his straw hat on
the porch, took chair and pulled
out his notebook
Jep's eyes glittered. If there was
anything on earth he liked to talk
about it was the war. He went in
side and brought out papers showing
the campaigns he had been in, his
honorable discharge and Endorsements
from his commander The represent
ative of the Grafton Company was
nightly interested. He took many
notes. Jep explained all about the
big battles-Shiloh, NJ S o airy
Ridge, the Siege of Vicksburg, the
March to the Sea. He pulled his
chair up close to the sweating his
torian and bored into his breast with
his long forefinger to emphasize his
statements. The march, the charge,
the fierce hand-to-hand encounter
over the breastworks-Jep left moth
ing out. Never since the war had he
run across a person who would listen
to him while he told the whole story,
and he couldn't let the opportunity
20 by. This stranger was a man of
experience and intelligence. Any
body could see that. The reason the
people about Owl Creek didn't appre-
ciate the story Of Jep's campaign was
because it was beyond their groveling
minds. He understood it now. AT
no time did the visitor show the
slightest sign of WEAKNESS or of be-
ing bored. Jep was ticked to death.
But he finally ran down, and the
caller wrote out little blank and
handed 1t to him. Jep put on his
spectacles.
What's this?" he asked.
THAT is merely an order authoriz-
ing me to print your war history and
for a copy of the book" replied the
historian. "Sign on that space,
please.
Jep picked up the pencil, and was
about to do as directed when tall
woman appeared In the doorway. Her
sleeves were rolled up, and she had
evidently been engaged on some
strenuous work. She must have
weighed some 100 pounds more than
the hero of Vicksburg.
"Jep," she demanded, don't you
sign no paper writin'.' =.
why, ma said Jep in concili-
atory tone; "this don't hurt nothn -
II merely certifies that what tod
him is facts. ~, ....o
rian.
III he signs that paper she sharp
w asked. chow much does he agree
to pay?" u..,o
matter Of form a..
How much does he agree TO pay
she insisted. ,oo,, NON
"Then he don't sign!' and with
SIGNIFICANT look at her husband the
woman went back to her work IN tne
kitchen. .,o
when she had disappeared, the
historian again presented the llttie
blank to Jep. >, ,ouot
sign there" he said ingratiat-
ingly. =, haitian rot )"
faltered the old man. Ma seeihs "
be agin It. .,.,,on of
What" exclaimed the maker Oh
nr;nted monuments, without trying
to hide his contempt, you solder
an who charged on Vicksburg,