The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-05-18

Dle reminded MN or an adventure VI
his own, when he was catching wild
horses In Texas with his brother Steph-
en-, at a time when he must have been
quite a boy. He told the story with
good deal of spirit-so much so, that
the silence which often follows a good
story hung over the table for an in
slant, to be broken by Nolan himself.
For he asked, perfectly unconsciously,
"Pray, what has become of Texas?
After the Mexicans got their independ-
ence. I thought that province of Texas
would come forward very fast. 1t is
really one of the finest regions on
earth; 1t is the Italy of this continent.
But I have not seen or heard a word
Of Texas for near twenty years."
There were two Texan officers at the
table. The reason he had never heard
of Texas was that Texas and her af-
fairs had been painfully out of his
newspapers since Austin began his
settlements; so that, while he read Of
Honduras and Tamaulipas, and, till
quite lately, of California, this virgin
province, In which his brother had
travelled so far and, believe, had died,
had ceased to be with him. Walters
and Williams, the two Texas men,
looked grimly at each other, and tried
not to laugh. Edward Morris had his
attention attracted by the third link
In the chain Of the captains chan
delier. Watrous was seized with con-
vulsion Of sneezing. Nolan himself
saw that something was to pay, he did
not know what. And I, as master Of
the feast, had to say:
Texas is out Of the map, Mr.. No
Ian. Have you seen Captain Backs
curious account of Sir Thomas Roe's
Welcomed"
After that cruise never saw No
Ian again. 1 wrote to him at least
twice year, for in that voyage we
became even confidentially intimate;
but he never wrote to me. The other
men tell me that in those fifteen years
he aged very fast, as well he might
indeed, but that he was still the same
gentle, accomplishing, silent sufferer
that he ever was, bearing as best he
could his self-appointed punishment,
rather less social, perhaps, with new
men whom he did not know, but more
anxious, apparently, than ever to serve
and befriend and teach the boys, some
of whom fairly seemed to worship him.
And now 1t seems the dear old fellow
is dead. He has found home at
last, and q country.
Since writing this, and while con-
sidering whether or no / would print
it, as warning to the young of today
OF what 1t Is to throw away a country,
/ have received from Danforth, who is
On board the Levant, letter which
gives an account of Nolan's last hours.
1t removes all my doubts about telling
this story.
To understand the first words of the
letter, the nonprofessional reader
should remember that after 1917 the
position of every officer who had No
Ian In charge was one of the greatest
delicacy. The government had failed
to renew the order Of 1907 regarding
him. What was man to do? Should
he let him go? What, then, If he
were called to account by the depart
ment for violating the order of 1907?
Should he keep him? What, then, If
Nolan should be liberated some day,
and should bring an action for false
Imprisonment or kidnapping against ev-
cry man who had had him in charge?
l urged and pressed this upon South
ard, and / have reason to think that
other officers did the same thing, But
the secretary always said, as they so
often do at Washington, that there
were no special orders to give, and
that we must act on our own judy
ment. That means, IF you succeed,
you will be sustained; If you fail, you
will be disavowed." Well, as Danforth
says, all that Is over now, though /
do not know but expose myself to
criminal prosecution on the evidence
Of the very revelation am making.
Here is the letter:
"Levant, % 2" s. % 1917 w.
"Dear Fred-I try to find heart and
life to tell you that 1t Is all over with
dear old Nolan. have been with him
on this voyage more than / ever was,
and can understand wholly now the
way in which you used to speak Of the
dear old fellow. / could see that he
was not strong, but had no idea that
the end was so near. The doctor had
been watching him very carefully, and
yesterday morning came to me and
told me that Nolan was not so well,
and had not left his staterOom-a
thing / never remember before. He
had let the doctor come and see him as
he lay there, the first time the doctor
had been in the stateroom, and he said
he should like to see me. Oh, dear
do you remember the mysteries we
boys used to invent about his room, In
the old Intrepid days? Well, / went
in, and there, to be sure, the poor fell
low lay in his berth. smiling pleasant
ly as he gave me his hand, but look