Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-07-26


She slipped out q moment, and then COM
ing softly back, held to the father a little
flag with oil the 3tars upon it. He fondled
it moment.
We have kept it, SIR he then said hid
den away out of sight for two long years.
l look at it every morning before go out !;
it Keeps iretb in my heart the memory of
the good old times before treason bad tried
to blot out its stars. You see, friend. you
will be safe with US, if you only keep out
of sight.
Well. l was safe for time-safe from
the rebels, civilians and soldiers, swarm
ing all around Us, but not safe from the
little mink. Jane Weston, who sat with me
every afternoon 10 the little upper room
where they had slowed me away. My eye
was too much iDfamed to permit Of my
reading, go Jane read 20 me an hour or 90
every day. OF course very soon fell in
love. bsdn't anything else 20 do, in fact;
and it bad been ever 80 busily employed,
l couldn't have kept my heart from max
ing what raids it Llsased on its own &C.
count. Jane saw at last what state was
in. and grew shy ana reserved. But was
too old campaigner to be alarmed at
that. just took her one day into my
arms, told her loved her from the crown
of her head to the sole of her foot that
wouldn't ever fight another day for the
Union il she did not consent to become my
wife and, strange co say, the sly little
creature, overcoming her reserve, accepted
me right out, saying rOguishly,
Not for your own sake, John>-I only
take you on patriotic grounds. so as to Sc
cure you 20 the cOuntry-f no other rea-
son. assure you.
Of Course l had my revenge for this i'm.
pertinence; but that is neither here nor
there.
Late enc afternoon the old man-his
name was James WestOn-came burriedly
home with a troubled face.
Somehow he ssid,' 1T has been found
ont that you are here, and they have threat.
Cned to burn the house over my head for
giving you shelter, and TO hang you forth
with
had always expected to be discovered,
sooner or later, and the old mans commu
nication cid not stsrtle me.
All We have to do, then,' said, SIS to
leave at once
That is easier said than done,' he re
piled. Pockets are everywhere, and it is
imnossible to get away
But thought differently, and 70, after a
time with many tears, the father and
daught determined TO attempt with me
to reach our lines. How much it cost
them tn sbar6On their home and all the
precious belongings. to turn their faces to
ward strange land and people, only those
who have suffered as they have done eau
Rnr hnf Sho-
and that was in peril every hour they re.
NAMED
That night we stole out under starless
sky, and with such light effects as we
could carry, set our faces northwsrd. Pat
rcls were all around US, but lodged them
ALL how l cannot tell For days We trav
elied on, following urirequented roads.
sleeping ofte in forests and fields, telling
such tales as we could ia avoid detection !;
and at last. foot sore, weary. with poor
Jane half wild with fever, reached the
Tennessee, crossed over in q scoW found
ready to our hands, and, in the midst of
a thunder storm. that rolled with the noise
OF n thousand guns along the heights Of
Lookout. came into Chattanooga.
There, very soon. kindly hands sOothed
our WEAKNESS, Dursed jane into health and
rubbed from cur lives all the CRIME and
pain of our long journey. Then, one day.
| said to Jane:
we are under the old flag now. darling;
l am ready to become it's defender again {;
shall We be msrrie1 ?
With blush she said yes > and o week
after we stood up b,f re O chaplain, and
with tough Gen. Thomas looking on as q
witness, were married; the flag hanging
over Us, its stars seemed TO shine down
royal henedictiOne upon our union.
Thus it was that the scratch of nail got
me a wife, and as fair and sweet wife as
soldier ever wUn.
Three Months ago, when Sherman DASH
ed int the heart of Mississippi, putting his
hard on its veins and arteries, and one
day paiG his compliments to the town of
Enterprise, rode with others in the van
Old James Weston's house l found un-
N Tested still, though weeds were growing
thrifty about its door, and disorder sp-
pesred everywhere. They told us rebel
cUlOnel occupied it now as his own but l
managed TO save it from destruction think
ing that, perhaps some day, when Missis-
slppi is wholly redeemed, the rightful
owner may return and set up bis affairs
afresb. with grandchildren Of the name of
Smith prattling to him as the years grow
old.
Already one grandchild is his, for only
last week he wrote me from the home in
Vermont, where my dear ones abide, "A
fat. bouncing boy dropped into James arms
Yesterday and she says his name is 20 be
Enternrise Smith
My name is John Smith. But Enter
prise and rusty nail gave me wife and
it is only fair that my boy. growing 10 bis
mothers sr@s away. up there in Vermont,
should ba called Eoterpise Smith. 10 men,
DRY of the day that brought me my fate
Besides. the name may serve him as CAPT
tai when he comes to mans estate