Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-02-22

Twice, Killing both OF MS purSuerS
who were within a few lengths of him
They went out of their saddles like
stones, just as Black Nell flew into
the air and landed safely on our side
OF the ditch. In a moment both the
daring scout and the brave mare were
in our midst, while our men cheered
and yelled like mad men.
We asked Bill why he ran such a
risk, when he could have stolen into
our lines during the night?
'Oh,' said he, my mate and | want
ed to show them cussed rebs what a
Union soldier could do. We've been
with them now for more than a month,
and heard nothing but brag. We tho't
we'd take it out of them. But and
Bill looked across the green-sward
to where his companion still lay mo-
tionless-'if they have killed my mate
they shall pay a big price for it.
Bill must have brought valuable in
formation, continued the Lieutenant,
for he was at once sent to the Gener-
al, and in an hour we had changed po-
sition, and foiled a flank movement
of the rebels
went to the hotel during the after
noon to keep the scouts appointment.
The large room of the hotel in Spring
field is perhaps the central point of
attraction in the city. 1t fronted On
the street, and served in several ca
pacities. 1t was sort of exchange
for those who had nothing better to do
than to 60 there. 1t was reception
room, parlor, and office; but its dis
tinguished and most fascinating char
acteristic was the bar, which occupied
one entire end OF the apartment
Technically, the bar is the counter up
on which the polite official places his
viands. Practically, the bar is repre-
sented in the long rows of bottles, and
cut-g lass decanters, and the glasses
and goblets of all shapes and sizes
suited to the various liquors to be i'm
bibed. What charming and artistic
display it was of elongated transparent
vessels containing every known drink
able fluid, from native Bourbon to i'm
ported Lacryma Christi!
The room, in its way, was temple
of art. All sorts of pictures budded
and blossomed and blushed from the
walls. Six penny portraits of the
Presidents encofined in pinewood-
frames; Mazeppa appeared in the
four phases of his celebrated one.
horse act; while lithograph of 'Mary
Ann" smiled and simpered in spite Of
, the stains of tobacco juice which had
been unsparingly bestowed upon her
originally encarmined countenance-
, But the hanging committee of this un'
, dersigned academy seemed TO have
been preiudiced-as all hanging com
mittccs of good taste might be-iI
favor of Harper'5 Weekly; for the
walls ofthe room We're well covereG
with wood-cuts cut from that journal
Portraits ofnoted generals and states
men, knaves and politicians, will
bounteous Illustrations of battles anC
skirmishes, from Bull Run numbe
one to Dinwiddie Court House. AnC
the simple-hearted comers and goer
:, of Springfield looked upon, wondere,
= and admired these pictorial descrip
= tions fully as much as if they ha'
been the masterpieces of a Yvon o
- Vernet.
h A billiard table, and out of use
s where caroms seemed to have bee
o made quite as often with lead as ivor
n balls. stood in the centre of the room
o A dozen chairs filed up the compile
' ment of the furniture. The appear
e ance of the party of men assemble
j there, who SAT with their slovenly sho
q feet dangling over the arms or hun
10 about the porch outside, was in pc
"a feet harmony with the time and plac
N All of them religiously obeyed I'll
p two aforementioned characteristic
Of of the people of the city-their ha
h was long and tangled, and each ha
,f fulfilled the most exalted requir
ment of laziness.
k | was taking a mental inventory
,e all this when a cry and murmur Dire
ve my attention to the outside of ii
ne house, when | saw Will Bill, ridir
rd up the street at swift gallop. A
ut. rived opposite to the hotel, he swul
nn his right arm around with circul
Nv motion. Black Nell instantly stopp,
,e- and dropped to the ground as if
ed cannon ball had knocked life out
air her. Bill Lett her there, stretch
1e. upon the ground, and joined the gro
lr- of observers on the porch.
to- "Black Nell hasn't forgot her Q
on tricks" said one of them.
ne "No," answered the scout. sc
nv bless her! she is wiser and truer tn
ire most men | know on. That ma
as will do anything for me. Won't y
ur- Nelly ?"
,ad The mare winked affirmatively
zen only eye we could see.
re-. "Wise p continued her mast,
1ev ''why, she knows more than jud
= I'd bet the drinks for the party Il
fire she'll walk up these steps and il
oct the room and climb upon the billie
table and lie down."
mr.. The bet was taken at once, not
of cause any one doubted the capat
,tlv ties of the mare, but there was exc
this ment in the thing without exercise
did Bill whistled in low tone.
two instantly scrambled to her feet wall
out, toward him, put her nose Affect
we ately under his arm, followed hin,
hey to the room. and to my extreme W
ills derment climbed upon the bills