The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-05-23

rations they sometimes had. And then he told
me how his life had been in danger; how he
had been set upon by the foe and badly wound
ed Z; and how, at the risk of his own life, a fel.
low-soldier had saved him, and carried him
away, fighting his path sbk b:ssk.. 20 =:=
I'D never seen you but for him." says my
Charlie. "Aud if there's man on earth love
it's Rob Hadaway-tho dearest, best fellow |!
We've shared each others rations, and drank
from the same canteen many and many a time;
and if / had brother, l couldn't think more
of him."
"Why didn't you bring him home to sec
your mother, Charlie" said I. "Why I'd love
him too, and anything could do for the man
who saved my boys life, couldn't be enough.
Send for him Charlie"
But Charlie shook his head, and covered his
face with his hands.
"Mother," said he, II don't know whether
Rob Hadaway is alive or dead to-day. While
was still in the ranks he was taken prisoner
Aud military prisons are poor places to live
in, mother I'd give my right hand to be able
to do him any good but can find no trace
of him. And lie has mother too, aud she is
SO fond of him She lives at G Greenhnnk-poor
old lady My dear, good, noble Rob, the pre-
server of my life"
And | saw Charlie was nearly crying.
Not to let us see the tears, he got up and
went to the mantelpicce did not look
around until heard cry:
"Great heaven! what is it ?''
And turned, and Charlie had the tobacco
pouch the man had dropped, in his hand.
"Whcre did this come from 7" said he. I
feel, as though had seen ghost gave
this to Rob Hadaway the day he saved me-
We soldiers, lad not much to give, you know
and he vowed never to part with it while he
lived How did it conc here, mother z"
And fell back in my chair, white and
cold, and said I.
ga wandering tramp left it here Never
your Rob, my dear; never your Rob. He
must to have been ni impo 4 wouldn't
Iiass cursed away D peraon feaiiy iiI sysnt. Oh;
no, no it's another pouch, child; 6r.he stole
it. A tall fellow, with blue eyes, aud yellow
brown hair; wounded, he said, and going to
his mother to Greenbank. Not your Rob.
And Charlie stood staring ut ME, with
| clcnched hands and said he
"It vas my Rob! it was my dear old Rob,
wounded aud starving my dear old Rob, who
saved my life, aud you have driven him out in
such night ns this. mother. My mother to
use Rob so!
Condemn me, Charlie, said I condemn me
if you like; I'm afraid God will. Three times
he came back; three times he asked only for q
crust and place to lie, and drove him away
Il, land he's lying in the road now. Oh!
if had known! Oh! if had known!
And Charlie caught up his hat
| Ill find him if he's alive, said hc Oh .
Rob, my dear friend.
And then--I never saw the girl in such tax
ing. Down went Drusilla on her knees MS if
she was saying her prayers, and says she:
! Thank God dared to do It'll
And says she again to me:
Oh! aunt, I've been trembling with fright,
not knowing what you'd say to me- took
him in the kitchen way. couldn't see him
Fgo faint and hungry, md wounded and put
him in the spare chamber over the parlor, and
I've been so frightened all the while.
Lord bless you, Drusilla, said Charlie.
| Amen says 1.
And she, getting boldcr, went on:
And l took him up some hot short cakes
and applc-sass and tea, says she, aud took
him candle, and hot brick for lis feet, and
[ told him to eat, and go to bed in the best
chamber, aunt Fairfax, with the white
countcrpane and all, and locked him in and
put the key in my pocket and told him
that he should have one nights rest, and that
no one should turn hin out unless thoy walked
over my dead body.
And Drusila said it like an actress in n
tragedy, and went off into Mysteries the mo.
ment the words were out of her mouth. Shed
been expecting to be half murdered, YOU know,
aud the girl was but SIXTEEN and always be-
fore minded me as if was her mother.
Never was there any old sinner so happy as
was that night, 80 thankful to the good
Lord and it would have done your heart good
if you had gone to see the two meet in the
morning-Churlio and his friend Rob. And
uto