Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-01-23
from the Aidine Cor January.l
Halls MISTAKE.

There were three Of rs. only. from Hi
Top. little quaint. irregular village. ne,
slled high among the mountains
Brainard. John Hsssrd, and I, Harriso
!. Grey. at your service. We messed te
gether. and that morning a We drank ou
pklackedSae Ne talked matters over viz
no sense Of restraint. The regiment, whic
had beea In camp for . month, vas Z
march The beat day.
Il shall Be glad enough 10 get ont q
this said John. bat. BY George. boys
e does sasm . litsIs tough On fellow b
have 10 20 % Without sesias the f,lk
agsin Il cant b. more than ten mile
to Hilltop. as the crow fies'-and tn
speaker. he was hardly more than boy
looked yearninly of into the blue distance
It's no use. my lad answered Hal
while his resoluis face c.onded over. IN,
furloughs will be granted. understand
But just then our good Captain Talbo
appeared at the door Of the tent. He hae
been teacher Of the High School in tn
town adjoining ours. and We had all bee,
pupils Of his. As We gave him the mill
tary sslate, he smiled family.
1T is almost schooltime. boys he said
But. first, | want to send one Of you ove
to Hilltop. to do an errand for mo. Who
ever goes can stay all night. but must re-
port himself Oy eight o'clock tomorrow
morning.
We looked from one to the other, in
sort Of eager dismay. At last JoLn-Jacl
VIC called him-spoks out.
'Couldn't We all 90. Captain ?
Not exactly.' he answered. laughing
Orders are too stringent. Bot settle i,
among yourselves and let one Of you come
to my tent in On hour ...
The boys in the next tent we're singing
Rally Round the Flag at the top Of theil
voices. Some one on the other side wa,
wbistling Home. Sweet Home in LONG
and lingering cadence. From the pine
woods on our left. the morning breeze.
brought rs watts Of bnlsanic fragrance
with now ard then an odorous breath from
the trailing May-dowers. How we'll re.
member it all!
/ found my voice at length.
Let Jack go. He is the youugeS.
But then bcthought me ths. Hal had
something in Hilltop that We others had
not. He had been engaged to Thyrza
Harrington for nearly year.
Glancing at him from beneath my cap,
| saw look upon his face that was hall
defiant. half tender. Then he caught UP
his gun. with prctence Of examining the
No. Jack answered quietly. III bu,
one of us can 60. it must be Hail.
Hal looked up suddenly. his face glow
ing with something that was not exactly
joy.
Jack is right I said. 1t must be
Hail.
lie dropped his gun. and caught ou'
hands ;mpulsively. .
'Ged bless you boys he cried. you
make me feel like selfish brute. But !,
seems to me this morning that I would
peril my souls salvation for the chance oI
going to Hilltop
Hurry up. them VIC both answered.
You have no time to spare
We stood In the doorway Of our tent
and watched the tail, stalwart figure rs j
dropped out Of sight behind the hill
Then Jack turned to me Ei,h gay smil
that was somewhas belied by his droopin!
eyelids.
Hal looks like prince Of the blood il
his new uniform he said. and carrie
himself like enc. too. What a mngnifi
cent fellow he isl But what is the mat
ter with him. Grey? / scent trouble il
the air. He 10 not himself. lately
Just my own impression. also. But
did not care to discuss the matter. Th
day was busy one; and when nigh
came. We were glad TO wrap ourselves il
our blankets and 60 to sleep.
Hal returned the next morning.
Halo, old fellow. Low's Hilltop T erie
Jack. dancing around him in a fever G
impotence. Who did you see? Ho,
arc all the folksT
lie soon received a quietus in the shap
Of suudry packets and parcels. Then II:
turned to me.
There's 90 change At headquarters.
suppose ?'he said intcrrcgatively. w
get ou, Of this to-dayr -.
/ answered affirmatively.
The Lord DO Pvaised!' be exclaimed
Il could not stand this inacticn much lor
1 ger. Grey : and he fell vigorously
work. packing his knapsack.
He had not quite the air Of a bapp
Romeo whose Inns vere .ull warm wi,
tho Kisses of hi. Juliet. bu, / had a
time 10 pu,.le over il. and BY .undown Y