The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-02-03

and not without cause. In the cottage in the
garden at home, we had left a dear invalid,
a mother in the last stages of consumption.
Her hold upon life was so slight that for her
we feared every excitement, dreaded the
least possibility of a surprise. We never
left her alone we had left her with her col
ored nurse, as true as gold. But what if the
/ maraudeTs had already gained entrance into
her room The possibility of such catas-
trophy made us quicken our pace almost
into TuE.
81 do believe" painted a young sister with
eyes flashing and nostrils quivering, pausing
for breath, "that if they have found ther way
into mothers room, God will give me nerve
to use these foolish pistols in cruel earnest. -
"Devilish spunky Boys, we must look for
mothers room tonight Bet your sweet life
on it, thar's where they've slowed away
guns or rebel soldiers
Those mocking words came to us through
the thick pyracantha hedging InvOluntari-
ly we turned our frightened eyes in that di-
rection. It seemed to us as if a dozen pairs
of wicked, cruel eyes leered back at US thro'
the interstices of the bushes.
"Gentlemen, our mother is an invalid,' l
ventured to say huskily.
CAN right 20 a harsh voice laughed back
at US; "'we're on our way now to get some
turkeys we've been told are out this way
we'll call on your mother when we have had
our supper"
We heard one voice raised in depreciation
as we sped onward with but one thought be-
tween us-that thought to guard against the
threatened invasion Of our dear ones room !;
but that one voice was drowned In shouts Of
scofinG laughter.
Night, It seemed to US, had never fallen
before with such unwshed for suddenness.
We greatly dreaded the coming of darkness.
But it did not find US unprepared. Every
door and window had been so muffied that
none but the most violent sounds could pen
citrate to the ears of our invalid. Aunty
Judy Ann was stationed in the room, while
one of us took stand on each side Of the
two galleries, that flanked the cottage. Con-
cealed by the vines that clambered all over
them we watched and waited. We had but
one defined object in view-that was to pre-
vent the entrance into that room. How we
were to do it we never clearly specified even
to ourselves.
With the clouded sunset had come one of
those sudden changes of weather common in
our climate and to that season. So we were
not surprised to hear the soft, slow patter Of
the rain drops upon the heaps of fallen
leaves in the thick shrubbery that surround
ed the cottage. But it made US nervous. 1t
Iessened our chances for detecting approach
ing footsteps. So we watched and waited,
while the gloom thickened without, and the
rain-drops patJered dismally on the dead
leaves, and faint cough from the sick room
would make US almost faint with terror of
what that night might bring forth. Present
ly we heard footsteps. No; yes unmistak
able footsteps ; nearer and still nearer. We
heard the familiar click of our own garden
gate, evidently raised and dropped bya care
full, steady hand. Then the footsteps again,
nearer until above the cropped shrubbery a
mans head appeared. We crouched in the
dark shadows of the vines and waited. He
seemed to stop and examine the premises
glanced at the windows through which the
feeble rays of the lighted lamp struggled :;
emerged into full view, then began slowly
and steadily making the rounds Of our little
cottage He is looking for the best entrance,
I thought in terror, but I gave no sound of
my whereabouts. Once more he paced slow
ly by my hiding place, and I could see, as he
neared me, the bayonet cleaning in the
musket, which he carried at Support -
When the circuit of the house had been
made at least half a dozen times began to
wonder at the nOn-aggressiye character of
this invasion. He is only waiting for the
others, I thought, but perhaps I can turn
him from his evil designs. He may have
lii
to part the thick clustering vines, as he
neared my ambush again, and to ask, with
voice chollsd with fright, ''Who is that 90
"Only q Yankee sergeant, miss, but one
who means well by you. I was with the
boys this evening when they gave you such
a fright up the road about your mothers
room. I do hear say she is not long for this
world, and 1 have took upon myself to guard
duty here until day breaks. I've give the
boys fair warning not to fool around here
while Sergeant Cross is on duty. So you can
just turn in and sleep like top
''DO you mean,' / asked, leaning over the
banisters toward the dusky form in the
shrubbery, "that you have voluntarily put
yourself upon guard duty tonight, and in
the rain to protect our mothers room from
invasion ?" Ny voice was huslzier than ever,
but not from fright
'I've got mother myself, young lady,
was the manly, simple answer ''and God do
by her in the hour of her need as mean to
do By yours to-night so, now, you turn in
for the night
did ''turn in, but it was only to tell that
other trembling girl in the back gallery what
a wonderful thing had to come to pass after
which we stole out to the dining-room, pre-
pared the best our Confederate larder could
afford of luncheon, and went out and begged
our friendly enemy to come in and refresh
himself. He came, but am afraid he lost
prestige in my sisters romantic eyes by rea-
son of his plainness.
It was plain-looking, rather undersized
young man, who stepped into the light at
our invitation, but when he took off his wet
cap to us in military courtesy, there beamed
upon rs a pair of gentle, kindly grey eyes
that inspired MS with the fullest confidence
in "Our Sergeant
And all that long night there mingled with
the patter of the rain upon the dead leaves
the slow steady tramp of-''Only Yankee
Sergeant"
HAD rather believe all the fables of the
Talmud and the Alcoran, than that this uni
yerSai frame is without a mind God never