Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-04-13


the mulatto lately had taken to aping
Toms jaunty airs and graces with in
sufTerable accuracy. He was Of the
same size and almost as white as Tom;
and there was, too, singular resem-
blance in feature and expression which
goaded Tom to madness. Dandy, too,
had picked up q correct knowledge Of
English which he used when occasion
served.
On the evening in question, Tom thrust
his head in the door Of the sewing-room
again. That uniform? Dandy has gone
TO the meeting. Do you think he would
dare TO take it?"
Sue laughed. II have no doubt he
has it on. sword and all"
'I'll whale him within an inch of his
lifer' shouted Tom, clapping on his hat
and rushing out.
Now the meeting was one of South
ern sympathizers." 1t was held in the
town hall, and as the aisles were filled
with Union men and boys, the proceed
ings were very lively. As Tom arrived.
an ex- x-Congressman-a colonel-was in
the midst of a fiery speech in defence of
the Rebellion. 1t was received coldly,
even by his friends, the colonel having,
the week before, ignominiously backed
out of fight with man named Porter,
in a way which had set the county in
roar.
Just as Tom pushed into the door, the
colonel was hurting terrific defiance
against all who differed with him. He
paused to take breath, when shrill
voice called OUT
sAnd how will you pay Porter, col
onel?"
A startled silence followed. The col
ouel stepped to the edge of the platform,
one shaking hand on his jaws, from
which all the blood had receded.
''The question is an insult to which l
have but one answer" He drew out
his card and flung it on the floor "If
you are gentleman, you will take
thatr'
An excited murmur ran over the hall.
In the midst of it, a tall figure dressed
in a glttering uniform leisurely passed
through the crowd, lifted the card, bow
cd to the colonel, and turning to the
audience, nodded with o familiar wink
and grin.
"Archer's Dandy! Toms double"
The shouts and laughter and confusion
were heard where we sat sewing at Aunt
Annie's. A few moments later, Tom
came in pale with rage.
Il will not stay in Dryford another
day! am the laughing-stock of the
town. he gasped, as his mother met
him.
The next morning, to my astonish-
ment, Tom really was missing, and Aunt
Annie and the girls went about with
eyes swollen from weeping.
''He has gone,'' whispered Sue to me.
HE is going to get through the lines and
join Lee. He has been frantic to 90 for
year, but mother has kept him. He'll
never cross the lines into the Confeder-
acy alive"
was very fond of poor Tom, with
all his headstrong whims; and faithful
as | was to the Union, could not help
feeling more merciful to the Rebellion
now that the boy had taken part in it.
Breakfast passed in gloomy silence.
Dandy waited as usual. Nothing could
have been more blank or guileless than
his face.
Take a waffle, Missy" he whispered
to Nan, with profound sympathy.
"Dah's onc'll comfort you. Wild honey
an buttah.'
''Don't come near me, you Dandy"
cried the child. 'If it hadn't been for
your caper, Tom wouldn't have gone to
be shotn'
"Capah! Likely's was caperin' las
night. / dunno. Sho's you bawn, seben
debbels gets my in'ards sometimes an
drives Dandy out O dohs,' rolling up
his eyes with sanity reverence. "Pears
us | do member somepin' went wrong
las night! Twas one OBJ dem seben did
it. 'Twan't Dandy"
''You can leave the room," said Aunt
Annie. 81 really am tempted to think he
is possessed with an evil spirit" she said,
when he was gone. "Minty, his moth
er. was a stupid creature, and I nursed
him through his childish illnesses with
my own hands. Tom has showered
kindnesses on him. Yet have never
seen sign of affection from him to any
human being. Nothing but impish
"They never have done anybodymu
harm,' said Sue, thoughtfully. "Per-
haps he is jealous of Tom"
jealous of Tomr' Aunt Annies fair
face flushed. "a negro jealous of Col.
Archer's sonn'
Going out stumbled over Dandy,
suspiciously near the key-hole. He in
stantly began to spin around in waltz,
giving TOMS step with such languish-
ing airs that l laughed. He stopped.
Mast Tom mighty fine on de feet,
Miss Aggy. But Dandy good as de next
man, foh dc waltz. Mast Tom he turn
soier an get shot in glory, kase he Cum
mel Archer's son."
He stood erect and suddenly dropped
his negro dialect, which he could do at
pleasure. For the moment it was agrave
man, not capering imp that faced
me.
"-4N the Archers are tighting-stock,"
touching his own breast lightly. The
next minute he was strutting down street,
whistling shrilly.
We never saw Dandy again. When
he did not return Aunt Annie was posi-
tive that he had followed Tom across
the lines. But / was not so confident.
There were deeper thoughts in the boys
yeasty brain than she had ever suspect
ed.
A week later we received call from
Gen. Wright of the Union army, an old
friend of Aunt Annie's. He took it for
granted that she was loyal like himself.
II have just come from Winchester
he said. "There will be hot work there
soon. BY the way. where is Tom? l
f0uni n yOunp recrllit in nv reUiment