The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-01-11
a TALE Oh THE LATE WAR.

between the Blue Ridge n the Ale
ghany Mountains, was astir early on
June day Of 1864, for the soldier boys
were coming-the ones in gray-and
they would Of course be very hungry, a
condition that had become chronic with
confederate soldiers by that time. They
we're to march rapidly through the town.
and whateyerhospitaiity was to be shown
them must be in q sort of passover form.
So the town-folk we're making busy prep
arations to waylay the regiments on the
street with bread and meat and coffee
rye coffee!-ani blttermilk, and black
berry wine, and ho%me-brewed ale.
You would have taken it for market
day in some Old.World village, 80 anima-
ted was the thronged street,and with peo-
pie in such queer costumes. The digni-
fed matron and the doucest maid wore
complacently furniture calico of the
most startling patterns; gray and blue
domestic" was made to fit slender
waists, whose ante belium silk and vel
vet had given out; hats and bonnets
were Of all shapes and no shapes, all
home-plaited of wheat straw; old silk
stocking legs figured as well as fitting
gauntlets, and the more stylish wore
shapely gloves of chRmois skin, which
had known the good effects of soap and
water, since it used to rub the family
silver. TTimfeet we're covered with hand
knit stockings, the cotton having been
spun in the winter evenings, when read
ing was scarce for want of new books,
and letter-writing scanty be-
cause of 10 cent stamps, and sociables
few because there were no bcaux and
no refreshments to be had; stout leather
shoes, of village manufacture, were
laced yer those primitive hose, with
heels the farthest possible remove from
French. Men were conspicuously alb
sent, only old menand boys representing
the sex, except where some sleek publ
can managed to put a government office
between himself and hot bullets.
This was the picture presented by the
long, struggling main street, as Lauder.
dale awaited the soldiers, that bright
summer day.
Cary Brook, however, was not lend
ing herself to this good work of cater.
ing; she seemed to be devoting herself
to the esthetic instinct of tue soldiers
for the adornment other dainty self oc.
cupied an unusual time. And yet Col.
onel Bird, of the One Hundred and frs
Mississippi, was not in the divis
ion which was to pass through Lauder
dale that day, but when does not a pref.
ty girl think that her lover may chap
pen along" Oh, ityou knew what fun,
ny clothes we wore in these days. And
if you could believe how serenely fine
we felt in the queer duds! Cary'sdres
| on that morning WAS of homespun cot
ton-that g woven in the country $l5 4
yard, ten yards to 6 dress; total $3.50
1t was new and freeh; fitting her "slin
elegance" as Howells says "as the
sheath of the flowers fits the fower.'
Brown lengths of hair ornamented hel
shapely head with lavish beauty, but nc
girl is satisfied with natures adjoining
and the long blockade had brough,
Cary's stock Of pretty things to the low.
est ebb. The ". lite frills we're freshly
crimped, and throat and wrists respond.
ed to their becoming effect; but oh, fol
a touch of color!" sighed the girl with
true instinct, for the somberish dress
needed it.
Why there, to be sure, were the Gre.
vile roses, climbing right against her
window. Long clusters of small flowers,
white, shaded with many varieties oi
pink, all in one bunch, and SO sweet.
Half an hour later Cary stood at the
front gate, with the Greville roses in he1
hair and at her throat, as intent upon
rationing those dear, dirty fellows as q
chief of commissary. But they were
tremendously hungry. and after the last
bite that conld be found in the house
had been given ont, a s~traggler came up
and asked for breakfast.
ooh. Pm SO sorry" said the girl.
We shall have to keep a fast day as it
is, but would keep two at a time if I
only had a nice breakfast for you"
The soldier took off his old SLOUGH hat.
and made such a low how that Cary
turned again to look G. him.
TO what regiment do yon belong?"
she asked.
am just from the Lvnchbnrg hos
pital, " he replied, ''anl on my way to
join. the One Hundred and First Mis-
sissippi."
The roses suddenly bloomed in Cary
Brooks cheek, and she came out into
the road.
Chen / must shake hands with you.n
she said. II love every man in the One
Hundred and First Mississippi"
And Pm sortier than ever not to
have a breakfast for you" cried the girl.
If you would give me your roses,''
he said, with u gallant grace, 81 should
not miss the breakfast"
She unfastened them quickly, both
clusters, saying arcl,ly, "lNith one con-
dition-that when you reach the repi-
menl, you will take them to Colonel
Bird with my compliments"
. my honor as a rebel" replied the
soldier, again bowling low, and CARRYING
off Cary's bright flowers.
Now, ! call that a skiliful DODGE he
chuckled. as he hastened after the troops.
1T will not be perjury to break an oath
a non est, and having no honor
as 9 rebel: so | may keep the roses and
give me a chance to tell that pretty re-
bel some day that she gave the roses to =
Yankee spy"
The next two weeks Witnessed MANY
a RAPID march and countermarcli, and
Lauderdale held lis breath while the
dust of its streets blew first upon gray
coats and then Upon blue. Mean
time u ravisher of the roses
had gotten safely back to his
own place and his own coat, and early in
July entered the little mountain tewn
with Hunters army. The gala look it
had worn two weeks before was gone.
ana u sllllen expression marked its coun-
tenance. No m were to be e
boys We're kept carefully indoors by anx-
ious mothers, and men had a sudden ac-
cess of fe%ebleness, leaning on canes and
hating in their gait in a way that was
very comical to n who remembered
their a!eftness two weeks before.
Two hours after his arrival our unon-
dom Mississippi man rang Mrs. Brooks
door bell, and was answered by that
matron herself, with an air of dignifed
defiance, After a great deal of trouble
her daughter for moment only. and in
her presence, Cary was summoned.
Again the soldier bowed low before her
this time removing a blue cap instead of
the old sloueh, and returned her with
cred but carefully preserved roses.
begieaYe to restore unlawful uainsO