Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-20

| bered by the oldest inhabitant. The boys,
! Grand and Jack. assisted by dozen volunteers.
| put the springs in prime order. The underbrush
| was cleared away. the ground smoothed. tables
and rustic benches Were constructed; they did
| their part. and did it well.
In the meantime the captain. true to his
| promise. went to Petersburg and ordered
| enough refreshments of all kinds to fill the
] stomach OF the whole county and he ordered a
| brass band also. He promised to do the thing
| up In style and he kept his word. He gave Col.
| Blank as an endorsement when ordering the
| goods IN every instance One of the neghbors
/ agreed to haul the things out in his wagon on
the day named, and SO everything was con-
! cludcd.
! On Saturday evening. August 3oth. 1884, the
! captain Saddled ms horse, saying he promised
! to spend Sunday with his friend Mr.. Jellis and
| tFy some OF his choice old peach brandy. OF
| which MIR. Jellis was the acknowledged Judge in
! that region He bid Il tender farewell to Miss
| Luse, nodded to the boys, and cantered of
| whIstng with all his might.
! Monday morning daWned bright and beauti-
| iul, and the old lawn OF Col Blanks had never
! borne such an animated scene since the day it's
master was married. Sturdy yeomen. old sol
dlers with here and there all arm or leg missing,
SHOWING that they had proved their yalor on
many bloody field lusty youths, buxom
ma!dens all in their Sunday best and all in the
highest spirits, were there The crowd then
adjourned TO tina springs aud waited.
Where Is Captain Gill? were the.queries from
ali sides that assaed the colonel
Ion. he will be here soon. He spent the night
with MI. Jelils and will come with him."
ABOUT ten O'Clock sound was heard
that brought the blood to the cheeks and
the light to the eyes Of all the young
people. and for the first time since the
biue coats under kautZ and Wilson in 1864
male their advance, tie martial strains of
band sounded through the grove. Behind
came four-horse wagon filed to the top, ana
| soon it was unoaded and its contents spread on
the green sward. What sight to those rustic
| eyes. They opened in wonderl Barrels of
crackers, kegs of pickles, cases Of wine cans of
preserved fruit pOtted meats, boxes of sweet
| meats. kegs and bottles OF beer, a barrel Of
WHISKY. baskets OF champagne huge piles Of
lemons ana oranges. 1t seemed az if the whole
contents OF hrSt-clasS grocery was heaped up
In one pile 1t was the proudest moment of
MISS Luse's life. Soon dozen couples were
keeping time to the stirring strains OF the band
captain Gill was the hero of the hour every
heait beat warmly for him. every hand was
ready to stretch out and seize his; but the cap
TAIN hand was not there.
THE BUBBLE BURSTS.
The colonel sat on bench surveying the
scene, his face beaming with delight. This yas
life, and in fancy he beheld the fortunes of the
great family restored. and the Goddess of
Plenty, with her cornucopian horn turned up
side down, and scattering her gifts over him
and his
A tremendous shout reused him from his rev.
erie. and crowd OF voices yelled Here he
comes Here he coues Hurfah."
Looking down the glade the colonel saw Mr..
Jelis jogging along on his ancient grey, and
soon he was in their midst.
dozen hands seized his bride. hundred
voices cried: Where is the captain? Where is
Captain Gil?"
The old farmer sat on his horse and gazed
around him, stunned INTO silence by the Gin.
gNgN1 +afrl Can't h,,t.r I'D
.acA; ''Ch. Oh, Where is Capt. Gill;" shrieked
Miss Luse; Where in h is Capt. Clip
roared the colonel. and 'Where is Capt. GilI?"
sounded the chorus
Every neck was craned forward-even the
band mad stopped. and all eyes were fixed on
the horseinan, who, with his jaws dropping. and
with wild eyes. looked around him with gaze
that dches description.
AT length he stammered OUT Are you all
run mad: What IN the devil is the natter"
IEe cries redOubled Capt Gill Capt Gill
Capt. GilI!'
The farmer looked hepessy around and then
managed TO articuiate: Good Lord, What's
up"
The colonel forced his way through the crowd
and laid his band on .IeIlis arm
Have you seen Captain Gill:"
Nav"
"Did he stay with you Sunday"
Nav"
Did you have an engagement with hins"
NAV"
Have you seen him this mornngi"
Nav
Has anybody seen hiIni" asked the colonel.
grihoing his teeth together, and addressing the
crowd
A general shaking of heads followed
w mats all this about" inquired Mr.. Jellis,
Gradually recovering his normal state of mind
Why GIL left our house Saturday evening
ana declared that lie had an engagement to
spend Saturday night and sunday with YOU"
liar chr aI Mr.
Jeiils, VehelnentF. II haven't seen him nor
lad eyes on him for two weeks nuther."
Oh! see it all, said the colonel. his eyes
blazing IKE Goals; ''the Internal theving scoun.
drel; he's skipped. the inferno villain"
yell Of eXeCratiOn followed: '.My fifty dol
lars gone" roared Jack hopping around like
mad; My horse is stolen" moaned another:
He borrowed ten dollars of me-" cursed a
farmer; I've bill against him as long as my
arm" groaned the VILLAGE shopkeeper: INV
watch and chain. d---n him screamed Mr. Jei-
lis. throwing his hands up to heaven, I'm
ruined; I'm ruined'
He owes me ten dollars" cried Grand, biting
the end oil OF his mustache 'hOw would like to
take il out Of his hide"
Here" said the colonel In his army tone
that stopped all the clamor: the id villain
has fooled us all; bundle all those things in the
wagon. everything. and take them back to
Petersburg; Iwont be responsible for them As
the band is here will pay for that and the
young people can enjoy themselves; as for me,
I'm sick Of the old thing"
oh" said Miss Luse Ia a condition close
bordering on Mysteries, how wish had him
by the hair OF his head; I'd pull, yes, I'd pull
every strand out"
Don't you think we can catch the internal
sc0undrel?" asked Mr. JelIfs; I'm willing for
one to ride my saddle grths off"
No" said Grand. clenching his fist; "he's got
good two days start. and is at the other end of
the Union by this time"
And that Is the way that shrewd tramp
played it upon the guileless Virginians
Harvard 4 HuroH1Ssox