West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-08-14

pasture. L was ravenous for taste a
| home cooking, and would have forfeited
all the epaulettcs in the country for one
OF my mother mincc pies. They put
me on duty that night; posted sentries
at the entrance TO the pass TO keep "A
sharp lookout for the enemy; for if
| they had come on us unawares they
would have caught us like rats i'm a
trap. My heart sank when my name
was called, and. If it hadn't been for
the ridicule, I'd have tried TO get of by
| pleading sick. You sec l was pretty
well used up by the long marches. the
uncertain rations and the heat and the
inconsistencies. The hot sand cloggod
my steps and burned my blistered feet;
the rocks seemed 10 radiate the heat
they had stored up during the day;
the air was dry and charged with dust.
| kept up my beat awhile and then sat
| down on bowlder and cried; then
deliberately lay down and shut my eyes
to go TO sleep"
&" Fine thing if one of the officers had
caught YOU" observed one old soldier,
dryly.
" Precisely what happened. was
sliding off into delicious slumber
when heard movement near by.
opened my eyes and saw Colonel
Lenolr. | thought the day of doom
had come for me. for there was hardly
week passed that we didn't hear of
some poor fellow being shot for sleep
ing AT his post. j was so stupid with
fatigue and drowsincss that couldn't
somehow quite make out where | was
Everything was iumblcd up in my
mind. The cows coming home from
pasture, the mince-pie on the table, an
open grave and boy standing up as
target for line of soldiers, my mother
in tears"
Brewster stopped sbruptly, and
somebody asked eagerly what hap
pencd next; what the Colonel said
enoir had not known good
nights rest for weeks. He had been
twonty-four hours in the saddle" said
Brewster, slowly and imprcssivcly
=" lie was worn ont physically and
mentally He had directed his man to
call him at dnybreak the next morning
But he took my muskct up from the
70 X where had placed it. ordered me
TO lie down again, and did duty for me
two hours while slept"
There was no comment ON Brews-
tors story. The account of noble
deed sinks quietly into the heart with
out parade or flourish. After "A few
moments of silence, some one put a
query in which lurked "A suggestion.
Lenoir acted finely at Anderson
vile, too, didn't he BrcwsterP''
The lumberman gave a short reioin-
der consulted his watch, and rose to
go. Despite the self-deprcciation of
MS narrative, all were aware that ne
had been one of those noble specimens
OF American manhood who had sur
vlved the horrors of that awful expert
encc and finally emerged an emaciated
wreck of humanity whose heroic devo-
ton 10 n noble principle will resound
throughout the everlasting ages. But
he could never be betrayed into any re-
lation OF his prison experience He
pulled on his driving gloves. nodded
cool adeuX to the score or more of
loungcrS, and was soon driving at n
quick pace up Market street, aud out
Sixth. For the first few blocks the well
paved street was lined with handsome
buildings aud presented the appearance
OF an important thoroughfare; but, as
he progressed, the buildings dwindled
IN stature and were occasionally al
ternatcd with a handsome, comfortable
residence, and the pavement grew I'M
even. Half mile further the street
ApAthtblth All tititnSt Ut StnnTInDS9.
trailed humbly between onc-storied
warehouses, leaped railroad track.
lost itself in maze of switches, and
resumed existence i'm the guise of n
wagon road, terminating with dismal
wooden structure, standing in a desc.
late region and fianked on one side by
tall lumber piles The clerks and dav
laborers Were filing away. and the
night-watchman, quiet-mannered
man, with an unlit lantern in his hand.
stood on the steps.
Well, Martin. what succesSo''
gave them warning, sir, TO clear
out, early this morning, and kicked
their houses over after they left. for
fear they'd be back again tonight, like
rats-that is, all but one
Great guns, man! Don't YOU know
ones a, bad as a dozen? / can't get a
dollar OF insurance on the stock with
out paying double rates until ! can
satisfy the company that the whole
tribe is gone"
The tribe referred to by Brewster
consisted Of floating population of
disrcputablc vagabonds, allied in
character to the hoodlums and
criminals commonly known as wharf
rats" and " hay-bunkers, who
had squatted on the dumps"
and utilized the cans plepti-
fully scattered over the ground In the
construction of a miniature village. The
members of this peculiar sub.stratum
OF society were tabled 10 exc out their
sustcnance by diligent grubbng i'm the
heaps by which they were surrounded
They were looked upon by the police
and the public as dangerous class Of
citizens, and the underwriters very
wisely refused To- insure property i'm
their proximity at the ordinary rates
Martin. meanwhile, advanced a lame
self-dcfcnse.
1T was early, and he hadn't shown
himself sir / didn't quite like TO knock
this house down about his ears. You.
see. Mr. Brewster, he's different like
from the rest quito carries himself
above them, You know"
This s'ammering communication
amused Brewster a queer notion on
tered his head lie would confront the
usurper himself and SOC what manner
Of creature Doe was lie called TO the
oHice-bnY who was walking down
the road. bidding him drive mo
To- Che house and inform his wife that
lc would be detained a couple of
hours
Tue two men left alone. stood M ibc
window and looked boz the direction of
iun ralcd village fO detect some sian of
lIlc. bat they saw only "a stray doc who