The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-03-05

| costed me.
you ought to see Kennedy" he began
"He has news from some one, and his ugl
face actually frightened when the packag
was fished out of the mailbag as if an orig
h. nal idea had struck him."
4 was human enough TO smile al this chal
/, acterslc speech of the smart young corpora
: but did not fail to retort brskly. My iulol
Il nation proved correct found Abel sittin
1 on a barrel, his long legs dangling and
smile of perfect satisfaction on his face as Ii
held out the closely written sheets.
Read them," he commanded, jocularly, an
| obeyed.
1t was pretty, wonanly letter, telling O
simple home. incidents, but to us amid til
hurry and hustle of camp life, it seemed
like poem, to be read too and put by lk
one, for what had we to do with leafy wood
aud breezy fields lying fallOw in golden sun
shine, and all the quiet sweetness and p,ac
of rural home.life, we who might meet sterl
conflict and mayhap face death before night
fall. There was little postscript in answe
to my own. Kennedy tore it off and threw
il to me.
81 don't want another mans property" Ii,
declared, laughingly; and | thanked hin
carelessy and stuffed Il into my pocket
When he had taken his huge, awkward frame
out of sight, reproduced it and read il
through second time There was a simple
name sighed at the bottom "NIillie." The
wounded muscles were still painfully tender
so it fell to my lot to answer this second
epistle, and after that there came regularly a
tiny missye directed in a somewhat girsl
hand, ito Abel's soldier friend "Strange to
say did not put them with my other CORES.
pondence, but tied them up in separate
package, with bit of blue ribbon, and Stow
ed them in corner of my knapsack.
| A year went by. The 42d Volunteers were
no longer raw recruits. Side by side they
had fought through the snow of winter and
tie heat of summer, and many a noble life
had been sacrificed to appease the god of war.
TO the officers Kennedy was still simple
private, but the more discerning among the
boys had discovered the strength that lay in
that staunch right arm, restored now to all
OF its former vigor, and the honest kindliness
that frightened the keen gray eyes, and many
| a poor tempted fellow found firm and abd.
| ing friend in Catch.step Kennedy.
There came fierce battle on the eve of a
| September day, and when the sun rose its
rays fell on heaps of dead and dying, bright
ening to diamond brlliancy the Gew drops
that sparkled on the trampled grass, whose
| roots were died red with blood-the life-bood
of friend and foe. Victory had perched upon
our banner; but its tattered silken folds re
| fused to wave in the breeze as of old Sue
cess was ours, but it had been too dearly
bought for rejoicing. Then came that long
and dreary march TO Fayetteville. Supplies
had not arrived Weary and footsore we
commenced the journey, turning our backs
on our dead and our faces southwark. Al
morn the sun appeared blood red and at noon
its rays beat down mercilessly on our un
protected heads The dew at night was CRATE
al h,tit c,n WIT OWL
and many poor sickly fellow shivered and
died at contact with its noxious breath. |
carried my right arm in sling. Kennedy
strobe along at my other side. Little Ser
geant Grimm was a lusty singer, and enliven
ed many an otherwise lonely hour, the boys,
joined in The stirring chOruses even when
their parched tongues almost refused to per
form their office. One day we missed the
familiar "Battle.cry of Freedom" ana at noon
the little sergeant staggered and fell by the
dusty roadside. Kennedy held the last drop
of water in the canteen to his lips, and he
drank it thirstily.
Are the ambulances full - he enquired.
Some one answered in the affirmative.
"Wcl, it's too late auy way. Remember"
with an upward nod and CLEAN ofhumor
in his quizzcal eyes, fast fading under their
heavy brows-"and catch-step, Kennedy"
Ay," responded Abel mot in this world,
| fear me. Perhaps in better world it may
be easier for poor fellow to fall in with the
ranks. A safe ferriage over, old conrad and
happy welcome home at the end"
A quarter of an hour later we took up the
march again. The finly roads had literally
cut my shoes to pieces, nor WAS | the only
one reduced to such extremity. No sign ofthe
promised supplies as yet. Nothing In
sight but the long interminable stretch of dus-
ly road. What wonder that tears of despair
fell from eyes utterly unaccustomed to any
PRINT was marked with blood. My own poor
brain seemed on fire, and hundred fever
pulses beat in my wounded arm.
II can go no further, Abel" | muttered,
drowsily. For mercy sake let me drop in
the road and sleep"
He glanced al my feet, from which | had
long since thrown the miserable remnants of
covering. His own stouler shoes Were still
in state of tolerablc preservation. For an
swer he twned his strong Eight arm around
me and lifted me. | put my left arm about
his neck and chung to him. Then | fell
asleep and dreamed of my mother. When |
awoke made no effort to stir, yet seemed
sensible of steady motion. Opening my eyes
drowsily found my head still reposing on
his broad shoulders, my lett arm as before
ClhsplnR uis neCh' L ucI Ndl hucsS ulountl
and about me.
Years after it seemed to me my eyes opened
a second time, and their waking glance fell on
my mothers face,
Don't stir, Harry" she said, ioyfully.
you are safe in the hospital at Fayetteville
You were taken very i'll, and a friend carried
you in his arms for two days over those
dreadful rough roads, thus saving your life
| will tell you his name when you are better"
You needn't" responded, weakly, with
a somewhat childish glance at the white-cap-
ped nurse who was preparing some fragrant
broth; II know it-Abel Kennedy" And
then fell into dream again.
What became of my noble friend? Why,
if mistake not, that is he crossing the lawn
nj his very moment Allow me: Colonel
Kennedy; gentlemen. And the little sister
in the far off New England village ?-oh she
is a Kennedy no longer, Friends call her
Mrs. Harry Lorrimor, but to me she is still
simple "Mllie," my wife. Do you wonder
now that look at these old shoes with rev.
erencc-gone at sole and heel, mre-spattered
and trayel-stained though they be Remem-
Der they clothed the willing feet that bore me
for Two mortal days meath the burning
Southern sun, when others would have left
me to die INTENDED and alone. Years have
threaded his hair with gray but, gentlemen,
in spite of Sergeant Grimm's dying admoni-
lions, and the dignity OF his cooneIs rank,
my friend is still in heart and gait the same
old Catch-step Kennedy
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