The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-13

the deprecating, unobtrusive tones of one not
much accustomed to having his wants attended
to. He wanted "a drink of spring water out of
a gourd" Oh. the pathos of it'll Many time
after did see such homes as that which this
poor, simple minded, ignorant, sick and dying
Southerner longed for
Across the road was q house or two-log-
houses of the better class; that is having two
rooms. It was pleasacc to sit in there, under
roof, on chair with back to it at table with
and butternilk brought on by young woman
with nice apron tied round her waist They kept
their milk cool at the spring The cooking was
done at an open fireplace; they had no cooking
would occupy one side of the house From
crane attached to the logs above, kettle could
be swung. Meat was fried in skillet; the corn
bread was baked either In the ashes on the
hearth, or In what is called Dutch oven. A
Dutch oven is a heavy, cast-iron skillet. fur.
nished with cover and heat is communicated
to it by covering it up in the hot
Goals. Now isn't there charming sim
plicity about all thisl But among all these
attractions not the least. I beg to assure you,
apron on 1t always makes me feel little
nervous-well. perhaps, embarrassed-while
dining. to have standing round, and regarding
me with sort Of melancholy interest, one of
those nondescript, soulless, sexless beings, ar
rayed in shabby dress coat and with damp nap
kin over his arm. didn't feel that way about
Phyllis. Perhaps was a little embarrassed,
for was very young and inexperienced those
days; but, then. / liked it, anyhow. Further
down the road track turned off up into the
hills, winding among the rocks. and brush, and
under the great trees. For awhile there were
ruts made by wheels, but these stopped at the
first house. and after that only bridle-path
leading up through, and over the hills, and away,
know not whittier.
With the end of summer came an end
OF our pilgrimage Ill the mountains Called
back to the Gap we found there the army pre-
pairing to eyacuate its position ard take up its
line of march northwards, $50 miles through the
hills of Kentucky to Catlettsburg on the Ohio
river Property was destroyed that could not be
transported, the troops were reduced to lightest
marching order, and by night we left the Gap.
Down through the defile out into the valley be-
low we marched, ten thousand men-cavalry.
artillery infantry, wagon trains-Oh! / have
seen troops march, march through our streets at
home here, when from every crowded window
and from every peopled house top proud an
loving eyes looked down, and banners waved,
and shouts of farewell smote the very
sky, and how proud the men marched
then, how soldierly they rode the pranc-
ing horses. how erect they sat upon the rum
bling caissonl On US that night only the unsee-
ing stars looked down. and from the unrespon
sive hills no voice came back to cheer Us our
way. All, but there was goodbye even there.
Down the mountain side, out into the valley,
| along the winding road the long line made its
way in the semi-darkness of the starit night,
| and then from the log-house opposite the old
| tavern. standing dark among its trees through
open door streamed ont bar of light across the
road. One stood in the low doorway, head
leaned up against the door-frame, form defined
against the freight. face in shadow--it was
Phyllis; Phyllis of the shining hair, Phyllis of
the slender waist, Phyllis with the apron on.
! And then the troops came moving on; out Of
the night, across the bar of light
| streaming from open doorway, into the night
There was trooper whose battered sabre clanked
! as he rode, and whose jaded steed needed no
curbing and gunner in faded uniform walking
| beside his black gun as it rumbIed over the
stones, and foot soldier, rife swung at will, and
smoke BACKED coffee can beating time against
| his bayonet hilt as he marched-out of the night
into the night but as they passed each turned a
bronzed face, the moment in the light, and looked
on the girl standing in the shining doorway
| head leaned up against the door-frame form de-
| fined against the fire light, face in shadow.