Morris tribune., 1886-12-29

ed yourselves as coWafuS ana llarS,
for'- his voice broke suddenlg@%"I
trusted you,"l aoi"~
There .was al ominous, threatening
stir II the lit lie tent, and several men
stepped out toward the speaker, pic
turesque in his very unpicturesque.
ness, whose grotesque figure stood out
sharply against the bit Of landscape
showing through the 0pehing Of the
tent. But, his face awed them back.
The goat turned, and moaned pitt
fully, rubbing her nose against Par
sons coat, with mute insistence. His
face softened wonderfully, he seemed
to forget the men, his anger, every
thing, and he whispered to her in soft,
caressing tones.
"You have followed me through
thick and thin, Miss Anna. When
the overflow came and we were
starving, it was you who struggled back
to us through the water, and it
was your milk that kept us alive.
Everything depended then on your
strength. We called our baby after
you, and when the poor little one died
1t cut me cruelly, cruelty. lean never
forgive this days work. Be brave,
Miss Alma, be brave" and putting
his cheek on Miss Annals head the
tears fairly rolled out of his eyes.
He stopped a minute, drawing in his
breath in short. quick, little sobs and
threw out both hands with a forlorn
gesture of abandonment.
80! great God! | was so lonely
when wife and babies all were dead,
and | loved Miss Anna them l love
her now as the one relic left inc of
that beautiful, vanished past.
Then the war came and | tried to
leave you, thinking it would be best;
but you followed me, to be ridiculed,
despised and even tortured. All the
conduct of the last week breaks over
me and see what blind fool have
been"
Parsons, you are to go on picket
duty tonight" and you had better
start now, called in the voice of our
lieutenant. The men, now thoroughly
ashamed of themselves, came nearer,
and were about to offer some heartfelt
words OF apology, but Parsons turned
away, and delivering miss Annie"
over to Orphee, said pleadingly:
"If anything should happen to me,
you will take care OF her p
Orphee's eyes filled with tears as he
pressed the extended hand.
Without another word or look Par
sons strode out into the dark.
"We're brutes, cowardly brutes, !"
said our Virginian disgustedly.
II would rather face a million Yam
KEGS than hear that mans story told
in that voice again." said another.
That night was @ weary one. We
could not forget the solemn figure, the
dark, patient face, the broken, harsh,
tender voice, and the pines above and
the river far away seemed to mingle
their grief at our cowardice and bru-
tality. Meanwhile "Miss Anna" slept
peacefully on the best blanket OF the
mess, while we lay there sleepless,
thoughtful, unhappy, even the great
er issue of the war mOmentarlIy tor.
gotten.
With the dawn came action. The
Yankees were upon us, and we foug ght
like wildcats. AS evening came on, the
fight was suspended, and when our
mess met everybody was there, "Mlss
Anna" included, except Parsons. We
had made up scheme to beg his for
giveness and to swear to begentlenen,
at least. Each Of us had separate
speech of apology to make expressive
OF shame and contrition. When night
settled down, and Parsons did not
appear, we grew anxious and sat ST.
lently around, not daring to breathe
the great fear uppermost ir our minds,
"Mlss Anna" too, walked up and
down uneasily, shifting the air and
rubbing her nose against any convent
ent shoulder. AS we sat thus, our
lieutenant called in to me
Harrison, step hera a minute"
I arose and went out little un-
steadily.
"Parsons was hurt last night, on
guard, and has asked to see you. Go
now, there isn't much time, I'm
afraid"
He turned to lead the way.
II may tell them?" l asked.
"No use," he answered shortly, as
Orphee's stricken face appeared in the
doorway.
Well, l followed him to the rude hut
selected for our hospital. 1t was
lighted by torches, had the surgeons
were busy with the men who had fall
en- in that days fight. In the farthest
corner of the room lay Parsons. |
l knelt down by him and took his
hand. He smiled family, reassuring-
ly, and whispered:
"It's not so hard-it was so quick.
you know-just a flash, q burn, and
then dull pain. Only, I lay there so
long, Harrison, and thought every
thing very clearly out, and Pm sorry.
How could those fellows know? | am
afraid lost my temper. I'm such a
devil of fellow when lose my tenn
per-" he said, pathetlcally, "and Har-
rlson, | beg your pardon, old fellow
but, Miss Anna?"
His eyes apologized amply for this
inquiry, aud | went in search OF the
men and their charge.
They followed me eagerly, and we
unconsciously fell into a procession
and moved through the door with
'Miss Anna" in our midst. 1t
must have been g. strange sight,
half dozen men and a goat march
ing solemnly up the aisle of the rude
cabin, to the credit of human nature
be it said, nobody laughed or seemed
to observe the humorous side OF the
situation.
"Miss Anna!'
The voice broke like sob across
the stiffness, and the faithful friend
pressed close to her masters side. The
strong men who had faced death sc
unAnchingly all day quivered and
shrank back before this new phase
Orphee looked longingly into the dy
ing face as the white lips murmured
of bygone days, OF baby hands and
tender wifely kisses.
"Miss Anna," the voice began
again, weakly, "the boys all know
and love her." and then sudden
ly recollecting, he turned his
eyes on the manly bearded faces
around him, and noted their moist
eyes, then with the old frank smile o.
appreciation, he muttered: "Dyine
tonight, dying tonight. Sing it, Or
phee."
The river rushed and sang, the vino
sighed airily through the sorrowfu
pines, but distinct and clear rose the