Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-06-08

Look, mother!" she cried, with out
etched hand.
What is it?"
"A man. He is coming this way"
The widow presently saw him. He
ne rapidly over the crest of the hill,
sel back, ran a little way down the
Pc aud then at a more deliberate
elescended to the level meadow.
is he crossed without stopping,
nbed the fence, came across the
u, and made for the house. where he
the women in the doorway.
Hetook off his cap and spoke.
May | come in? I am tired and
Fsty."
Yes" said Mrs. Gorton. "Come in. :"
Re followed them into the trim and
sittiug-room. He hesitated at the
am dirty and dusty, he said. II
not fit for so nice ROOM"
label eyed him furtively from the
cAen doorway. Her mother went
aght up to him.
You are a soldier of the Union,"
said; y see that by your dress.
have been fighting to-day in the
Tile over yonder. My husband was
led at T. rt Gonelson. You are well
be to all can give YOU"
He looked his thanks; but under
Pse powaer-stained lips and dust and
tat-begnmed features it was i'm
esio'e to tell what kind of face was
den. Yet Mabel observed that his
eS were blae and bright. and that his
:, where not matted with sweat and
was brown and curly. The widow
ed with swift compassion the ragged
eve of his blue blouse.
Are you wounded?" she asked.
y, no; but twas narrow escape.
los piece Of she'll tore blouse and
'f,sleeve, and killed the man next
but I'm not hurt.
ZONE up stairs" said Mrs. Gorton.
lay out suit of Abner's summer
ines. You shall take off this hot,
y flannel, wash yourself clean, and
on cool suit. Come, my boy; I'll
to you.
few moments the widow came
s1 again. Sudden shocks still agi-
~ the air, but they came from
u's more and more remote, and
y sunset all sounds of firing had
j. III the distance. It seemed quite
~, the widow observed, that the
1In army had the better OF it.
10 u eaole had been set for tea, when
;t 1ololer again make his appearance.
n ,n. OF the women would have
D ~ MN had he entered the room
- any other quarter than the stair
I'm he had a slight. boyish figure,
vi, WI; more boyish face, rudy cheeks,
sung eyes and mouth, and brown
mat ran in curls all over his head.
1,en the raiment of the late Alb
i, |o1fton, decidedly largo for him,
~, nt uetract particle from the manly
t 10 Y OF this Union straggler.
IT, sat at the table with them, and
Nv ~ ave ), and drank they heard his
VI the battle. A flush covered
in rat e as he eagerly sought to dis
y. 'ne character in which he feared
f., would regard him.
a1 % not deserter-not I!-and
ny "a straggler; or, if I am strag-
on .nere were hundreds more like
n a th l couldn't help it any more
"a Icy Ley could. 1 belong to the -th
|v;o aaeslment; 1 have been in the
Ss.! more than a year, and this isn't
;m mtst battle, nor my second. My
70 aens was on one of the TANKS over
Id Id s and was harder pressed than it
IoS Ssand. We fought for more than
n ; i and broke when we couldn't
lie a. ., When a regiment breaks in
ca S' JUS mighty hard to get the
pds,o sogether, now. I tell you! ]
Fe u a bss. of this way, wanting to
| or ~seath and get a drink of water,
got here before I knew where ]
pun shouldn't have thrown away
II 'onfu-nut," and he laughed, "the
" soldiers get demoralized some