The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-12-12

hands. The Ma or was so amazed that
he actually bit off the mouthpiecc of his
pipe stem in fit of anger; but this Sc
we're action did not return to us the
flower Ct the regiment.
Just before sunset a sentry on the road
startled all of us, as we lay behind the
works, by shouting:
"Oflicer of the guard Flag of truce
comingw
We all sprang upon the parapet, and
saw emerging from the forest, nearly half
a mile away, horse, rider, and tiny
white rag. The Major raised his glasses,
pecrcd through them a moment, dropped
them, and exclaimed:
"That flag is carried by woman"
Then all Of us wished we had glasses.
The rider advanced slowly, until we
could see that she was not armed; then
that she had a fine figure, and finally
that she was young and pretty.
"Wauts protection for her property,
l suppose" growled the Major. "Those
raiders are probably cleaning out the
famly's barn and smokehouse, there
being nobody at home but women and
children. What do they suppose few
infantry can do against nobody knows
how many cavalry"
Nevertheless he went slowly out,
alone, to meet her, at which Glennie's
Captain exclaimed:a
This isn't according to custom. Who
| knows but she's young man, disguised,
and will drop the Major with a pistol:
Come on, boyssp
Several of us followed him. AS we
saw him twirlng the ends of his mus
tache and tipping his hat slightly to one
side, we followed his example in these
respects also. We overlook the ma or
just as the rider halted, looked very
| pale, and said:
ait wasn't his fault, sir-really it
wasn't"
'Whose fault, madam~ said the
maj raising his hat.
"Mr. Glennie's, " said the girl.
"Ohl Confound it! l mean-so
they got him, did theyW
"Oh, no, sir, but he wishes they had.
And they would have done, only
only -"
"Well, madam"
"Only they were prevented" 's-
'Indeedl How was that"
"Why, you see, sir, he stopped at our
| house, Just for n drink of water, and
while he was standing by the well, the
hangers"
"Gangersm
ayes, sir; the Texas cavalry-they
came across the hill Just then He
started to run this way, but-but-"
"Well"
The girl looked down q moment, COZ
ored, raised her head, and then said
rapidly:
] uI Ala H., L. ,,,o,,1J ,,o,,or c,oI 4boro
alive. l said they were..Qs hundFeaat
one, and ned surety be Killed. I'm a
true Southern woman, sir; my father is
Captain Grayson, of the artillery bat
/ talon, but don't believe murder is war.
So | made him come into the house. He
! declared he wouldn't; death was moth
ing to duty. But made him come in"
Indeed? What arguments did you
use, may l ask?"
Again the girl looked down and col
ored deeply. Some of the young officers
began to exchange winks.
''He declared he wouldn't" the girl
resumed, "but made him. He strug-
gled with all his might, but"
81 beg your pardon for interrupting,
said the Major, biting his lip, "but-he
escaped, then"
"Yes, sir, but not a second too soon.
hadn't moro than got him into the
hogshead--"
"Hogshead"
"Yes, sir, big sugar hogshead in
the cellar, that we had meant to keep
sweet potatoes in-when two of the
Rangers came in the front door. They
said they'd seen a Yankee at the well,
/ and wanted him. l told them he had
seen them, and made dash for his own
lines. He really did, you know, for a
step or two, when-when--"
"When you warned him of his dan
ger"
eyes, sir. Well, they took my word,
when l told them who my father was,
and they went away"
"Ah! Where are the Rangers nowl"
"They went back-I don't know
where-hours ago"
"And caught him as they went!"
"Oh, no, sir: they couldn't. But he
was in dreadful excitement. lie said
he had no right to be outside the lines !;
he could be court-martialel for it, and
disgraced, and maybe shot, if things
went wrong in the fight. He went on so
that | wouldn't listen to him. and was
afraid some of the Rangers might come
back and hear him, so l wouldn't stay
and listen to him."
"But why didn't he return after they
retiredW
"Because he couldn't, sir. Wouldn't
let him l didn't want him to be court
martialed aud shot, and all of those
dreadful things, so thought it would
be only right to come and tell you it
wasn't his fault"
1.-THE enemy has been gone for several
hours" said the Major, turning with a
suspicious look to us. 'Tm afraid there's
some ruse in this" Then he turned
again to the girl and sternly said
"Young woman, if your story is true, he
should have returned by this time. He
knows he has nothing to fear and there
is nothing to prevent him coming back,
if he knows the enemy have disap,
peared."
"Oh, yes, there is, sir; there's cover
to the hsgshead and a.padlock beside"
I "Oh-h-h!' said the Major, with
many infections. "He's your prisoner,
| is he, But, heavens. madame, if he has
/ been locked in a hogshead all this time,
he's probable sutIocated. Confound--"
ooh, no. said the girl with an assur-
ing smile. "There's a big bupg-hole TO
/ the hogshead, and know he has sense
enough to breathe through it, because
when | went down and WHISPERED