, 1889-10-10


distracted after such conversations.
one day in August, when the heat
seemed more than usually oppressive
and not even n leaf stirred In the hot,
inotionlcss air the young. officer was
called In the discharge of his duty to
cross the river 10 Algicrs, tn report upon
tho condit ion of some of the one Hun.
drod and Thirteenth men in the hospital
at that place. He found several very ill
and one poor boy dying, whose death he
well knew would break the heart of an
Invalid mother in the North. The officer
watched until the last breath left the
cmnciatcd frame of the boy who had
suffered more from Illness than others
had from wounds. sSutlering seemed the
lot of n soldier, whether 1t came through
shot and shell or saber cut, or from tho
deadly malaria of Southern swanps,
and all this borne without "A murmur.
Men were ashamed to complain so
long as lilc was spared, and there was
ever. straw of hope to cling to while
looking forward to u speedy termination
OF the war and return to home and loved
ones.
Lieutenant Rank turned away from
the face of the dead, and with tears in
his dark eyes, wrote u few lines to that
distant mother telling her that her only
and loved son was no more.
The letter went ON It's sad mission
NilllN NIt lltulcndllV sluIlttl W TtNuTll W
the city TO report at the GONZALES
cent camp, which he never reached.
The air was soft and mild although
the time was late in November; the
scene Il secluded wooded nook on the
border ola sluggish stream, where broken
stuinps and cypress trees lust lifted
brown heads above the dark water, and
the trees stretched forth long arms, from
winch hung icstoons and banners OF
trailing moss. The gloomy silence Of
the forest on the one hand was unhrokon
by sound of bird note, or even the whirr
of insects wings. ON the higher land,
which stretched away in natural
meadow, stood n poor little cabin, tho
home OF some woodman, but now de-
serted by The owner.
On II rude couch lay young man; his
clothing was II mixture of confederate
gray and union blue, while n nondcscript
hat had fallen from his head, leaving
Il broad, white brow exposed and u mass
of dark brown curls falling nearly to his
shoulders. Tie lower portion of his face
was concealed toy heavy whiskcrs and
inuslachc. The man was sleeping and
an old negro bent over him in apparent
anxiety, muttcring, "FOah de Eawd, 1t
am -uah MarSc Rulston, den wha' for
hc don't know his ole Flam2"
The sleeper opened his eyes and they
rested upon the negro with u vague, uu-
conscious glance that brought pained
look to the old face. "Say now, honey
you'cz woke UP mighty pcart an yc
feels bcttor now, and I'll jist make n cup
of shuah enlii coffee an hitll cure yo
up. Nou'ez been powerful sick, Marse
NnrncN, tell ye, but when we git yo
home TO the old place you'll git clar
WE'LL
The negro hustled about, placing a tin
pOrringer on tho Goals sinouldcring in
the mud and stick fireplace, and In u
short time tho aroma of coffee pene-
trated the little cabin, arousing the list
less man to unwonted activity. eli
you darkcy, that coffee smells we'll, lets
know how 1t will taste, said the young
man IN an impatient tone. The colored
man turned with rcpToachful eyes, say
ing, "Alurse Nurney, can't yo call me
uncle ltlam jist ye yuse ter in de ole
timosW "flam, Flam, Flambcau," ,"
muttorcd the young man softly.
~ cs, dat am dc hull name, Marso
| Narncy, ] knowod yer'd tink it all out
9rtcra time; dat,s dc name ole Marse
liulston give me-"
ION what nonsense you do talk. Flam.
| beau Is no name, IL is a torch, lust ear.
ried in II procession, by club, yoi
know said the man patronizingly.
But IL they call YOU Flam It's all right,
and II call you So, although you do in.
siSt hat | ought To know you, when |
don't, for you never shed the light oi
your visage. upon me before this week,
my honest Flambeau."
Wal, Marsc Narney, we won't talk nc
NOAH bout hit, but If you arn't Marsc
Nurney Ralston, who be yep
'Jupe, tell you I've been ill and |
don't seem to fecollcct who ! am, OF
where ! belong, and l feel strangely,
wherever | GO"
But say, didn't we have horscP"
YES, Marse Nnrncy. dars so, we had
a horse, EN- if ye feel better we'll 20 on
and git the horse aiore night"
IAN right old follow, Just trot out
your old nag said the young man,
"9nd we'll start for somewhere, any
where out OF the world, or in II, and see
if | can find some one know"
flum hustcnod away, soon appearing
with handsome horse, suldltd, ready
for " Journey and fOrlorn looking
mule.
"Well, hero we are, ready for another
start, for nowhere in particular, sup
pose said the uncertain person, stand
ing beside the horse and lookisg admir-
ingly at it.
Fine animal wherever he came from -
The negro shook his head dubiously.
81 cOtcncd him Marsc Narney, one day
One day artcr found YOU, don't yot,
member? An | allowed il mout be q
ossifer's hoss runnod away"
81 told YOU once that cannot recall
all these things, | believe all you tell
me, Jupc, because | know have been
| i'll, and know my head is not right yet,
but shall come out all right yet, | feel
sure"
''Suah just as soon ms ye git home an
see old mi~see an young missCc an all
dc folks, yen be. right smart agn."
The journey that had been for days
delayed was resumed, and just aitei
MONDAY, as they approached lint
looking house on Il large plantation
along which they had been for some
| time riding, the young man said to his
/ companion, for the negro appeared this
| more than servant: "l'lam, If that l.
what | must call you, do you think We
could get Il dinner ut this house?"
81 dunno, marso, s'poso | 20 on and
AK 'em, he replied, and rs the young
man reined up under the shade of i
large tree the negro rode up confidently
to the house and asked to sec Mrs
| Fletcher, who came out ON the porch
from the open doors whence she hac
seen their approach. "Why, Flam
where did you come from? We hcarc
| you had gone for Contraband.h
Flam pulled his wool as he said: "No
Missec Fletcher, | dun gone ter fine
Marse Varney, an / dun i'm him.
what! Is that Varney Ralston'
Why does he not come in3' said Mrs
Fletcher.
"Marse Varncy been powerful sick,
said flam improssiyely, "an' nigh onto
doil, he has, ain he hain't rickovered il
his head yet an lie don't want ter talk
but ! knowed ye'd ask him ter cum il
a.,