Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-11-20
,n in Politics devoted to Literature Local and General News

"Guide me, oh, Thou great Jehoval.' >
He will guide you, if you believe and
trust in Him.
They promised her, and the battle
cloud that swept the land bore them
from her sheltering arms
The last thing they saw was her
slender figure standing upon the porti'
co, with smile upon her beautiful face
which nearly cost her hearts blood.
That night they marched out Of
Maryland.
Two years later dark young man
in uniform that would have been tat.
tered but for repeated and skillful darn.
ing, stood before his commanding Off
Ger.
"Well, Sergeant Singleton, what do
you want ?" said the veteran kindly
for the mon commissioned officer was a
great favorite.
81 want leave for two days, Major,
and no questions asked. I want to get
back my brother. who was taken priso-
ner in the last skirmish. The enemy
camp, you know, is only twenty miles
from here"
"Do you wish to be taken and hung
for spy" was the officers stern an
swer.
"Well, sir, must run my chances,
as many another fellow has done. |
can't leave Rupert without making an
effort to saye him, and l have scheme
which Is sure to work.
Wilton Singleton was only nineteen,
but his pluck and BRAINS had gained for
him great deal Of respect. He was a
natural soldier, cautious and, above all
accomplishing.
He had risen to be Sergeant, and was
soon to be made Lieutenant.
"Tell me your plan," pursued the
Major, trying to hide his admiration
under an appearance of grutlness.
ut is something l would rather talk
about after it is accomplished" the boy
replied. with a tinge Of bashtulness in
LIS usually frank manner.
The Major gave the required permis-
sion and the Sergeant went out.
He took oil his uniform and iii few
moments bore no resemblance to the
trim young official who had entered the
tent.
He had borrowed from some of the
nclghboring country youths a blue
blouse shirt and a pair OF linen pants.
He took off his shoes and stockings and
pulled his short black hair down over
his forehead, which was too intellectual
for the role he intended to play.
A torn hat Of dirty straw, aud a bag
made of coffee sack, which he was
going to sling over Lis shoulder, CON-
pleted the picture.
This bag contained queer collection
of articles which were very useful later.
TO look at the Sergeant in this dis
guise was to behold pumpkin Of the
lowest class.
No soldier would give him mo-
ment's thought, and, if he did, the
Tennessee dialect would haye deceived
a native.
Wilton was born mimic. He stop.
ped at his Captains tent.
HAS you 'uns got airy thing for
we 'uns ter do?' he said, with an lnde
scrbable drawl.
"Come back alive, boy" answered
the Captain Il would 90 with you, but
it would only increase the danger
1t WAS about 1880 in the morning.
The hot summer day WAS before him.
and also the twenty miles which stretch
ed between him and the river, on the
far side of which the enemy lay en-
camped.
He chose the open road, and after an
hour of walking wagon rumbled by
He begged for ride and obtained it.
By noon he was ten miles on his way.
They gave him buttermilk and q colo
corn dodger ut @ farmhouse where he
stopped. He ate heartily of the coarse
food, as heroic natures Go, for the pur-
pose of keeping up his strength.
AS he stepped out into the sun the
heart of the farmers wife went out tc
him.
"Be you agoin' fur?' she called.
Il be agoin' down ter the rlyer tc
Uncle Job Atkins. We'un's COW all
aiing like, and ma, she low uucle Jol
sot her all right onct before. He give
her some 'yarbs.'
The woman reflected. She had foul
horses IN the pasture.
81 amt got no saddle round handy
but I might mex out to lend yer a rope
l. - t,l