Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-03-17
The Col. Of the Fourth
A Story of the Late War.
eY BERNARD n1oseY.

SO, Frank thought, the mystery
thickcns, and James Lawson is some
how or other mixed up in it: yet, how
the deuce could he know any thing
about it. Surely Charlie Fulton, with
all his folly, could never have been so
rash as to use this worthless fellow as
q go-between; but such a misfortune
was quite possible, for Lawson was in
Charities company, and had all the
shrewdness to worm himself into TIE
young officers comic ence, if once the
chance were offered i'm.
Meanwhile Rev. Abel Grecn-or
Parson Abe, as his rural admirers so
lovingly called him was hustllng his
old mule along at a vrry unclerical pace
and using some very unsanctimonious
expression every til le the poor beast
attempted to slacl1en its speed, so that
in three-quarters of an hour he was
nearly six miles fro n the spot where
his dear compatrio's from the North
were making ready for their descent on
the hospitable inha itants of Winstan-
ley. Turning from he road into the
woods at q gap in a nee which seemed
familiar to him, LH cantered along
under the trees till lie reached clear
ing, where sight presented itself that
would have charmt d an artist in its
picturesque aspect three hundred dis
mounted Confederaf cavalrymen, re-
Ginning here and thee in little groups,
while their horses re busily cropping
the sweet grass, Inch grew on the
bank of stream. hardly pausing to
give the sentry IL countersign, he
rode straight to a l. aot of officers, who
hailed him gleefully.
"Hullo, Lascellcs what news from
the Yanks?"
sold them into bondage like his
brethren did JOSEF. 1" he laughed, as
he sprang from tn saddle with the
elasticity of youth. Say, boys, mother
was always down Ga our private the
atricals, but I allow she'd clap her
hands if she'd only seen me play this
pious role to-day"
A roar of laughter greeted this brill
liant sally, which was somewhat
checked, however, b. the approach of a
man older than the rest, whose stern
features showed that he did not share
the general merriment.
"Such madcap tricks as these, Las
celles,' he said, in grave tone of ex-
postulation, do not meet my approval,
and will not have repetition of them.
Besides, the game is not worth the
candle, for If those Yanks had found
you out, they would have, very proper
", strung you up to a bough of the first
tree they came to, and can not afford
to have my best officers run such risks.
I allow, if you'd played the role in
tragedy, instead of comedy, your
mother would hardly have appreciated
your histrionic ability as keenly as you
imagine"
The young man was abashed.
''Besides," the senior continued, "do
you think your action quite in accord
ance with the high repute for chivalry
this corps has ever enjoyed? However
as the folly has been perpctrated let me
hear the result of your escapade."
The young man told his story, but
somehow or other all the fun seemed tc
be frozen out of the adventure by his
superior's austere criticism.
"Wen, you have done one good thing
| for us at any rate. You have drawn
the enemy from the woods into the open
and we can bag them by night attacl
on Winstanley as easily as catching
rabbits in net"
As he strobe away, one of the officer:
slapped Lascelles on the shoulder, al
he gayly cried:
Don't grizzle. old man. Nat Halves
never had more appreciation of a prac
teal joke in his nature than there il
blood in Norfolk oyster. In my opin
ion you have done u very plucky, com
mendable thing, and there are brightel
eyes than old Mats will CLEAN approva
when the story's tolt at Nashville.