Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-02-13

followed me. Right toward the blazing
line we ran.
"All at once I saw the colonel, who
was riding by me, grasp the coloru, for
they were falling. 1 looked and saw
chat my hand, my whole arm was gone,
and 1 J hadn't felt it'll I grabbed the flag
in my left hand.
" 4 can curry the colors yet, COLONEL
/ said. I dOa't feel any pain
81 van on sorte fifty steps, when the
blood began spouting from my shout
der. dropped. Joe Ashe, one Of the
color guards. snatched the flag, and they
all rushed on.
II fell senseless. / never knew an
other thing Gil weeks after. when / woke
up one day IN Chimborazo hospital and
found some funny looking ladies' in black
bonnets. tlnlt the boys called che sis
tiers, bending overme. IL il hadn't been
for their good nursing, 1 should have
died"
Perkins ceased. He hal been so car
ried away by the interest he felt in his
own narrative that he had gone quite
beyond his auditor.
But tell me, joe jennie eagerly
askeG-shc had been in9atienJly waiting
for an opportunity for somo minutes
'tell me, did You ever find your arm
that you droppod?"
mo: to be sure not. Inever went to
look for it."
"You couldn't fasten it on again, them"
ftnN fnn~s4aa. -saN .1sf11 . 800 -
jointed doll"
what a pity you couldn't. said the
child. "What a pity! And how do you
manage to dress yourself AMI tie your
cravat and shoes:' she asked, for she had
been burning to make these inquiries
ever since she had seen the one armed
confederate.
TWAS awkward at 6rst, but l learned
at last odoi t wi5h tle helpo OF my teeth"
Bat how when yol get old aad lose
'em?" said jennie, who was Of an inves-
tigating mind.
Providence viii raise me up some
other way" he sail with a pathetic smile.
9TH have my wife to wait on mo"
ITO be sure. l forgot; Miss Mary Jane
will What did she say?'
Il got n Of the sisters to write her
for me. and 1 set her free. / said /
wouldn't bind her to a poor cripple like
me-"
"And she said no, fir-ree! 1 'spose, F"
cried Jennie, full Of fiery zeal for her
new friend.
"scmething to that effect" said Joe,
smiling.
"She wrote me tiat she loved me more
with one arm than she ever had done
with two. And whenever l could get
home she was ready" Here Joe's eyes
filed and he gazed steadily in the water,
"Well, now, Joe, said Jennie. who
was suddenly struck with a bright idea.
maybe il you would lose both arms
she'd love you betterer and betterer."
Il believe rm satisfied with what she
feels now said Joe, laughing.
But why hain't you married?' con-
tinued Jennie, pursuing her investige-
lions.
Because 1 first hal to get well. and
then l had TO get something to 60. !
had been a mechanic, and | couldn't
work ut my trade with my LETT hand.
So Capt Ramsey gave me q place on his
boat. and I've been trying to learn how
to write, so That 1 can keep his,books. l
think I'm doing pretty well. See"
He drew from his pocket a little blank
book in which We're scrawled divers
m%croglyphics, at which he gazed COM
placently.
"Why, yes said Jennie approviugly,
There's q & with the cross mark, and
there is X with his broken back, ana
tiat's an IL l know him by his eye
bros. You see L can read a little she
sail proudly.
80 l see, said he, laughing and put
Ting up his book. CHOW I must go.
The sun has set. It is time for me to
see after things for the night"
He strol,ed Jcnnie's curly head with
his left hand, and walked away, softly
singing in his mellow voice, My Own
Mary Ann"-Paul Grant in Atlanta
Constitution.