The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-04-11

party now and then; IOf, JHOugn the
command was well provis1oned, orders
were given to raid the country.
In charge of an expedition of this
character, Frank Besant had been un-
usually lucky, and was returning to
camp one evening when they came to a
comfortable farmhouse, whose neat
curtains and orderly out-houses prom.
ised richer plumber than their usual
fortune had brought them.
ssThere's something strange about
that house can't make out, said VIII
Ridley. Franks sergeant, and an es.
pecial favorite of the young officer.
ssNary child, nor dog, nor beast, no1
fowl about the place to give sign that
folks is living there"
s'P'r'aps some of the boys have been
here before u.s. suggested one of the
men.
ssOr the folks have left their country
residence and gone to the city fol-
change of air. grinned another.
''Over the fence, boys, and we'll soon
find OUT Frank ordered.
A laundering knock upon the front
door brought no response.
s'Bring that stick of cord-wood here
an We'll knock the old thing into kind
ling-wood,' Ridley cried.
It was a favorite means of letting poo
pie know they were honoring them with
call: for the soldier-boys did not carry
visiting-cards, and were as impervious
to 'tnot-at-homes'' as duck is to damp
feet.
Already two men stood swinging the
formidable battering~ram, which, in
another instant, would have crashed
into the massive door, when it opened,
and they saw standing before them a
p1easant-looking lady of middle age
with baby in her arrns-such a picture
Of domestic innocence, that the rough
lads sheepish1y dropped the cord-wood,
and looked like school boys caught in
some piece of mischief
':Come right in, gentlemen" she said,
free from all Embarrassment; 'swe've
sickness in the house Or / would have
come to the door at your first summons. :"
The men piled into the front room
with little ceremony.
frank was as bashful as a school boy.
''I'n sorry to intrude, ma am" he said
b}usling scarlet; ''but we must search
your house for arms and supplies--a
disagreeable duty, which we'll make as
easy as we can for you.''
II wish the minister had been at
home" the lady muttered, pensively, in
kind of ''aside." that was intended to
he heard by everybOdv
"a parsons house, jack" said one Of
the men to another. II feel kind of
mean and wish was out of it,
but others were of d rougher nature,
and had already begun to explore the
contents Of an adjoining room, when the
mother drew aside handkerchief from
the baby's face and revealed a great
scarlet blot covering the little ones
forehead and cheek. Holding the i'll
FAINT up to Franks gaze while the rest
stood staring in astonis]lment she said,
with fearful eyes:
':You sec my darling has caught it
now. DO you know any thing Of sur
gerry? Can You tell me what to Co. for
I am indeed distracted, and know not
which way to turn for help? The four
others are much worse, and my poor
husband looked awfully sick when he
left home this morning to try and get
isn't it?''
Frank stood helplessly gazing at the
babe.
"Here, Black, you're family man;
p'r'aps you can tell the lady what to do, ;"
Ridley said, pushing forward the veriest
rough of all the party.
sob, sir, if you could!'' the mother
pleaded, offering him the child.
Lord mum don't know 1othin'
about babies. What do yer think be-
the matter with 'i1rl:?" He pol1ed his
big finger caressingly On the child's
cheek as he spoke, for the sight of a
baby always touches IL tender spot in a
soldiers heart, no matter how rough he
be.
Why" the woman said, tits small
pox! One of them died a week ago;
there's four of them down with it up
stairs, and~-oh, good, kind gentlemen,
don't go; don't leave poor lone wom-
an like"
But the rest of her sentence was
never heard. Had a. regiment of Con-
federates charged upon them it couldn't
have cleared the house in quicker time
than that poor woman's words. Heller
SHELTER over hedge and ditch, they
never stopped till painting and breath
less they reached the country lane.
: "We've been an gone an done it, y
gasped Black, as soon as he could find
breath to speak. shouldn't wonder If
we're took before night. Who knows
what the SYMPTOM be?"
: Intense thirst-dryness of tongue
Frank began. for he had partly got over
his scare, and was indnlging in little
fun at the big fellows expense.
s'That's me all over" Black groaned.
''My throat's dry as dodgasted lime
kiln"
/: ssBesides Black touched the baby; l
seed him do it. He's sure to be took
first cried another Jobs comforter.
cam you stripped the covers from
them pliers IN the bedroom" Black re-
taliated. can you've got 'em in your
pocket now-blame me, if yer amt"
This pointed remark led to half a
dozen pockets being emptied on the