The Portland daily press., 1892-09-20
A FAIR BLOCKADE BREAKER.
By t. c. De Leon.


COrp'ral-ga-aC! Post number one
called the impatient sentry, as his mus
ket ratified to charge"
There was sound of feet approaching
at run; then the thick voice growled:
"Vot fur vos you yelling, Shones?
HAT you found Something's, ain'd id?''
''Challenged, and no countersign!"
the sentry replied.
''Dismound, vrend, und geefe der
gounderzine, the corporal ordered,
throwing his lantern above his head
and dinaly showing the two women on
the trap.
"Wudn't ye come an git it, Misther
Kraut?" was the unmilitary rejoinder.
s@Th' likes O. ye, be thratin' ladies wild
shroall considdyrayshin. shure What
wad the gin'rl beyant, as gin us TIL
pass, be sayin av' SIGH thratement?''
Coon dot Wagon down und geef der
gounderzinea" the German recruit
growled back "Coom down Hike der
dcffel SO fastt'
''Dismount, If you have the word, "
Carolyn Clay whispered low.
"Divvil a tuti" was the return whisper,
with the addition aloud: Here It be,
Mishter Dutchy. writ by the gin'ril all
over tn paper!''
Hesitant between newly-learned dis
ciptine and tho glamour of oft-repeated
title, the green non-commish. advanced
cautiously towards the wagon, peering
keenly under his uphfted lantern.
Grasping tho extended paper. he read it
laboriously with one eye, while trying
to fix the other on the two women.
dot vos all ride" he said at length,
handing back the paper. "You may
proceed"
The sentry stepped aside, facing and
coming to ''carry," but the cart did
not moves and Miss Clay trembled, lest
the gulp from the flask had done its
work.
''vell, What for you vos vaiding?" the
corporal asked, impatientfy. Shaping
his arms for warmth.
'By me sowl, ye,re dariin'i" was the
retort. Didn't ye ask fur it-fue
some av tn country signp" And the
driver extended the flask, in full light
Of the lantern, adding: eye naden't re-
fuse. It do be the rale craythur."
With puclsering lips and quick glance
towards his inferior, the new levy low
cred his light, seized the flask and took
one huge gulp, wiping his mouth on his
overcoat cape as he handed it back.
'Ye're not afther bein' name emo to
leave out yer parthner?" the owner Of
the liquid asked. 'It do be cowld emo,
I'm thinlxin', to make m made a dhrop."
Again, in tho struggle between disci-
pine and natural good-nature. disci-
pline went down, and the German
stepped off into darkness. A quick
grounding OF arms, a pause; then he re-
appeared, again wiping his own mouth,
as he returned the flask.
'sDot vos foine, foinei" he said, in
friendly confidence. "Now you vos vree
to bass on"
''Shure an I will, darlin'i It's mono
too warrum here" was tho answer.
''An', be tn same token, I'll shpare =
,dhrop av tn country sign till tn next
wan of yez as shtops ne."
"Dere vos bud cine more biclxid, the
man replied. "Dey win shtand der Nord
1OO0 OI1, uOh AAstkA CnScC
''T'll shpahe to i'm beyant. Plisint
dhrames, darhnT'
The horse trotted merrily by the
dimly-outlined sentry, and the deep
sigh OF relieved suspense burst from the
lips Of Carolyn Clay, as they sped on
ward through the gloom.
WHY did you delay so7'' she asked,
at last. TT was very risky"
Simply to ascertain which fork of
the road to take, Miss Clay"
''Wfslie Mckee," The girls amaze
ment even then did not raise her voice,
In the exclazna5ion.
"At your service" he answered,
cheerily. 1.-THE adjutent general lied
to me: did not expect to meet any
piokets. But we have struck the south
fork now; it's not picketed, evidently;
and you will be safe at old Pete's cabin
before sunrise"