Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-12-15


pits double breasted waistcoat served
N lieu of coat, and an old wooden
nat covered his head to the back of his
neck
"Them blue clothes looks kinder peart
to we uns down hyar ez amt seen
nothen but gray" said the man. 81
lowed when you uns went up ter Chat
tenoogy last June and fired them big
guns at the town " was goen to hold
onto these hyar parts"
perhaps it was mistake" said
Mark, "but / never critiCise the acts Of
my superiors."
Como inter tn house"
Tho dwelling was composed Of two
Equare log houses, some ten feet apart,
under ono roof, with floor between
the two The man led Mark into ono
Of these parts or houses. The articles
in it that struck the soldiers eye were
very high bedstead, heightened fur
Their by a feather bed; n chest Of draw
ers, and q clock on the mantle that
licked loud enough to be heard out in
tho barn. There were some pieces OF
rag carpet on the floor, two or three
hard seated chairs and rocker.
"What y got fur SUPPER tho old
man asked az his wife entered.
81 don't want any supper" said the
soldier. 81 only ate an hour or two
ago"
The woman, who was bent down
through some nervous disease, went to
the chest of drawers. took therefrom q
cob pipe and some tobacco and began to
smoke.
Much shaken among the sojers,
stranger" she asked.
AT the beginning of fight there's
good deal" replied Mark, "but after
they're once in they get on without much
trouble"
Don't mean that kind of shaken
ager."
"Oh, ague. No, don't think there's
much ague."
Fever"
"There's always more Or less camp
fever. 1t seems as if every man who
campaigns in this country must have d
dose of typhoid to get acclimatod."
"Thar's powerful lot O fevers bout
hyar. Thar's tho typhoid, the broken
bone, the internitten and the remitten,
and onct en- awhile we git yaller jack
when it comes up the Mississippi from
Orleans"
That's good deal of fever" re-
piled Mark; "but, to come down to bust
ness. | want to say few words TO you
people. You're sure you're Union:'
"Sarten," said the old man.
81
pany of east Tennesseeans,' said the old
woman. Il hearn tn all had the mea-
sles in tn spring. Henery he'd it,"
Yes, that regiment was nearly all
down at one time. Now, I'm going on
very dangerous mission. May | rely
on-who are your
a boy about thirteen years OF age had
come into the room, and squaring him
self before Mark began to stare at him.
Jake" replied the intruder, Il have
something of Importance to say to your
father and mother" Then 10 the par
ents, "Won't you please send him OUT"
jest $ y like, stranger" answered the
father, but mebbe Jake mougnt show
y tn way or somcpn. He's purity
peart'
Jake's appearance did not bear witness
to the encOmium.
"Well, let him stay. | would like to
rely on this house as Il place Of refuge in
case have to get back here rapidly. |
want you to take care of my horse, and
il | never come you can keep him. If |
do come I'll pay you more literally for
horse fodder than you ever were paid be-
fore
"Y' talk purity rich fer a common
sojer.'
Don't fear for that. l have money"
and Mark showed q roll of bills that
astonished his host.
"Do you agree
"Sarten, but the money don't make
no differ. I'm Union man to the back
bone
"Have you any citizens clothes:'
"Thar's Henery's store clothes ez he
left when he Went to jine tn army
"Will they fit me-
"RecSon so. Henery's bout your size"
Slack tool; the soldier into the twin
log cabin and there gave him suit Of
clothes which We're intended for best
wear, DtI tltO iIttl GNlOtIllN Dttl 50 III
tended for years, with frequent devia-
tons from the intention. Mark took off
his uniform, which. with his rifle and PTS
tol and other announcements, he put under
the bed. Then ne drew off his boots so
loose that he could easily remove them
without unbuckling his spurs and put
on a pair Of shoes. \ felt hat completed
his attire.
LA sakes!' said Souri,, raising her
hands az she met him passing between
the cabins, thus arrayed for secret serv-
ice.
As Mark entered the room where he
had left Mrs. Slack and Jakey their eyes
stood out wonderingly. Jakey's admira-
ton for the soldier in uniform had been
great, but one who could suddenly trans
form himself was an object Of curiosity.
MI Slack followed Mark into the room.
Now how about the road:' asked
Mark.
"Whar:'