Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-01-21

an we'll knock the old thing into kind
Haywood" Ridley cried.
II was favorite means Of letting peo-
Pic know they were honoring them with
. CALI for the soldier-bcys did not carry
yiriting.cnrds, and were as impcrvious
20 'not-at-homes" as duck Ia 20 damp
feet
Already two men stood swinging the
formidable battcring-ram, which, In
snother instant, would have crashed
into the massive door, when II opened,
and they saw standing before them a
pleasant. looking lady Of middle age
with baby In her arfns-such picture
Of domestic innocence, that the rough
lads sheepishly dropped the cord-wood
aud looked like school boys caught in
some piece Of mischief.
"Come right In gentlemen she said
frea from all embarrassment; we've
eickness In the house or ] would have
come 20 the door at your first summons"
Tho men piled into tho front room
with little ceremony.
Frank was ns bashful rs a school boy
"i'm sorry 10 intrude, mat am, - he said.
biushing scarlet; but we must search
your house for arms and supplies--a
disagrccablc duty, which Wen make rs
easy as We can for you"
II wish the minister had been at
home" the lady muttered, pcnsivcly, In
. kind Of aside" that was intended 10
b heard by everybody.
"a parsons house, jack" said one Of
the men 10 another. ~ feel kind Of
mean and wish was out Of IT,"
But others were Of roughcr nature,
and had already begun TO explore the
contents Of m adjoining room, when the
mother drew aside handkerchief from
the baby's face and revealed u great
scarlet blot covering the little ones
forehead and check. Holding the In.
fant mp 10 Franks gaze while the rest
stood staring In establishment she said,
with fearful eyes:
you see my darling has caught II
now. DO you know any thing Of sur.
gerry Can you tell me what 10 do, for
lam indeed distracted, and know not
which way to turn for help3 The four
others arc much worse, and my poor
husband looked awfully sick when he
left home this morning 10 try and get
medical aid. It's enough 10 craze one,
isn't it7'
Frank stood helplcssly gazing at the
babe.
"Here, Black, you're family man;
p'r'sps you can tell the lady what TO do"
Ridley snid, pushing forward the vericst
rough Of all the party.
"Oh, sir, II You could!'' the mother
pleaded, offering him the child
Lord, NUM- ! don't know nothin
about babies. What do yer think he
tho matter with imp lie poked his
big finger cnressingly ON tho child's
check as he spoke, for the sight of n
baby always touches tender spot in a
soldiers heart, no matter how rough he
be.
why" the woman said, tits small
pnx! One OF them died q week ago;
there's four ~ them down with II up
stsira, and-oh, good, kind gentlemen,
don't goi don't leave a poor lono wom-
an like"
hut the rest Of her sentence was
never heard. Had a regiment OF Con-
fedoratos charged upon them II couldn't
have cleared the house In quicker time
than that poor womnn's words. Heller
sfelter 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,"
sasped Black, as soon as he could find
breath 10 speak. shouldn't wonder II
we'ro took before night. Who knows
what the sym'toms be?'
Intense thIrst-dryness Of tongue"
Frank began, for he had partly got over
bis scare, and was indulging in little