Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-01-28

They watched aim ascend IIe hnis'u0
TIL he disappeared at turn in the road,
and then started back TO camp.
"Ilc sat in his saddle like trooper"
the Major critically obsorvcd land
what a splendid physique the old fellow
hast Say, Frank, do honestly think
those itinerant preachers are after all
the true soldiers OF Christ, suffering as
they do toll, privation and discomfort
mills name. They may be illiterntc,
but, hang me, II they're not In earnest
But FRANKS thoughts were on another
subject.
MAY I speak 10 Charlie about this
unpleasant matter we wcrr talking Of
sir2 Perhaps n word Of warning might
bring him 10 his senses"
Certainly not" was the stern re-
ply. "My hands are 80 tied now by
promises have given to you and others,
that am not in position 60 confront
him with proofs Of his folly. Rcmcm-
her, / rely upon your silence and
watchfulncss- must be no lack ~
confidence between MS two now or ever
again. And your asking me this, re-
minds me 10 inquire what sort Of q fcl.
low is james Lawson, who claims 10 be
a companion Of your early duys.'
"Well," Frank hcsitntcd, for he hated
10 set the Major against his old play
mate by speaking the open truth, hes
not an intensely moral young man,
bcleve--in fact"
"a bit Of scamp. Al, judged US
much, and Major Hopkins hurried away
TO his duties
So, Frank thought, the mystery
thickcns, and James Lawson Is some.
how or other mixed up In II. yet, how
the deuce could lac know any thing
about II. Surely Charlie Fulton, with
all his folly. could never have been so
rash us TO use this worthless fellow as
go-hetwccn; but such misfortune
was quite possible, for Lawson was in
Charles company, and had all the
shrcwdness to worm himself into tho
young officers confidence, II once the
chance were offered him.
Meanwhile Rev. Abel Green or
Parson Abe, us his rural admirers so
lovingly called him-wns husthnR his
old mule along at u very unclcrical pace
and using some very unsanctimonious
expression every time the poor beast
attempted to slackcn It's speed, 10 that
in thrcc-qunrtcrS Of an hour he was
nearly nix miles from the spot where
his dear compntriots from the North
were making ready for their descent ON
the hospitable inhb bitants Of Winstnn-
ley. Turning from the road into the
woods at gap In II fence which seemed
familiar 10 him, he cantcrcd along
under the trees till he reached u clear
ing. where sight presented itself that
would have charmed an artist in its
picturesque aspcct-thrcc hundred dis
mounted Confederate cnvnlrymcn, re-
clining here and there In little groups,
while their horses were husily cropping
the sweet grass, which grew ON the
bank OF Stream. Hardly pausing 20
give tho sentry the cuuutcrsign, he
rode straight to u knot Of officers, who
hailed him glcciully.
"lIullo, Lascellcs, what news from
the Yanks?'
"Sold them into bondage like his
brethren did Joseph lac laughed, rs
he sprnng from the saddle with the
elasticity Of youth SAY, boys, mother
was always down on our private the
ntricals, but | allow she'd clap her
hands II she'd only seen me play this
pious role to-day"
A roar Of laughter greeted this brill
liant sally, which was somewhat
checked, however by the approach Of a
man older than the rest, whose stern
features showed that he did not share
the general mcrrimcnt
"Such madcap tricks rs these, Las
cclles," he said, in grave tone of cx-
postulation, Edo not meet my approval,
and will not have repetition of them.
Besides, the game h not worth the
candle, for IL those Yanks had found
you out, they would have, very proper
ly, strung you up to a bough Of the first
tree they came 10, and can not afford
TO have my best officers run such risks.
allow, II you'd played the role in
tragedy, instead OF comedy, your
mother would hardly have appreciated
your histrionic ability as leenly as You
imagine"
The young man was abashed
"Bcsides," tho senior continued, "do
you think your action quite in accord
ance with the high reputc for chivalry
this corps has ever enjoyed? However,
rs the folly has been pcrpctratcd let me
hear the result of your escapade."
The young man told his story, but
somehow or other all the fun seemed TO
be frozen out of the adventure by his
superior's austere criticism.
"Well, you have done one good thing
for us ut any rate. You have drawn
the enemy from the woods into the open,
and we can bag them by night attack
on Winstanley as easily as catching
rabbits IN n net"
As he strobe away, one of the officers
slapped Lascelles on the shoulder, as
he gayly cried;
Don't grizzle, old man. Nat Halves
never had more appreciation Of u prac-
teal Joke In his nature than there Is
blood In Norfolk oyster, In my opin.
ion you have done u very pluclSy, COM
mendable thing, and there are brighter
eyes than old Mats will CLEAN approval
when the story's told at Nashville"
CHAPTER XII,
NIGHT ATTACK.
'Winstanley Is not much Of place, Z"
Frank Besant said, US they marched
that September afternoon up the one
dusty street that constituted the main
portion Of the miserable village, whose
Bqualid houses and sallow, unwhole-
some inhabitants seemed from their
signs OF decay TO be unworthy the no.
tice of friend or foe No wonder Bragg
had not stayed his march to pillage so
contemplate u community, rs II was
really only settlement of unhealthy