The Opelousas courier., 1892-04-30

be would 1uSS for a DAY OF
two and then announced that he was
going over to Florence to see Billy.
Nothing could break him of the habit,
and nothing could satisfy him when he
| reached the town but a visit to that same
| nd-hearted girl who had forgotten all
North. all South, in the greater problem
of suffering men. He didn't talk about
her much, but his associates knew hi
would give up one of his coal-black eye'
any day for the privilege of possessing
her. And it didn't seem unreasonable t.
expect he would win her. She received
him kindly, she treated hiw~swell; she
really appeared to love him.
The Confederates had been gradually
creeping back into Western Alabama.
They seemed to want the river and the
good towns up there, and Major Falken-
burg, who was in command of their forces
at Tuscumbia, sent over the river and
stationed two companies of men In the
town, meeting with no sort of opposi-
ton. The Union forces were massed at
Decatur now, and all through the fall
the two opposing forces relaxed the rules
of wal a little and traded coffee and
tobacco. bread and meat. and such little
things as did not give combatlve AID OF
comfort to an enemy. Big stories abou
Major Falkenburg came UP to Colonel
Phillips,s ears from the soldiers who
talked about the Johnnles, and there
was no evidence wanting that he was a
bic man where he was known.
One night in October, as a private in
the North Illinois Mounted Infantry was
swapping truck with a Confederate, he
was informed incidentally that the com
mander of the Confederate forces was
going to get married.
aWho is your Major Falkenburg going
to marrya' demanded the Northerner.
"Oh, a Miss Charity Blank, at Flor
ence. She's a regular sumner. No
nuther such a oma in all Alabama,
said the admiring Johnny.
The information dlifted up through
the various grades of loyal blue and
finally fell on the ears of Colonel Phil
lips.
Fires of Tophet!" raved the Colonel.
.sshe shan't marry him, with D risin 6 in
Election on the last pronoun, EXPIRE ssive
of the unitness of such a fate for Miss
Charity Blank. But what about it2 He
had nothing to say. He walked around
his tent and tried to think OF something
else; tried to forget this, tried to see
some way through it, tried at last to
stop the banns.
The marriage was announced for
Wednesday night al 8 o'clock, and this
was Sunday. He fused around till he
got permission to go out with another
detail Of 200 men, for 1T was well known
the Confederates were again in Florence,
Tuesday afternoon he started, made d
mastery detour, aud just before sun
down faced straight for Florence. He
struck a patch of canebr.ke about mid
night, for tie march had never been
abated for darkness. Here he hid his
men and there they stayed all night, all
day Wednesday, and just at dusk they
crept out, six miles from Florence, and
pulled for the town. The surprise was
complete. 1t still lacked an hour of s
o'clock, and when the rattle of musketry
which told of flying Confederates had
died away the Federals we're IN COM
mand.
They threw out pickets and surrounded
a good portion of the residence district,
particularly the home of old Judge
Blank, where Colonel Philips had often
visited. 1t wasn't as light as a house of
wedding ought to be, but the Colonel
dismounted and knocked at the door.
just what he meant to do nobody knew.
Maybe he will tell by now, but, having
driven away the dou 5hty M.jor, he had
little fears he could win the Majors
charnler.
Judge Blank himself answered the
at the door. His colored help
had grown too strong to work since the
Federals came down. He wasn't very
well dressed, and he was q good deal
frightened. But the familiar figure Of
Colonel Phillips treasured him.
"Why, Colonel" he said, sis it you?
Come in
1T is IT, said Philips grinly going
ir.
They entered the parlor aud sat down.
The Judge apologized for not appearing
in fuller dress, and after his apology was
accepted conversation tagged a little !.
There was nothing in the rather strained
relations Of Southern and Northern to
make them specially sociable, yet they
had frequently met on cordial terms, and
did SO again this time. But it soon hap
pened that there was nothing more to
talk about. and then Colonel Phillips re-
vealed the secret of his p~reoccupation by
asking.
HWhere is Miss gharity2n
stCharity ~ said the father, o little
surprised and a little inclined TO cultl-
.vate a twinkle in his left eye. ss0h,
she's married
aMarried ~ shouted the Colonel, leap
ING TO bis feet. 1.-THE dickensl"
seTo whom are you referring2n asked
the old man, sober in an instant, but,
carefully petite.
sfOh, TO no one-certainly not to her.
Who married hera'
ssRev. DR.. Brown, of the First Bap-
tist-s
mo; / mean to whom was she mar.
rieda1 Colonel Phillips was getting very
angry.
ITO Major ~FaIkenburg, Of the Con
federate Army. They left for TuscuInbia
last night-right after the we Iding."
The Federal officer was an extremely
angry, an awfully chagrined man. He
could have prevented that marriage, but