Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-04-06

musingIy said: ''Do you know, Fred, what has become of our old classmate, Sydney Temple, of Charleston2 A splens did fellow he was. Do you remember how he licked that big bully, Tom White, the day of our great match with the Neptune2"
 ''Well, should think sol Tom was too old and heavy for any of us and was running the whole game to suit himself, and when Syd said he was wrong in ruling point against him he called the fiery southerner liar. Syd knocked him heels over head quicker than light ming and then belted him till he roared for mercy.
 "I won't forget Sydney Temple in a hurry, but don't know where he is now. He was taking 8 course at Bellevue, and Imet him near Trinity few weeks ago. He said then that he couldn't stand the pressure up here and was go- ling to get home somehow. I'll bet that he's joined the confederate army, for you know he was always red-hot 'secesh.''
 "Likely enough, Fred, but if he has I hope we'll never chance to come across him on the battlefield. I'd awfully hate to shoot at him or have him shoot at me-"
 These were the days when millions fought and countless thousands fell, and from north, east and west the loyal citi- zens of our deathless republic were ral- lying to the support of the old flag in ever-increasing numbers, while the l chiva1rous sons of the south poured out 1 their blood like water for what they doubtless deemed the moro righteous cause.
 Forty-eight hours after enlisting, our J young friends were sent to the front and finally found themselves members of the same company in an infantry regiment forming part of Gen. Sey- mours division of the army of the Poto- 1 mac.
 Here they put in two weeks of that most irksome duty, preliminary drill, borne by Herbert with cheerful forti- tude, but by Fred in @ far different spirit. Indeed he had already repented of his short-lived ardor, and continually deplored the "infatuation" which had led him to exchange his remunerative clerkship for the hardships of soldiers life at thirteen dollars a month.
 One evening, when harassed by fa- tigue, his complaints became so vexa- tious that Herbert lost all patience with him and at last exclaimed: "Why, Fred, how long do you suppose our glorious union would exist if all the brave men now in arms for the cause were fighting only for pay?"
 "Cause be hanged" petulantly re- piled Ainslie, "what difference will it make to me how it goes, if I'm shot full of holes and buried in this Virginia mud? It just disgusts me to think of the crazy-move I've made; and here's a letter from homo to say that my fool
 sister, Miriam, is coming right out to
 the front as 8 nurse. It's enough to
 drive fellow wildl was never made
 for fighting, anyway, and I'll get out of
 it somehow"
 Young Leslie had never seen any of
 his friends relatives, who resided in
 Philadelphia, but now he rather hotly
 answered: "Well, Fred, if the noble
 example of your sister-blSssings on
 herl-does not shame you into better
 thoughts, nothing that can say will.
 But you're tired and cross now and will
 be all right in the morning. Gen. Grant
 will probably give us a little fighting
 soon and then you'll forget these petty annoyances."
 Fred turned pale at this cheerful pre-
 diction, and nervously asked: "Do you really think there's going to be a bat tie, Herbert?"
 His friend laughed aloud as he replied "A battle? Why, of course, dozens od them; perhaps hundreds. Grant will , never let up till he takes Richmond ) Never fear, Fred, you'll have lots ot l chances for promotion before it's al over; and who knows but that we may
 vet 90 far enough south for you to cap = ture that pretty sister of Syd Temple with whom you were so much smittel
 when she came with her mother to thu - old school that time to see her brother?' 8 "By Georgei wasn't she little beau 7 ty, thought She must be quite grow1 lady, now, and hates us Yankees Hlr r poison, you may be sure," Fred smiling 8 ly answered. And so the little clou 0 blew over, and the boys retired to thei s shelter tent.
 As they lay, side by side, under thei > united blankets, Leslie's thoughts wen
 back to their school days, and as he re IS called to mind Fred's idiosyncracies an y pondercd over his late remarks, he be IT came more and more uneasy lest th
 foolish fellow might really allow hi d natural infrmity to conquer sense ( =. duty and tempt him to some rash ac s' involving disgrace and ruin. These r' T factions obtruded themselves so pc, He sistently that the youth could not sleel
 but lay wide-awalze and motionleI W, until long past midnight.
 ot Then he fell into light doze, frol w which he was aroused by fancying thi n the flap of the tent had been opene' nu and on throwing out his arm to feel fC ot Fred found that he was gonel Shudde ds ingly, yet silently as ashadow, Herbe
 glided out. The whole camp was buri as in profound repose and only the sen re nels kept watch. The nearest of the ITO A