The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-04-06

you can I chan Jesse Phillips much, and
never could. The Confederates didn't
care much about Florence, Ala, Just
then, anyway, so they let tho Federals
have it, and did not soon regarrison the
place. All the summer and fall of 1868
the Colonel took occasional trips across
country, with the osteusible object of
seeing Billy Neal, even continuing them
long after that young man had got we'll
and gone home. If the army was busy
the Colonel was all contentment, but
when the troops lay around with
out employment simply watching,
he would fuss for day or
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 visit to that same
kind-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 he
would give up one of his coal-black eyes
any day for the privilege of possessing
her. And it didn't seem unreasonable to
expect he would win her. She received
him kindly, she treated him well; 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-
tion. The Union forces were massed at
Decatur now, and all through the fall
the two opposing forces relaxed the rules
of war a. little and traded coffee and
tobacco, bread and meat, and such little
things as did not give combative aid or
comfort to an enemy. Big stories about
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
big 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.
"Who is your Major Falkenburg going
to marryY" demanded the Northerner.
''Oh, a Miss Charity Blank, at Flor
ence. She's a regular stLnner. No
nuther such a woman in all Alabama"
said the admiring Johnny.
The information diifted up through
the various grades of loyal blue and
finally fell on the ears of Colonel Phil
lips.
"Fires of Tophetw raved the Colonel,
"she shan't marry him, with rising in
Election on the last pronoun, expressive
of the un6tness of such fate for Miss
Charity Blank. But what about itl 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, triei at last to
stop the banns.
The marriage was announced for
Wednesday night az 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 a
detour, and just before sun
down faced straight for Florence. He
struck patch of canebrdke about mid
night, for the march had never been
lbated 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
1t still lacked an hour of 8
)'clock, and when the rattle of musketry
which told of flying Confederates had
lied away the Federals were In com.
nand
They threw out pickets and surrounded
good portion of the residence district,
particularly the home of old Judge
Blank, where Colonel Philips had often
listed. 1t wasn't as light as house of
Wedding ought to he, but the Colonel
Iismounted and knocked at the door.
ust what he meant to do nobody knew.
Iaybs he will tell by now, but, having
rlven away the doughty Major, he had
title fears he could win the Majors
harmer.
Judge Blank himself answered the
ummons at the door. His colored help
ad grown too strong to work since the
'ederals came down. He wasn't very
'ell dressed, and he was good deal
frightened. But the familiar figure of {
olonel Phillips reassured him.
"Why, Colonel, D." he said, sis it you2
ome in" /
"It is l." said Phillips grimly going
They entered the parlor and sat down. l
he Judge apologized for not appearing '
fuller dress, and after his apology was |
,cepted conversation tagged a little. /
here was nothing in the rather strained G
lations of Southern and Northern to c
AXE them specially sociable, yet they I !
ld frequently met on cordial terms and 1
ID so again this time. But it soon hap. S
sned that there was nothing more to I
Tx about, aud then Colonel Phillips re- {
,aled the secret of his preoccupation by
king: "
"Where is Miss Charity" "
"Charity 2" said the father, little t
rprised and little inclined to cult- v
tie twinkle in his left eye. "Oh, c
e's married." Is
Married." shouted the Colonel, leap y
G to his feet. "The dickensm a
"ro whom are you referringl" asked ID
e old man, sober in an instant, but
refully polite.
"oh, to no one-certainly not to her.
-ho Ynarria,1 bar2u "A