The record-union., 1894-09-01

efS ABOUT me, and they were the greatest
OIL living comforts to me, when so many
OF my comrades rather gloried in the
ruin on every hand.
On this occasion 1 thought old Charlie
rubbed my shoulder a second time COM
fortlngly and seemed to say in that brave,
CHEEKY way he had:
Little Buttons, brace up! When you
and [ are old vets, all this rumpus Will
be so sunnlly forgotten that we couldn't
get pension If we needed one. Besides.
remember we carry the colors, my boyp'
This last seeming reminder from old
Charlie brought me to something like
attentlonp' when | saw to my surprise
that it lad not been old Charles touch
upon my shoulder at all.
was looking into the deep hazel eyes
OF the owner Of the mansion, whom l
had seen in the group upon the portico
and who now stood before me with
white face regarding my own features
with more intent and inquiring look
than | had ever known rest upon them
before.
1t seemed to me for moment that I
saw my own fathers face in his. When
he spoke my own fathers tones were in
his words. When he laid his hand upon
my shoulder again it was my own lather's
loving touch.
1t can't be possibler' he half whis-
pered. he would have no boy as young
as this. He would not permit him TO
lead this manner of life, ii he had"
And then. as if recurring to some hope
or purpose in his own mind, he looked
at Inc appealingly and said;
My lad, you have heart, if you are
soldier?'
"Oh, 1 hope so, SIR" 1 bashfully re-
Piled, startled by the strange family re-
semblance and the planters almost des-
perate manner.
IL felt, when | saw your face" ne
continued hesilatingly, because it re-
minded Inc OF one long separated from me
by the wall of political hatred, of
brother L once loved devotedly, that [
might ask you to do a distracted mother
and father very great kindness-indeed
the greatest kindness that human hand
ana heart might dO.'
L was almost overcome by the inten-
sity of his feeling and the hoinesick ness
every tone he uttered evoked, and l
stammered forth some manner of con-
fnsed assent, While old Charlie turned
his head and seemed to nod approY-
ingly.
" " e have daughter in Atlanta-iust
ABOUT your age, my lad. Here is her
picture"
With an alert glance toward my tired
companions, as II to guard so sacred
subject from intrusion, he placed a
little ambrotype III my hands.
L saw the sweet face OF lass OF, per-
haps, 10 years-almost the image OF my
own sister; a face with a radiant, uplook-
ing smile, half hidden by wealth of
golden brown curls; face that looked
with tender eyes above fair nfe's hori-
zon where rested only cloudless, happy
skies.
We heard the dull chucking and thud-
ding of the heavy wheels beyond the rat
tie OF harness and fittings, the sluggish
tramp OF weary feet, and saw the Iaggard
wave of restlessness and rustling creep
down the line which told US the columns
were moving on beyond. and that we
mad but moment more together.
Here" he said quickly, as he trem-
blingly pushed the packet into my pock-
ct, "her name and address and a little
note to her all there. We cannot hear
from her. Your army is between us.
She Is at sort OF music school, with an
Italian master-not in good hands we
fear. Atlanta will fall. My God. my
boy! what will become of our darling
Beatrice In those hours OF defeat, of vic
tory, OF pillage, rapine and license!v
Captain Cooper and the officers were
already in their saddles. The positions
and gunners were sulkily creeping to
their places. | saw the bugle raised to
Bugler Andy's lips, Old Charlie was
already restless, and the clarion notes of
planters almost despairing words.
He clutched at my foot as l reached my
saddle. | could barely hear him ago
nizedly plead:
''In heavens name search her out.
Tell her of this meeting. Give her the
letter. Be to her as though she were
your kinW
The infantry beyond had been sent on
at double quick TO regain our lost time.
Captain Cooper's piping voice gave an
impatient order to Bugler Andy.
Forward-double quick!' shrilly fol-
lowed in blaring bugle notes.
My place was at the head of the col
uInn. Inc officer OF the day had turned
in his saddle and was scowllng at me. [
had only time to bend to the piteous
White face and shout: Whatever | can
so help Inc God!'
He clutched me the tighter, as if in
mute and desperate appeal. / touched
old Charlie softly with the spur of nv
disengaged loot and we tore ourselves
from the man-it was as though | mad
struck my own father a biow!-and in an
instant more Battery ID. with its gleam-
ing howitzers was laundering over the
ruined lawn and on and on at Il gallon
over the stony road 10 its place, in park,
iD camp.
Every one knows the story of the At
lanta cam paign: OF the fiery conflicts at
SuGlSISFlIlS. dS <Al1dlOOna, 1T AGWOTtl
and at Big Shanty; OF the investment in
! blazing, burning July days; OF Iordly
| kennesaw Mountain, where the attacks
aud repulseS. the feints and sallies and
| the tremendous and savage maneuyers
were like the laws of help 10 those
! from time TO time engaged, and like ma
| jestic and terrible pauoramas to those
oniookers OF both the Blue and GRAY
| held in readiness Tor instant battle; OF the
great flank movement which gave the
| Federal forces the kennesaw and Ma
| rietta Tor q hospital camp and a seconda-
ry base OF supplies; of the weeks of thun-
/ der and smoke by day and thunder and
flame by night in the terrible artillery
/ dueiS a ross the Chattahoocnee; OF the
vast Federal demonstration to the south.
and tue tightening like thanking stroke
away around 10 The northeast, where
Peachtree's banks opened to ten thousand
soldier graves and the brave MACPHERSON
| fell; OF the final investment of the beauti-
| ful city, the deadly assaults and repulses
and their endless carnage; and then that
awful whirl and whirlwind of half an
hundred thousand desperate men around
i to the south and southeast-a solid ad-
vancing resistless front of half a score of
miles III length, of raining lead, of blood
red bayonet, of belching cannon and OF
the ali consuming torch-to the horrible
slaughter of Rough and Ready and Jones'
/ borough; until, just thirty years from
our next first September day, a shont
went up that shook the earth and split
| the sky: Atlanta is ours." while the
brave but defeated Confederates with