The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-02-28

paid no aJtonrlon TO IL. Inero was I,
turning Of the knob to tho front door,
and in another moment Colonel May
nard stood on tho threshold Of the sit
ting room looking in upon Mrs. Fain,
Laura, H:>uri and Miss Baggs IIo was
about to eater when, observing strange
person. j:'. iIositated. Laura advanced,
and t;,:::.; lin by the hand led him to
another lAoi:,. Ho had only once before
seen Miss Baggs and then in disguise
aud did not recognize her.
"Why, sweetheart, no said to his
wifo. "you'ro trembling"
"You came in so hurriedly."
II am hurried. We GROSS the river
tomorrow morning."
Tomorrow morningl Oh, Mark, why
couldn't thoy wait a few days?'
IF wives and sweethearts had the
giving Of orders, Uncle Sam would
have his armies always in winter quar-
ters.'
"Wby couldn't this happiness have
lasted just little longer?"
'And thon still little longer Como,
have but short time to stay. Let mo
say goodby to the baby
Laura led tho way UP stairs and drew
tho curtains from the cradle, exposing
tho shopping infant.
Thoro was something in tho inno-
CONGO, the absence Of force in the little
Slumbercr, SO different from the scenes
in which ho was wont to minglc, to sot
in motion train Of feelings In Mark
Maynard to which ho had thus far been
stranger. On the one side was tho
vito he loved and tho sleeping child;
OH tho other, what now appeared toll
some marches. nights spent on wet
ground, sickness, mangling by sholl and
bullets and saber cuts. A year before he
had loved these hardships these dan
gors. Now q new element had entered
into his life, and at least while ho gaz-
cd on tho little stranger (the only life
that had come to him among tho many
gone since the war began) he felt n
strange repugnanco to entering upon
tho coming campaign.
My boy, my boy" he said huskily.
the thought suddenly coming to him
that ho might never sec wife or child
again, chow can now risk leaving you
to struggle Oh to manhood unprotect-
ed?" Then, recognizing his weakness,
ho said. with quick born smile, "But
you iluvo your mother, and must win
tho star of q brigadier for you to play
with.
But wars quick and imperative do
mands gave him littlo timo for tho i'll
dulgenco Of such feelings. He tried to
turn away. Again and again he drew
tho curtains Of the cradle, only to draw
thom bacl1 for ono moro look.
Laura, ho said suddenly, call Is
changed. Before you and no came did
my duty as n soldier because it was not
hard to do and because 1t pleased mo-
Now it will bo hard, and shall do it
that you and he may not be disgraced
in NO. How can ever leave a blot Oh
my name and havo that child grow un
to know it?"
Laura. seeing how hard it was for
him to draw himself from tho cradle,
took his hand and led him away.
Going down stairs, they found the
house silent. All the family wcro in
bed. Maynard knew that it was time
he had departed. 1t was worry late, and
he must ride eight miles to camp und
bo OH the march with his brigade before
daylight But he could hardly tear him.
self away from tho house. Tho sleeping
child up stairs seemod to have brought
| from tho unknown whence he camo
maze of gentler emotions, which were
| drifting like smoke wreaths about his
father, obscuring tho way from their
peaceful influence.
| There was one moro embrace, then
another last one, then another final one,
| efs, lii Nly
| Maynard rode back through the night
| to camp.
Not long after his arrival bugles
sounded tho reveille. 1t was o'clock
in the morning, and tho mon wcro
aroused to begin their advance to tho
front. Sending for Jakoy Slack, the colo
mel gave him q noto to take back to
Laura ut tho plantation. He had repeat
cd his adious 50 ofton in person that one
would hardly think it necessary to sond
any moro on cold paper, but Maynard S
heart strings woro pulling him rs strong
| ly away from war rs his duty was fore
| ing him toward it. Besides he know
that Laura would treasure every word
from him.
JaLoy mounted Tom and rodo in the
SieJ VI tiio llolulHS W uchFSI Iiio lloIc'
When ho reached the plantation, he
was obliged to do good doal of pound
ing and ringing before ho could got into
the house. Finally Mrs. Maynard's
maid, Alioo, lot him in, and considering
tho fact that Mrs. Maynard was in bed
and Alice stood in very close confldon-
tial relations with her, Jal1oy consented
to deliver the note to tho maid and wait.
cd to eco if thcro was any reply. Alice
returned and said that her mistress
would 30 down in q moment. Presently
sho entered, dressed in morning wrap.
por.
"Jal;oy," sho said, taking tho boy by
tho hand and smoothing tho hair out Of
his eyes, "can l rely OH you to do somo-
thing for me?'
"Could tho colonol?''
"You aro going to the front, and no
ono can toll what may happen. You'll
probably have to meet your enemies
somo time, and tho colonel says that a
battlo may como at any day. Iwant you
to promise mo that if anything should