The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-11-29

had seated herself on rustic bench that
was built around one of the trees. just
as she had become interested she heard
rifle shot. She moved uneasily, but
fell to reading again and was apparent
ly absorbed in the book when she heard
another shot. Then she threw the book
down and rose to her feet, making a
very pretty renterpiece in the woodland
setting.
"Oh what is the matter with every
thing?" she exclaimed "There's the
shooting again! How can I read books
and sit quietly here while the soldiers
are preparing to fight? Oh, me! don It
know what to dol If there should be a
battle here, don't know what would
become of us
Julia, in her despair, was fair to look
upon. Her gown of striped homespun
stuff, simply made, set off to admira-
tion her strong but supple figure. Ex-
citement added new luster to her eye
and gave a heightened color to the rose
that bloomed on her cheeks She stood
a moment as if listening, and then a
faint smile showed on her lips. She
| heard her father calling:
"Jule! julie! Oh, Juler'
"Here l am, father!'' she cried.
"What is it?''
''Well, the Lord hep my soull I've
been huntin for you high an low. Did
you hear that shootin? lowed maybe
you d been took prisoner an carried bo-
daciously off. Didn't hear you talkin
to somebody?"
Squire Fambrough pulled off his hat
| and scratched his head His face, set in
fringe of gray beard, was kindly and
! full of humor, but it contained not a
! few of the hard lines of experience.
| "No, father" said Julia, in reply to
the squire's question. "Iwas only talk
ing to myself.''
"Jest maxim speech, Ell? Well, T
don't blame you, honey. I'm great
mind to jump out here in the clearin
an yell out my sentiments so that both
sides can hear 'em. "
"Why, what is the matter, father?''
s'4'm mad, honey in jest nachally
stirred up-dog my cats eff I ain'tl
Along at fust did hope there wouldn' t
be no ightin in this neighborhood, but
now jest want to see them two blamed
armies light into one another, tooth an
toe nail" F."
"Why, father!'' Julia made pretty
gesture of dismay. ''How can you talk
so?''
"Half of my niggers is gone," said
Squire Fambrough; Zone side has got
my bosses an t'other side has stole my
cattle. The Yankees has grabbed my
gristmill, an the Confeds has laid holt
of my corncrib. One army is squattin
in my tater patch an t'other one is
roostin in my COW pastur'. Do you reck-
on was born to set down here an put
up wi that kind OF business "a
''B But, father, what can you do? How
can you help yourself9 For heavens
sake, let's go away from here. -
"Great Moses, julie! Have you gone
an lost what little bit of common sense
you was born with? Do you reckon I'm
a-goin to ba a-refugeeih an a-skeedad-
din across the country like a skeer'd
rabbit at my time of life? I hain't
afeared of nary two armies they San find
room for on these hills Hain't got
one son on one side an another son on
t'other side? Much good they are doin
too! If they "a felt like me, they d "a
fit both sides. Do you reckon I'm a-gwine
to be drove off'n the place where was
born an where your gran 'pappY was born
an where your mother lies buried? No,
honey!"
But, father, you know we can't
stay here. Suppose there should be
battle?"
Come, honey, eeme!'' ghere was
| touch Of petulahce in the old mans
tone. "Don't get me frustrated, told
you to go when John Is wife an the chill
aren Went, By this time you'd "a been
out of hearin of the war. -
"But, father, how could I go and
leave you here all by yourself?' The
girl laid her hand on the sapire's shaul-
der ca{sssingly.
""No," exclaimed the squire angrily;
''stay you would stay you did, an here
you are
:'Hes, and now 1 want to go away,
and want you to go with me. All the
| horses are not taken, and the spring
wagon and the barouche are here
Don't come a-pesterin me, honey
I'm pestered enough as it is, Lord, if I
| had the big men here what started the
war, I'd take 'em an butt their cussed
heads together tell you wouldn't know
'em from lot of spilled squashes. -
"Now, don't get angry and say bad
words, father "
81 can't help it, julie; jest can't
help it. When the fuss was a-brewin, I
sot down an wrote to Jeems Buchanan
an told him, jest as plain as the words
could be put on paper, that war was
boun to come if he Iidn'S look sharp,
an then when old Buck dropped out I
! sot down an wrote to Abe Lincoln an
told him that coercion wouldn't work
worth cent, bpt coneiiiation"-
"Wait, father!" Julia held up her
pretty hand. 81 hear some one calling.
Listen p
Not far away they heard the voice of
a negro: ,.Marse Dave Henry! Oh,
Marse Dave Henry!'
"Hellol Who the nation are you hoI-
lerin at?" said Squire Fambrough as o
youngish looking negro man came in
view. "A4sA where did you come from,
an where are you goin?"
"Howdy, mistiss-howdy, marsterp'
The negro took off his hat as he came
up.
whats your name?" asked the
squire,
81 m name Tuck, sub. Nome ar Won