The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1895-01-29


this confused me dreadfully, and /
also knew, Clio, that my cheeks were
burning red when he saw that had
four enormous hams upon the table,
which supposed were scarce
n1outhful for my guests. However,
the blond put me at ease.
In a few we'll chosen, respectful
phrases he expressed his thanks and
only begged to be shown room
where he and his companions could
rest, for, he said, they were very
tired, not having slept in bed for
months, and during the last few
days they were not permitted to
sleep at all. Poor fellowsl almost
pitied them. Not slept in a bed for
months!
ut must be very uncomfortable to
sleep on a sofa or upon cot, ism Il
it?" ! asked.
"Oh, we sleep anywhere. Upon
the ground, under high heaven, and
sometimes upon the snow" he re-
piled.
Think of that, Clio! / have never
seen snow, but / am told that it is
very, very cold, and as for sleeping
upon the ground in the raw night
air, why, that would kill our negro
servants. After all, there must be
something savage about these YAM
KEGS to be able to endure such q
thing as that. !"
please to follow me, (" I said, and
I conducted them to our best room,
! which contains two beds. AS all the
servants, without exception, had fed
the house, began to arrange the
sheets and pillows.
mo, no. We must not permit
that We shall do all this ourselves, !"
they politely demonstrated. AS Iper-
ceived they required rest immediate
| ly, / left them at once.
Hardly had / reached my room
when heard, in the direction of the
officers quarters, frightful screams
of Help! Robbers Murder!' The
voice was familiar, but in my excite
ment and terror / didn't recognize
it. Robbers Help! Murder!' I'M
agine my feelings. Suddenly some
one tumbled into my room. 1t was
mother, but, heavens, in what a
state-her dress all crumpled, her
hood sprawling all over her face, her
hair wildly disheveled! In her mad
fight she lost a shoe. She was as
red as peony.
Her screams for help were continu-
Gus. 1t was some time before she
was suficientlys;alm to tell me that
she had hidden herself in the room
where the two officers were lodged
in one of the beds--and had COW
cred herself with spreads and pill
lows. You may easily surmise the
result when the lieutenant - the
blond weary and worn, threw him
self upon the bed. Really mamma 8
shrieks were pardonable.
/ succeeded after time in quieting
her, and in q measure was successful
in assuring her that the officers were
not here for plumber and murder.
She promised not to hide herself
again when told her that l would
tell the officers that she, mamma,
was rheumatic, and that she had
crawled under the many covers for
the purpose of taking sweating
bath. ....
Our friends the enemy had hardly
fallen asleep when an orderly ap-
peared, who said that he wished to
speak with them.
THAT is impossible now, " I said.
"They are asleep. Wait awhile or
come again later,
Where are they?" he asked.
/ conducted him to the apartment
Without a moments hesitation he
awoke them. i feared that the Off
GERS would upbraid him for doing
this, but they didn't In a few min
utes they followed the orderly to the
generals headquarters. What sin
gular creatures these soldiers are!
They obey without murmur. I
know that Y should make very in
subordinate private were man.
If I were told to do anything, /
should always want to know why it
should be done before obeying.
Within the half hour the officers re-
turned.
They showed neither i'll humor nor
sleeplessness. They didn't even re-
turn to their apartment. They at
once briefly informed mother and
myself that the corps proposed Civ
ing ball in the evening, and that
we were invited. Both of them beg
ged of me to put them down for the
first two numbers. OF course !
agreed, because l hadn t danced since
the last Mardi Gras. While we were
discussing the matter mother was
constantly tugging at my dress and
bringing up all manner of impedi-