The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-04-11

and his frloDd's wife. So he turned tho
conversation on lines OF rotroat
"Now, supposin," no said, "just sup
posin I war busted right hyar, how'd
l git away?"
"That would depend OH tho condition
Of things. If were tho general oppos-
ing you, you'd mover get away safely.
I'd never stop till had driven you into
tho Tennessee river "
'How could 1 got thar from hyar?"
This part Of your army where wo
arc now could only fall back on Ross.
villo. There tho flanl1s would DO bottor
protected for u stand You could 20
from Rossvillo to Chattanooga by this
road' (pointing to it OH the map). eff
you should bo successful in l1uoping
your onemy far enough from you and
long enough, you might cross tho river
there and save your army. You might
perhaps stay thoro if not too reduced in
numbers and if you could keep your
limo Of supply opon."
"This dir tn bridge I'd cross th'
creek on, I rookon," pointing to Reeds
bridge Oh tho map.
"That's the nearest from whore we
arc"
"Waal, general" said Jakey in q
tone to Indicate that tho discussion of
the campaign was ended, "of you uns
bust me, I'll retreat thot away.
Nothing moro was said about tho i'm
aginary campaign by either. Maynartl's
eye was fixed Oh his wafer map, and ho
was lost in study Jakey let him alone
till he saw that ho was drifting back to
his trouble. Then he endcayored to lead
him into war again. At last, seizing
favorable opportunity, tho boy suggest
ed the propriety Of sending some mos
sage to his wife.
'"Time enough for that after the
fight, was all Maynard would say.
Jakey was discouraged. Ho knew that
If his friend lived after the fight it
would not bo his own fault.
u v 4
Jakey considered himself bound in
honor to report to Mrs. Maynard her
husbands condition, not only on ac-
count Of his promise made her Oh tho
evening Of his departure for tho front,
but because ho had a vague unformu-
Lated notion that thero are certain exi-
gencies whore only women can "do
somep'n,' and he knew that "tho gen.
erar' required his wife's attention.
Mounting Tom, ho set off toward Ross
vllle, remembering by tho water map
that tho right hand road led there
1t was about o'clock at night when
ho reached Rossvillc. Ho determined
to rest thore a few hours, and making
FOR a cavalry camp got OH tho ''soft
IL nd frr ;,,
his natural associates, tho soldiers. ia
key asked tho guard to wallcn him at 2
O'Clock, at which timo, after bite fur
nishcd by his friend, tho sergeant, and
| q feed for Tom, ho set of toward Chat
tanooga. At daylight ho crossed tho
| Tennessee river and was soon OH his
way across tho neck of Moccasin poin,
| toward his destination.
AS JaSey approached tho plantation
it occurred to him for tho first time that
tho information he bore was not pleas.
ant for him to give to any one, espe-
cially woman, and that woman "the
generals" wifo.
Reckon she uns'n be skeered when
she sees NO." he muttered to himself.
II don like this business nohow. Won
der didn't think o. this bofo' Wish
they wor some un ter tell her. Mebbo
I'll 500 Souri, first. Eff do, I'll let her
tell.'
But Jakey was not SO lucky. Ho
reached the plantation just before break
fast time, and as Laura Maynard cast q
glance from her chamber window sho
saw him rido up to tho voranda. She
remembered we'll tho promise sho had
extracted from Jakey and knew in a
moment that ho was tho bearer Of some
bad nows. Putting her hand ON her
heart to stop its humping, she ran
down stairs and out On to tho veranda
The boy dislnountcd and came up tho
stops.
ooh, Jakey, what Is it2''
Now, Jakey had his own methods of
carrying his points, and whether or no
they wero original or ingenious he oar
ried them. Sometimes his parrying was
very clumsy. 1t was SO now. He must
gain time at all hazards.
"What air what2'
'"Thoro's s something happened to tho
colonel. know it. Tell mo tho worst /"
"Waal, now, Mrs. Maynard, the
general he hain't dead nohow."
HaIlk uouSSH uo llY9SI Is no Ill or
wounded? Is tho wound mortal? Or is
his illness dangerous2 Will ho recoveri
Oh, tell me, toll mop
(which un O. them air questions
shell l answer fust2''
Souri, oamo out Oh to tho veranda,
and seeing Jakey took him into her
arms
"What are you doing here, Jakeyp"
she asked
Reckon 7 air a.standin on tor tn
gallery jest now"
Mark is i'll, wounded, heaven knows
whatP' exclaimed Laura. "He won't
tell NO." She olasped her hands and
trembled.
"Jalsoy, don't give :. .rs. Maynard
pain by keeping hor in suspense. Toll
her..
But Souri, dreaded to have her friond
hoar bad nows rs well as Jakey dreaded
to give 1t.
"Waal," said Jakey, cornored, 9Th
general, he air d-----d obstinate.
"Obstinate2"
"Yas."
"What do you mean, Jakey2" asked
Souri, cnoouragingly.
"Waal, tn general ho reckons ther's