The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-07


''Lordy, Souri,, y talk like . fine lady
compared 'ith what y did afore y went
moth. Jake. would y like ter drive
emp
Reckon"
The father handed the reins to his
son, who, considering that he had not
driven horse for year. handled them
with considerable skill
"How did you leave mar" asked the
daughter.
"Waal, y'r nav she war heap lone
some 'thout y uns, and she's been q
worritin TO- fear y'd git sick ro thar
18th no one ter tend ter y, but seiice the
time TO- y'r comm hum hez drawed
nigh she's puckered up pretty peart.
The boom of q gun came family from
far down ON the lower level, and the
cannonading heard by Corporal Ratigan
and his charge began. Taking mp the
whip, the countryman gave his horses
cut
"Iwant ter make hum afore somep'n
happens Thar's goin ter be big fight
bout Tullyhoomy Thar's forts alp
round the place and big guns on em. T"
The horses trotted on briskly for
short distance, when, looking ahead, the
farmer could see the picket post He
got his pass ready, and when they reach
ed the post an officer came out to ex-
anime it,
SIS your name Ezekiel Slack?" he
asked Of the farmer
''Zeke Slack; yaas, thet's my name" f"
"And yoursY' to the girl, raising his
forage cap admiringly.
Missouri Slack.
"The other name on the pass refers to
the boy, suppose. You have name,
sonny, haven't youg" he asked absently,
while he was studying the pass, though
it is questionable if the inquiry was not
intended to show some facetiousness be-
fore the pretty girl
"Hev got ha'r?"
"Oh, Jakey," said his sister, "don't
fall back into that habit of asking ques-
tions instead Of answering them. You
know how hard they tried to break you
of it at school. And say hair. not
hair"
II got a name" said Jake. 'D'y'
reckon boy l4s goin ter git on ithout
name?"
"well. what is iti" asked the officer.
smiling.
"Jake."
"Jake what?"
Slack" answered the farmer.
"These two uns is my children. They
been ter skule up in Ohio. They got lots
O. l'arnin. Reckon they down the old
man"
Union or Confederate sympathies?"
Union"
"All right Go ahead"
Leaving tho picket, they came to an
opening in the country which enabled
them to get q view of the region lying
to the west The farmer, though de-
sirous of getting on, could not resist q
temptation to rein in his horses and
watch the fighting, or the distant evil
dences of it. that morning going on at
Hoover's Gap Volieys of musketry
were mingled with the deeper tones OF
cannon. Then the firing ceased for
awhile. when the booms began again,
continued and rapid A white smoke
rose above ridge on which Confederate
cannons were Smelling the advancing
Union troops ON the ground below.
Souri, Slack thought of the lives that
were 1ssiuZ from under that smoke and
covered her face with her hands.
When the sounds ceased, Farmer
Slack drove ON and soon reached the
Confederate picket The party were sent
in charge of trooper to the headquar-
ters of an officer commanding body Of
cavalry on the Confederate extreme left.
His headquarters were in house beside
the road. 1t had once been in the GEN.
ter of neat country place. The fences,
the outhouses, the walks, had all been
in excellent condition prior to the first
passage Of troops. Now Of sthe fences
there was an occasional upright post
left; the walks were overgrown with
weeds and grass; the outhouses had
nearly all been torn down. The place
was picture Of desolation. Neverthe.
less the general who temporarily resided
there was making himself very comfort
able.
The wagon drew up before the house,
6uu tHc COuUuCtiuR tIOOpcr scie III Woru
to the general that a party, who had
come in from the Union lines, were
waiting outside, desiring permission TO
go on south. An order came to send the
party all inside.
The three travellers entered the house
to find a tall man with an iron gray
beard reclining in o rocking chair with
as much apparent unconcern as If war
were simply pastime.
"You have just come from the enc
my's lines, l hear" he said to the
farmer.
'Yaas, SIR"
"What force did you see in the re-
gion through which you passedg'
The farmer explained that he could
not answer the question, inasmuch as
he had been permitted pass after tax.
ing an oath not to give any information.
Him. You are quite right not to
answer under the circumstances. OBJ