The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-10


name"
"And who is that9"
"Miss Baggs."
Certainly / do, said the corporal,
somewhat startled and confused.
Il sor her t'other day"
"Ye don't mean it?''
"Reckon do"
"Where?''
"She war a-trottin thet ole critter o.
bern, goin moth like shot from squir-
rel gun.
Upon me wordr' calculated the COR
poral. evidently much interested.
Reckon she war up ter somep'n."
"What makes ye think sor' And
Ratigan changed his position in his sad
die uneasily.
"Waal, when we uns met her.
"Oh, Jakey, please don Z say we uns. F."
interrupted Souri,.
"Waal, VIXEN we met her outen tn
reach o. you uns (Souri gave despair
ing look, but said nothing) she talked
peart nuff, n she knowed me, too, but
when she passed me ON tn road t'other
day moth o. tn Union army she only
stared at me through her google eyes n
didn't say nothin nohow.
''And what do ye suppose that was
for?''
Reckon she war in hurry bout
scmep'n n didn't want ter stop n talk
or nothin.
Ibid you speak to herr"
II asked her eff / cd give her love ter
Rats when i sor him."
Corporal Ratigan's g Irish good nature
triumphed over his desire to reach down
and give the boy cuff. Jakey's coun-
tenance was solemn, as usual, and did
not break into smile in response TO
the corporal's embarrassed laugh. He
opened the gate, and Ratigan rode into
the yard, followed by his troopers.
They refreshed themselves from gourd
which hung in the wellhouse; then,
filling their canteens. they rode away.
But Souri, and Jakey were destined
soon to meet one who was of far more
consequence to both than Corporal Rat
igan. The next morning while Souri,
was setting the house to rights she heard
the beating of innumerable horses hoofs.
Going to the window and looking up
the road which stretched northward for
long distance. in full view she saw q
column OF cavalry approaching.
Before the head Of the column had
reached the house the whole Slack fam
lily were standing in the yard gaping.
Two regiments passed, though each
seemed like an army. for cavalry occu-
| pies three or four times the space OF in
| fantry. Between the second and third
regiments was a gap of few hundred
| yards. In this rode an officer especially
noticeable for his youth and manly
beauty, attended by his staff and es-
cort. On approaching the Slack cabin
he motioned to these to 60 ON, and
wheeling his horse from the road unat-
tended rode up to the party Of lockers
on. Jakey, who was standing on the
fence, gave a spring and was caught In
his arms.
''Aha. little brother. we meet again. :"
But there were others to engage the
speakers attention. Dropping the boy
to the ground, he dismounted and was
soon warmly shaking all by the hand.
"Yer Mark Malone, i reckon" said
Farmer Slack, Though y don't look
much like the common sojer ez kem
long hyar a year ago n changed yer
uniform TO our Hepery's store clothes. I"
"Not Mark Malone-that was flcti-
tious name-but Mark Maynard. No.
I'm not private any longer. COM
mand this brigade. And it's splendid
body of men. I'm proud Of it.
When Colonel Maynard came to So
| lutte Souri,, there was an unspeakable
interest, sympathy, even tenderness. In
her expressive eyes.
why, Souri,. you're woman. How
you have improvedW
A slight flush on her cheeks showed
the pleasure the words gave her.
'Hain't improvedy' asked Jakey.
Improved? Certainly. Have you coli.
quered your old habit of answering peo-
pie with questions?"
"Did lick Johnny Oh, yes," sud-
denly recollecting himself. Il purity
nigh got over thet. +"
'Sd perceive" said the colonel.
smiling. You're perfest paragon at
expressing yourself"
asked Mrs. Slack.
mot now / am going to meet my
wife, whom / have not seen for nearly
| q year. i expect TO find her at her moth
| er's plantation near Chattanooga You
remember how she hid me when my
neck was in a halter on that very plan
tation; how came north in disguise
with her; how / came here one night,
where had left my horse and uniform,
and dashed away to the Union lines;
how she followed me, and we were mar
ried by chaplain. Well, I've never
seen her since week after our marriage.
Old Pap is famous for not allowing
women iocamp, and he made no excep-
tion in Mrs. Maynard's case except for
one weeks honeymoon in recognition Of
service rendered the cause. :"
"And yer wifes gone back onter the