The Portland daily press., 1895-06-08

hAoW no podruln Win the MCN6llS.
All three Of their boys are with the
Confederacy, SO they took this Yankee
for protection. Had to- don't you see,
when he asked if they wouldn't. They
have er heap of company, you know-al-
WAYS most somebody to dinner an sup
per. Grice has been thar two months
an seen right smart of folks. He said
to me: They show me nothin but the
most perfect politeness-those Young la
dies an old that meet at table-but
I've found out new thing for which
to thank God. He didn' make the devil
woman. -
so you think this proclamation is
done fer spite?"
No, no. He amt that sort Besides
it comes from way up higher his au-
thority. They say it's military necessi-
ty' to keep you folks outside the lines
from sendin medicine an gray uniforms
an letters an news across the river to
our boys
''They II never keep me from doin it, :"
Anne Powell, the majors tall young
daughter, had come out on the porch
and stood listening. with parted lips
and sparkling eyes. The visitor sprang
up at her words, saying as he drew for
ward chair:
"Howdy do-howdy-do, Cousin Anne?
Set down an listen to reason. I tell
you you must This amt no grapevine.
This proclamation is straight fact, an
if you don't wanter to make heap O.
trouble fer Uncle Jimmie you'll obey
like the rest an say nothin erbout it. -
Anne turned full upon him eyes
luminous with scorn. She was a slim
creature, vital to her finger tips and
swayed by emotions as lily stalk by
spring storms.
"It may be all right for-people who
can face two ways. +" she said, restrain
ed by hospitality from more personal
form of speech. "but I am not that
sort. If I swore, I'd keep it, and I'd die
sooner than be loyal to the United
States, with Jack away in Virginia
ready to die for the Confederaoy. I've
spun yarn this winter to weave him
new suit and knit socks for him every
night. I'll send them to him in spite
off,
''Hushl Hush! Don't tell me word
about it, Mr.. Gregory broke in, with
an uneasy laugh. Then after minute,
Tain's SO bad as you think fer, Cous-
in Anne. Thar's two things to be done
when you git ter headquarters. You can
either take the oath of allegiance an be
er loyal Citizen entitled to perfection of
person an prop'ty er else sign whut
they call the incompetent oath. That
don't say much Of nothin except that
you don't want ter fight.
"Oh, that must be the one you tookr'
Miss Ammo said, with conscious sarcasm.
Her father looked at her in mild re-
proof, saying, "You had better 60 an
see of your mother doesn't want you"
Then, as she vanished, to his guest,
"How many days Of grace do they give
us, Thomas, after this thing begins?'
Proclamation says ten, but I'd go
early of I was in your place. do know
but it, II turn out good thing after
all. Trade in town is pickin up right
smart Two or three of the sto keepers
have took Yankee officers in partners
with 'em SO as ter git stocks O. goods.
Whoever takes the oath can get er pass,
an SO you can all putty soon come in
an buy an sell. Tell Cousin Anne you'll
give her er new silk sack. / reckon
that'll make 'er willin ter CO."
Major Powell smiled grimly. "You
don't know Anne" he said. "She
woan't wear nothin but homespun an
a sunbonnet; says Jack has to 60 bar.
footed maybe half the time, an she
amt a-goin ter fare better'n her broth
er."
"Well, she's curious fer young
girl. No mistake about that" Mr..
Gregory said. with a tlanguid wave Of
dismission. Then, reverting to affairs
of state: ''But tell you, Uncle Jimmie.
that thar virginyeh fight is a-goin to
settle things right. Inglum and France
is boun ter como 'in-boun, sir! When
they do. yo'll hear somep'n DROP"
Major Powell agreed. For an hour
the talk went forward. the guest piling
grapevine on grapevine, each more as.
founding than the last in its intimate
acquaintance with the motives, pur.
poses, secret inclination, speech and 40.
ton Of jeff Davis, Queen Victoria, Abe
Lincoln, Louis Napoleon, General Hal
leck, Andy johnson, Parson Brownlow,
General Grant, General Lee, Genera,
Buell., Bragg, Beauregard, Thomas.
Stonewall Jackson, Secretary Seward,
Commodore Foote, John Morgan, the
raider; Forrest, the imminent.
Of the last it was circumstantially
related that he had "sent word to Colo,
bel Grice to have all the dry goods pos.
sible in town by the middle of June.
when he'd be ready to come after 'em. p"
Also that upon one occasion the
doughty commander "got lost from
camp an stumbled on er Yankee scout
70 strong. They wus between him an
his own men, an whut'd he do but ride
round 'efn in the dark clankin his sa-
Der, clashin his pistols an yellin out Or
ders like he'd thousand men behind
him. Then he hollers out, Surrender,
ar T;11 hicto tho h1ocIY fac an cIlt every