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


constant picket firing, which occasional
ly warmed to the dignity of skirmish
Miss Baggs was In an excellent humor
aud the corporal quite delighted at the
role he was playing. He pretended to
watch her carefully whenever anything
belonging to the army was passed ON
the road. while he was secretly forming
his plans for getting far enough ON the
way to determine the proximity Of the
enemy. He felt no suspicion as to Miss
Baggs carrying information Being on
the flank of the army, she would not be
likely to nave much information to
carry. The country people were con-
stantly passing between the lines, and
considering their narrowing excuses 20
one except with heart of stone could
well prevent them.
Whats in the box ye have with
YEP" asked Ratigan. looking at square
little box on the seat beside her. 1t had
been covered with shawl, which had
fallen from over it, exposing it to view.
''Thet? Thet's a philosophy machine.
You see my friend, Sal Glassick, she
knows heap O things She's tryin ter
beat some on em inter my pore noddle.
Reckon she won't hev no easy time. 1"
"What branch does she teach ye with
that"
"Waal, ycu sec, mother. she's sufferin
with palsy, and ishyar box is a--waal.
Sal, sko calls it u gal-gal"--
"Galvanic battery?''
"Thet's it, You hit it right thar. A
galvanic battery We uns re goin ter
tt-xy ,,.afhnr rl haf
thet?''
She directed his attention from the
box to a cloud of smoke hanging over
the gaps in the hills far to the west.
They were crossing mountain spur and
could see it quite plainly.
There's foightin goin on there. +" re-
marked the corporal.
And you uns air gittin licked" OBJ
served the rebellious Miss Baggs.
How dye know that?" asked Rati-
gan, surprised that she should know
anything ahont IL
''Oh, recroni''
Its qulro thing-the reckonin
gurrels''
WAL, You see, women hain.t got the
big heads men hev They can't reason
things out They hev ter jump at 'em
mebbe, like ants. Ants is powerful
small, but they're most times right
when they r;s <on"
Ratigan made no reply He was
thinking that Miss Baggs did not appear
TO be so plain parsonage as be at first
thought her He looked at her hands,
incased IN coarse gloves, and noticed
that they were small for poor white
trash. T"
Fer attire was very cheap, and her
cowhide sAoeS did not betoken refine
ment, but somehow he began to gather
q notion that Miss Baggs was not SO
dreadfully common as she appeared
The corporal came OF an excellent fam
lily in his native land, and under ordi.
nary circumstances could detect refine
ment. He looked for Miss Baggs to use
some expression beyond the ken Of q
poor white girl, but she did not So
he dismissed the matter from his mind
and began TO wonder what excuse he
could make to,go on with. her under flag
OF truce when She should pass the Union
pickets.
1--WE uns air goin slow enough ter
NOllAb a fllull,I iNlliNfhCu MISS DdxHS.
And why should we bo goin faster?"
"Whar' d you steal thet- critter?" she
asked instead Of replying, looking side
wise at the oorporals mount. Its
likely nuff fo' Tennessee blood.
oh That's United States. Don't
We see the L. s. branded on him?'
"Can he trot?'
He can beat anything in the bri.
gade.
"D'you think he can trot with this
hyar eritter o. mine,
Ratiganlooked at her rawboned brute
and burst into n laugh
WAL, now, you needn't take OH So
Reckon cd give you q brush ef You
was minded.
"All right me dear. Hero's straight
bit of road y
''Fo' what stakes?"
"A So greenback.
"Agin Confederate money!"
with pleasure. v
The corporal drew forth crisp 90
bill And Miss Baggs put the thumb
and finger of one hand in the palm OF
the other under her glove and drew
out Confederate shinplaster
''Who holds the stakes?" asked tho
corporal gleefully
"You uns.
"Divil bit The lady shall hold
'em'
She took tho bill BIO handed hcr az
gave tho lines jerk with Git alon
thar Remember. IT'S a trottil race.
Ratigan was at a disadvantage from
the first He did not dare 10 uso hi
spurs lest his horse should break from
trot Miss Baegs' animal began to reach
his lank legs out, ,triangrlating in n
numbering fashion that put him over
the ground at no inconsiderablo speed
The corporal did his best and kept pace
pretty well.
Reckon my Bob Lee kin knock The