The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-12-06
claimed o o'Halloran. "'Tis quite fam.

forward the captain plucked O'Halloran
by the sleeve "I'll be shot if the john
ny with his arm in the sling isn't my
brother. -
"Iwas oxpectin it, sor," said the big
Irishman, giving matters humorous
turn. "Soon the cousins will be poppin
out from under the bushes. "
By this time the two were near
enough to the approaching Confederates
to carry on a conversation by lifting
their voices little.
"Hello, Johnny" said O'Halloran.
"Hello, Yank, " replied Fitzpatrick.
"What's the countersign, johnny"
"Tobacco. What is it on your sido,
Yank?''
"Tay an coffee, Johnny"
"You are mighty right, Fitzpatrick
exclaimed. ''Stack your arms agin q
tree.''
"The same to ye, " said O'Halloran.
The Hishman, using his foot as
broom, cleared the dead leaves and twigs
from little space of ground, where he
deposited his bundle, and Fitzpatrick did
the same. John Fambrough, the wound
ed Confederate, went forward to greet
his father and sister, and Lieutenant
Clopton went with him. The squire was
not i'll good humor.
"I tell you what, John,'' he said to
his son, 81 don't like to be harborin
nary side. It's agin my principles. I
don't like this colloguin an palaverin
betwixt folks that ought to be by good
rights aknockin one another ON the
head. If they want to collogue an pala
yer why don t they go som 'ers else?"
The squire's son tried to explain, but
the old gentleman hooted at the expla
nation. "Come on, julie! Let's go an
see what they're up to-"
AS they approached, the Irishman
glanced at Captain Somerville, and saw
that he had turned away, cap in hand,
to hide his emotion.
"Ye're just in time" the Irishman
said to Squire Fambrough in banter
ing tone, "to watch the continuing ar
mics. This mite of Johnny will swim
die the government if I don't kape me
eye ON him. "
SIS this what you call war;" tho
squire inquired sarcastically. "Who
axed you to come trespassin on my
land?"
ooh, wo'll put the leaves back where
we found them," said Fitzpatrick, "if
we have to git furlough.
"Right We are!" said the Irishman.
cit is just little trading frolic
among the boys" Captain Somerville
turned to The old man with courteous
bow. ''They will do no harm. I'll an
swcr for that -
"Well, III tell you how feel about
itp' Squire Fambrough exclaimed with
some warmth. I'm in here betwixt the
hostiles. They amt nobody here but
me an my daughter. We don't poster
anybody, :in we don't want nobody to
poster u.s. One of my sons is i'll the
Union army, hear tell, an the other is
in the Confederate army when he ain t
in the hospital. These boys, you see,
found their old daddy a-straddle of the
fence, an one clomb down one leg on
the Union side, an t'other one clomb
down tother leg ON the Confederate
side.'
''That is what I call an interesting
situation" said the captain, drawing a
long breath. "Perhaps have seen your
| Union son"
"Maybe so, maybe so," assented the
squire
"Perhars you have seen him yourself
since the war began" =.
Before the squire could make any re-
| ply Julia rushed at the captain and
/ threw her arms around his neck, crying,
"Oh, brother George, know you''
The squire seemed to be dazed by this
discovery. He went toward the captain
slowly. The tears streamed down his
face and the hand he held out trembled.
George" he exclaimed, "God A.
mighty knows I'm glad to see you!'
O'Halloran and Fitzpatrick had paus-
ed in the midst of their traffic to watch
this scene, but when they saw the gray
haired old man crying and hugging his
son and the young girl clinging to the
two they were confused. O'Halloran
turned and kicked his bundles.
"Take all the tay an coffee, ye
bloody booger Just give me pipeful
of the weed" "
Fitzpatrick shook his fist at the big
Irishman.
"Take the darned tobacco, you red
mouthed Mickey What do want with
your tea and coffee?" Then both started
to go little way into the woods, Lieu
tenant Clopton following The captain
would have called them back, but they
wouldn't accept the invitation.
"We are just turnin our backs, sor,
while ye hold family orgy" said
O'Halloran. "Me an this measly Johnny
will just &C on an complate the transac-
tion of swappin. "
At this moment Tuck reappeared on
the scene. Seeing his young master, he
stopped still and looked at him, and
then broke out into loud complaints.
"Marse Dave Henry, whar de manner
goodness you been? You better come
read dish yer letter what yo' ma writes
you. I'm gwine tell mistiss she come
mighty nigh losin a likely niger, an
she'll rake you over de Goals, mon."
"Why, howdy, Tuck?" exclaimed
Lieutenant Clopton. "Ain't you glad
to see me?"
"Yasser, I speck is. " The negro
spoke in a querulous and somewhat
doubtful tote, as he produced letter
from the lining of his hat. but I'd "a
been a heap gladder eff hadn't mighty
nigh trapsed all de gladness out'n me. u
Young Clopton took the letter and
read it, with smile on his lips and a