Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-02-19

IN MS - T.. DtuUtItSS IL NpuIu nav
required months Of training from {
drill sergeant to get it to growing am
other way Approaching the fence, hi
climbed il and sat with one leg OH eacl
side of IL.
"Do ye know me, me boy?' asko'
Ratigan.
Does I know one o. them sigma
lights ON tn mounting?'
"Oh, Jakey." sighed his sister.
"Well, mo lad, pursued the corpo
raj. laughing. Who am r.
Rats.
II see ye have good memory. Rats
It's quaro We should have remembered
that +" And the corporal chuckled goot
uaturedly.
"Mebbe y remember some un'
name.
And who is thatl'
Miss Baggs."
Certainly do, said the corpora
somewhat startled and confused.
Il sor her t'other day"
HCu Iltiu IL.
Reckon do.
"Where;"
"She war trottin thet ole critter o
hern, goin moth like shot from q squir
rel gun. ="
Upon me word" calculated the cor
poral, evidently much interested.
Reckon she war up to somep'n. y
what makes ye think so:" And Rati
gan changed his position in his saddl'
uDeasily.
"Waal, whom we uns met her
"Oh. Jakey. please don I say We uns,
interrupted Souri,.
"Waal, when We met her outen th
reach o. you uns (Souri gave despair
ing look. but said nothing) she talkec
peart nuff, n she knowed me, too, bui
when she passed me on tn road t'othei
day moth o. tn Union army she only
stared at me through her google eye
N didn't say nothin nohOw.
And what do ye suppose that wa
for!''
Reckon she war in a hurry bout,
somep'n II didn't want ter stop n talb
or nothin.
did you speak to herr"
Il asked her ef / cd give her love tel
Rats when ] sor him.
Corporal Ratigan's 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 tt
the corporal's embarrassed laugh. Ht
opened the gate, and Ratigan rode
into the yard, followed by his troopers.
They refreshed themselves from gourd
which hung in the wellhouse; then, fill
ing their canteens, they rode away.
But Souri, and Jakey We're destined
soon TO meet one who was Of far more
consequence to both than Corporal Rati-
gan. The ae1t morning while Souri,
was setting che house to rights she heard
the beatin. of innumerable horses
hoofs. Going to the window and look
ing up the road, which stretched north
ward for long distance, in full view
she saw column of cavalry approach
ing.
Before the head of the column had
reached the house the whole Slack fam
ily 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 III.
fantry Between the second and third
regiments was gap of few hundred
yards. In this rode an officer especially
noticeable for his youth and manly beau
ty, attended by his staff and escort. On
approaching the Slack cabin he motion
ed to these to go on, and wheeling his
horse from the road unattended rode up
to the party of lockers on. Jakey, who
was standing on the fence, gave u
spring and was caught in his arms.
"Aha, little brother, we meet again.
But there were others to engage tho
speakers attention. Dropping the boy
to the ground, he dismounted and was
soon warmly shaking all by the hand.
"Yer Mark Malone, reckon, said
Farmer Slack, though y don't look
much like the common sojer ez KEN
long hyar year ago N changed yer
uniform TO our Henery's store clothes.
mot Mark Malone-that was fic
titious 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 ii. !"
When Colonel Maynard came to sa-
lnte Souri,, there was an unspeakable
interest. sympathy, even tenderness, in
her expressive eyes.
"Why, Souri,, you're a woman How
you have improved"
A slight flush on her cheek showed
the pleasure the words gave her.
"Hain't improved?" asked Jakey.
"ImproveH Certainly. Have you con-
quered your old habit Of answering peo-
pie with qucstions:"
"Did lick Johnny? Oh, yes" sud
denly recollecting himself. II purity
nigh got over thot. +"
$50 / perceive" said the colonel.
smiling. you're q perfect paragon at
expressing yourself. !"
Wont yer come in n set DOWN.
asked Mrs. Slack.