The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-02-21
Is Vol. 5.

"Waal, whe,, wo uns mot her.
d"Oh, Jakoy. please don't say wo uns,"
interrupted Souri,.
"Wanl, when wo net hor outen tn
roach O. you uns (Souri gavo despair
ing look, but said nothing) she talked
peart nuff, III sho knowed mo, too, but
whom she passed mo OH tn road t'other
day moth o til Union army she only
stared at mo through her google eyes
IL didn't say nothin nohow."
"And what do ye suppose that was
Sor2''
Reckon she war in q hurry bout
lomep'n II didn't want tor stop II talk
or nothin."
"Did you speak to her?'
II asked her ef I cd give her love ter
Rats when sor him.
Corporal Ratigan's Irish good nature
triumphed over his desire to reach down
and give tho boy cuff. Jakey's coun-
tenance was solemn, rs usual, and did
not break into smile III response to
the corporals embarrassed laugh Ho
opened the gate, and Ratigan rodo
into tho yard, followed by his troopers
They refreshed themselves from gourd
which hung in the wollhouse; then, fill
Ing their canteens they rode away.
But Souri, and Jal1ey were destined
soon to meet one who was Of far more
consequence to both than Corporal Rati-
gan. The noxt morning while Souri,
was setting tho house to rights she heard
tho beating of innumerable horses
hoofs. Going to the window and look
ing up the road, which stretched north
ward for long distance, in full Wow
she saw column Of cavalry approach
ing.
Before tho head of tho column had
reached tho house tho whole Slack fam
lily wero standing in tho yard gaping.
Two regiments passed., though each
seemed like all army. for cavalry ocou-
pies three or four times tho space Of in.
fantry. Betwcen the second and third
regiments was a 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 OIL, and wheeling his
horse from the road unattended rotle up
to the party Of lockers OH. Jalcy, who
was standini. OH tho fence, gavo q
spring and was caught in his arms.
"Aha, little brother, wo meet again. "
But there wcro others to engage tho
speakers attention. Dropping tho boy
to tho ground, he dismountcd and was
soon warmly shaking all by tho hand.
Eyer Mark Malone, reckon" " said
Farmer Slack, "though y don't look
much like the common sojor cz KEN
long hyar year ago III changed yer
uniform TO- our Hcnery's store clothes. p"
mot Mark Malone-that was fic
titious name-but Mark Maynard. No.
Pm not private any longer. I com.
mand this brigade. And it's splendid
body Of men. I'm proud Of it.
When Colonel Maynard camo to sa.
Lutte Souri,, there was al uEspeakable
interest, sympathy, oven Tenderness, in
her expressive eyes.
"Why, Souri,, you're woman How
you havo improvcd!'
A slight flush on her check showed
tho pleasure tho words gavo her.
"Hain't improvcd?" asked JaIey.
"Improvcd? Certainly. Have you con.
nuered your old habit Of answering peo.
ple with oucstions2'
did lick Johnny? Oh. ycs" sud
denly rccollccting himself. u purity
nigh got over thct. "
SO | pcrccivc," said tho colonel,
smiling. "You'rc u perfect paragon at
expressing yoursclf.' -
won't yer come in III set doyyn?"
asked Mrs. Slack.
Not now. 1 am going to meet nv
wife, whom l havo not seen for noarly
n year. l expect to find her at her moth
cr's plantation near Chattanooga. You
remember how sho hid mo when nv
neck was in a halter Oh that very plan.
tation; how / cano north in disguise
with her; how I camo hero ono night,
whcro | had left my horse and uniform,
and dashed away to tho Union lines;
how sho followed me, and wo wcro
married by chaplain. Well, I've nov
or seen her since week after our mar
rlago. Old Pap is famous for not allow.
ing women in camp, and ho made no
exception in Mrs. Maynard's case OK
cept lor ono weeks honeymoon in rec
ognltlon OF service rendered tho cause. 3"
Ana yer wifos gono back ontor tho
piantauonf said Mrs. Slack.
'sho has. You SEQ, in Juno a recruit
entored our family quarters in the Oh apo
or q ton FOUNDER boy. Before that hap.
pened Mrs. Maynard went through tho
lines TO JOIN her mother, Mrs. Fain, Az
the youngstor is not old enough TO ro.
port to his father sinoo his Sniiatnont
I suppose his father will have to ronort
to him." f0-
+ II reckon Mrs. Maynard'n be ,,,h.
glad to SEQ you," remarked Sour; feoi'
ingly.
"I shall certainly be right glad to soe
her. And that must account for INV
leaving you 80 soon. I owe you ell =
great deal in this household, and now
that our forces occupy the country, il
you require anything, lot mo know It,
K What can do for your"
There was silence for q few mo
ments, which was brokon by Mrs. Slack
Waal, now, colonel, d'yo know
hain't had cup O. coffee TO- nigh ontel
q year,"
"You shall have somo as sooG as
can reach my commissary. Anything
else?''