Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-01-29
CHAPTER II
A WAR OF WITS


side Miss Bags, the two keeping up q
constan, picket firing which occasional
" warmed 20 the dignity Of sklrmish
Miss Baggs was IN an excellent humor
and the corporal quite delighted at thu
role he was playing He pretended &c
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 OH the
W.. to determine the proximity OF the
enemy. He feu no suspicion ~ to Mis-
Baggs carrying information. Being oi
the flank of the army, she would not b'
likely 10 have much information te
carry. The country people were con
stantly passing between the lines ant
considering their narrowing excuses Nc
one except with q heart Of stone coule
we'll prevent them.
What's in the box ye have witt
ye;' asked Ratigan. looking at squar,
little box on the seat beside her. IL hat
been covered with shawl. which bac
fallen from over 1t. exposing 1t to view
'Thet? Thet's philosophy machine
You see, my friend, Sal Glassick, SHE
knows heap o. things She's tryin te'
beat some OH EN- inter my pore noddle
Reckon she won't hev no easy time p"
What branch does she teach ye with
that?"
WAL. you see, mother. she's suiferli
with palsy and this hyar box isa-waal
Sal. she calls i; gal-gal"-
"Galvanic battery"
"Thet's il You hit il right thar a
galvanic battery. We uns re goin tel
try t on mother. Lord a'massy. what
thet?"
She directed his attention from th'
box to cloud Of smoke hanging Owe
the gaps in the hills far to the west
They were crossing mountain spur ant
could see il quite plainly
There's foightin goin on there. re
marked the corporal.
"And you uns air gittin licked, oh
served the rebellious Miss Baggs
How dye know that?" asked Ratl
gan. surprised that she should know
anything about 1t.
"Oh. reckon"
''lt's quare thing-the reckonin o
gurrels. +"
"Waal. you see. women hahn got th'
big heads men hev They cant reason
things out They hev ter jump at 'en
mebbe, like ants. Ants is powerful
small, but they're most times righ
when they reckon"
Ratigan made no reply He WA
thinking that Miss Baggs did not appea
to be so plain a parsonage as he at iirs
thought her. He looked at her hands
incased in coarse gloves. and noticed
that they were small for poor whit
trash. F"
Her attire was very cheap, and he
cowhide shoes did not betoken refine
ment, but somehow he began to gathe
a notion that Miss Baggs was not 81
dreadfully common as she appeared
The corporal came Of an excellent fam
ily in his native land, and under ordi
nary circumstances could detect refine
ment. He looked for Miss Baggs to us
some expression beyond the ken OF I
.'poor white" girl, but she did not 81
he dismissed the matter from his mint
and began to wonder what excuse b.
could make to go ON with her under fla,
of truce when she should pass the Unioi
pickets.
I'VE uns air goin slow enough to
worrit snail. remarked Miss Baggs
And why should we be goin fasterT
Wizard you steal thet critterf sh
asked, instead Of replying, looking side
wise at the corporars mount. TT
likely nuff TO Tennessee blood"
"Oh! That's United States. Don
ye see the u. s. branded on himg"
Can he trotf''
He can beat anything in the bri
gade."
"D'you think he can trot with th'
hyar critter o. mine. I"
Ratigan looked at her rawbOned bruh
and burst into laugh.
Wdai, uOW, you hCcuh seAS W ~
Reckon cd give you 3 brush ef yo'
was minded.
"All right, me dear. Heru's a straigh
bit of road.
"Fo' what stakesi"
"a IS greenback.
"Agin Confederate money!
"With pleasure. j"
The corporal drew forth crisp q
bill. And Miss Baggs put the thuml
and finger Of one hand in the palm q
the other under her glove. and drew
out o Confederate shinplaster.
"Who holds the atakesS' asked til
corporal gleefully.
"You uns.
"Divil bit The lady shall hoiI
'em.'
She took the bill he handed her an
gave the lines jerk with Git alon
thar! Remember, it's trottin race.
Ratigan was at . disadvantage fron
the first He did not dare TO use hi
spurs lest his horse should break from
trot Miss Baggs' animal began TO reac
his lank legs ont triangulating in