The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-10


the Cumberland began to cross the
mountains between it and Chattanooga
In pursuit of the Confederates who had
withdrawn to that place and there in
trenched themselves. Meanwhile the
Slack family had arrived at their home
near Jasper, In the Sequatchie valley.
Much to Souri's surprise, everything
about the place looked uncouth. When
she left IL year before, it was all she
had ever known. A ten months resi-
= dence in the north, surrounded by every
comfort, associating with the daughters
of refined people, had made a great
change in her. Now the furniture ap-
peared dilapidated. the rag carpets
rough. Indeed there was disappoint-
ment about "sweet home" that she had
not expected. Nevertheless she did not
sit down and repine over it. She had no
means Of procuring anything better, but
she found that she could do great deal
of patching. With considerable fore
thought she had brought, some cheap
material Of different kinds with her
from the north, and this she used to the
best advantage. She made neat valances
for the beds, cushions for her mothers
rocking chair, scarfs for the bureaus
In fact, with very little she made quite
q revolution in the house.
Her great anxiety was her brother.
Jakey had attended we'll to his studies
while at school, but his teachers had
found it impossible to change his meth
DDS Of expressing himself As soon az
he reafhed Tennessee he began to relapse
into the state of semibarbarism in which
he had lived before the coming of his
advantages. Souri, knew that there was
no hope for improvement in her father
and mother. Instead of troubling them
when their ways of acting and speaking
shocked her, she refrained from com
ment, but when Jakey dropped into his
old ways she tried hard to check him.
Besides she felt that il was necessary to
keep strict guard over herself, for she
had noticed that when under any ex-
citement or when her feelings were deep
ly touched she was apt to forget herself
and be once more the poor white" girl
Of former days.
There was another cause Of solicitude
as to Jakey. 1t must be admitted, not
withstanding Jakey's good points and a
certain original shrewdness there was
about him, that he never was the same
hoy after his few hours of service on
Colonel Maynard's staff. 1t was con-
stantly when war Colonel Maynard's
aid d-der camp" or when the colonel
n me rode inter Tullyhomy, or when
carried the news of the revacuation.
Then he would strut about with his
hands in his pockets, much to his ia
thers amusement and Souri, 8 dread that
he would run away and join the Union
army. But one day when he threatened
to do so Souri, took him to task for it
and made him promise that he would
not. This ended her anxiety, for Jakey
would as soon have forgotten his mill
tary honors as break pledge to his sis
ter.
The Army of the Cumberland was
now advancing by every possible route
toward Chattanooga. One of the routes
taken by the Union army lay through
the Sequatchie valley and directly past
the Stacks little farm. One evening
Souri, was leaning over the gate thought
fully when she saw several mounted
men in blue with yellow facings. trot-
ting down the road. They were the first
bluecoats to appear of the host that was
coming. There is certain jaunty air,
devil may care appearance, about
trooper who becomes used to being al
ways on horseback Each man and horse
seemed the same animal. Their sabers
clanked in unison, and they were chat
ting and laughing as il they had come
to the south with only the most peace
full intentions When they reached the
gate whore Souri stood, one of them,
lifting his hat politely, asked
Would ye mind me goin to the we'll
for little water?"
In the brilliant display that was re-
vealed by the lifting of the mans hat
Souri, recognized head she could never
forget-the head of Corporal Ratigan.
why" she said, amt you Corpo-
raj Ratigan?"
II am, me young lady, and IL Dim
not mistaken ye're one of the party that
was goin through the lines one day
few weeks ago..
Jakey at this moment came around
the house in fashion at which he had
become expert at school This was turn
ing handsprings sideways like cart
wheel. Seeing the soldiers he suddenly
remembered his dignity rs former vol
unteer aid -de-camp, and strengthening
up pulled his hat down over the back
of his head and tried TO look military
True, his hair was in his eyes. but his
military training had only been for one
morning, and Jakey's hair was Away
in his eyes. Doubtless it would have re.
quired months of training from drill
sergeant to get il 70 growing any othtJ
way. Approaching the fence, he climb
ed it and sat with one leg on each side
Of il.
"Do ye know me. me boy?" asked
Ratigan.