Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-11-04

stream.
"sa-a-y." drawled Craig, with his month
full. when yew're out of twist, jest yew
sing out, sonny"
"All right" replied Alden. He stretch
ed back in the shadow of sycamore and
watched Craig with pleasant eyes.
Presently Connor had a bite and jerked
his line into the air.
Look yere," said Craig, that amt no
way for to ketch redhorse. You want
a cartridge on fob a sinker, sonny.
What's that?' inquired Connor' suspi-
ciously.
Put on a sinker."
go on. Connor." said Allen.
Conner saw him smoking, and shifted
anxiously. Alden tossed him the twist,
telling him to fill his pipe.
Presently Conner found small pebble
and improvised sinker. He swung his
line again into muddy current, with me-
chanical sidelong glance to see what craig
was doing. and settled down again on his
launches. smoking and grinning.
Emmy news. Alden?" queried Craig al
ter silence.
Nothing much: except that Richmond
has fallen" grinned Alden.
Quit foolin'." urged the southerner'
"ain't there no news?
mo. Some of our men down at Mao
pond got sick eating cat fish. They caught
them in the pond. 1t appears you John-
MES used the pond as cemetery, ana our
rlen got sick eating the fish"
THAT so?" drawled Craig; too nad.
Lots of vewr men was in Long pond too
reckon" ia.
In the silence that followed two rifle
shots sounded faint and dull from the dis
tant forest.
Mother great union victory drawiel
craig Extry! Extry! Richmond is Took
Alden laughed and pulled at his pipe.
eve licked the boots off or the IhlrtleOh
Texas last Monday" he said.
"Shov drawled Craig; what ala you go
uckin their boots for-blackin?
"oh. shut up said Conner from 'ne
hank. 81 can't catch no fish if you TWO
fools don't quit jawin.'
The sun was dipping below the plhe-c''0
ridge flooding river and wood with d Herce
nad;orca The spruce needles ghttered'
o1ced with gold: every broad green leal
- o. heart of gilded splendor' ana the
muddy waters of the river rolled oh"'iu'
like flood of precious metal heavy our-
nished. noiseless.
r,rorn q balsam bough a thrush uttered
three timid notes; great gauzy winged
grasshopper drifted blindly INTO cIuiHP
Of sun-scorched weeds, click! click! err
r! ,,-,-.4
Purity. amt it," said Craig looking at
the thrush Then he swallowed the last
morsel of muddy bareback Wiped HIS
hoard on his cuff. hitched up his trousers
look off his green glasses and rubbed ms
e,os "A he catbird sings purifier though
he said, with yawn.
Alden drew out his watch puf1ed once
or twice and stood up stretching ms arms
In the air. out
IFS 4 o'clock" he began, but was cut
short by a shout from Connor
Gee Whit" he yelled, what have l got
on this here poe?'
The ramrod was bending the Inc sway
ing heavily in the current.
ITS o'clock, Connor,' said Aluen'
keeping wary eye on Craig
That's all right" called Craig; "the
times extended till yewr friend lands that
there fish
Pulls like a porpoise," grunted Conner.
I'll bet it busts my ramrod.'
Does it pulp" grinned Craig.
Eyes, dead weight
Don't it jerk kinder this way an that,
asked Craig. much Interested.
Nav" said Connor; the bloody thing
jest pulls steady"
q f.
fish"
"Huh!" sneered Connor; " don't l know
catfish? This amt no catfish. femme
tell yer.'
Then it's log" laughed Alden.
by gum! Here it comes painted Con-
nor: here. Alden Jest you ketch it with
my knife; hook the blade. blame ye!
Alden cautiously descended the red
bank of mud holding on to the roots and
branches and bent over the water. lie
hooked the big clasp knife like scythe'
set the spring and leaned out over the
water.
Now" muttered Conner.
An oily circle appeared upon the surface
of the turbid water-another and another
A few bubbles arose and hoated upon the
tide.
Then something black appeared just be-
meath the bubbles and Alden hooked II
with his knife and dragged 1t shoreward'
II was the sleeve of mans coat
Connor dropped his --mrod and capped at
the thing. Allen would have loosed IT,
l,,t the knife blade was tangled IN the
sleeve. 60.
He turned sick face up to Conner.
pull il in. said the older man. here
give it to me- lad
when ut last the silent visitor lay upon
the hank. they saw it was the BODY oil
Union cavalryman Alden stared at the
dead face. fascinated; Conner mechanical
Il. counted The yellow chevrons upon the
bIua sleeve. now soaked black. The mud
DIV water ran over the bake soil spreaoi"s
ont in dust-covered pools; the spu'leu
boots trickled slime. After a whiIe oo1H
mon turned their heads and looked az
Cr,ie The southerner stood silent ana
,,,.o,.a his battered cap in his hand. they
e,,ad each other quietly for a monument
th.r with q vague gesture. the southern
or walked back into his pit and presently
reappeared. trailing his rltle'
Common had already begun to dig with
his bayonet. but he glanced up Sl"' P'' -
the rifle in Craig's hands. Then ne IooNe"
searchingly into the eyes Of the southern
er Presently he bent his head ana quleuy
continued digging.
# was after sunset before he and Alden
! finished the shallow grave. craig watch-
-. T., silence his rifle between his