San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-01-08

ION what is the matter with every
thing?" she exclaimed. There's the
shooting again How can 1 read books
and sit quietly here while the soldiers
are preparing to fight? Oh, me don't
know what to do! If there should be
battle here, don't know what would
become of u.s. y
Julia, in her despair, was fair to look
upon. Her gown Of striped homespun
stuff. simply made, set off to admira-
tion her strong but supple figure. Ex-
citement added new luster to her eye
and gave heightened color to the rose
that bloomed ON her cheeks. She stood
a moment as if listening, and then a
faint smile showed ON her lips. She
heard her father calling:
"Jule! juliet Oh, Juler'
"Here 1 am, father I" she cried.
"What is it?''
well, the Lord hep my soul! I've
been huntin for you high an low. Did
you hear that shootin? lowed maybe
YOU been took prisoner an carried bo-
daciously off. Didn't / hear you talkin
to somebody"
Squire Fambrough pulled off his hat
and scratched his head. His face, set in
a fringe of gray beard, was kindly and
full of humor, but it contained not
few of the hard lines of experience.
"No, father" said Julia, in reply to
the squire's question. "Iwas only talk
ing to myself. -
"Jest maxim a speech, Ell? Well, I
don't blame you, honey. I'm a great
mind to jump out here in the clearin
an yell out my sentiments so that both
sides can hear EN-.
"Why, what is the matter, father?"
"I'm mad, honey! I'm jest nachally
stirred up-dog my cats eff I amt !
Along at fust did hope there wouldn't
be no fightin in this neighborhood, but
now / Jest want to see them two blamed
armies light into one another, tooth an
toe nail.
"Why, fatherp' Julia made pretty
gesture of dismay. How can you talk
sop
"Half of my niggers is gone, said
Squire Fambrough lone side has got
my bosses an t'other side has stole my
cattle. The Yankees has grabbed my
gristmill, an the Confeds has laid holt
of my corncrib One army is squattin
in my later patch an t'other one is
roostin in my COW pastur'. Do you reck-
ON / was born to set down here an put
up wi that kind of business?"
"But, father, what can you do? How
can you help yourself? For heavens
sake, let's go away from here"
"Great Moses, julie! Have you gone
an lost what little bit Of common sense
you was born with? Do you reckon I'm
a-goin to be a-refugeein an a-skeedad-
din across the country like skeer'd
rabbit at my time Of life? l hain't
afeared of nary two armies they can find
room for on these hills Hain't / got
one son ON one side an another son on
t'other side? Much good they are dom
too! If they'd "a felt like me, they'd "a
fit both Sides Do you reckon I'm a-gwine
to be drove off n the place where was
born an where your gran 'pappy was born
an where your mother lies buried? No,
honeyp'
"But, father, you know we can't
stay here. Suppose there should be a
battle?"
Come, honey, comet" There was a
touch of petulance in the old mans
tone. Don't get me frustrated. l told
you to go when John Is wife an the chill
dren went By this time you'd "a been
out of hearin of the war. T"
"But, father, how could go and
leave you here all by yourself?" The
girl laid her hand on the squire's shcul-
der caressingly.
"No," exclaimed the squire angrily;
"stay you would, stay you did, an here
you arel'
Eyes, and now want to go away,
and want you to go with me. All the
horses are not taken, and the spring
wagon and the barouche are here. "
Don't come a-pesterin me, honey
I'm pestered enough as it is. Lord, If l
had the big men here what started the
war, I'd take 'em an butt their cussed
heads together tell you wouldn't know
'em from lot of spilled squashes. F"
"Now, don't get angry and say bad
words, father. F"
"I can't help it, julie; l jest can't
help it. When the fuss was a-brewin, l
sot down an wrote to Jeems Buchanan
an told him, jest as plain as the words
could be put on paper, that war was
boun to come if he didn't look sharp,
an then when old Buck dropped out l
sot down an wrote to Abe Lincoln an
told him that coercion wouldn't work
worth cent, but Cancellation y
''Wait, fatherl' Julia held up her
pretty hand. 81 bear some one calling.