The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-08-22
nately he did neither. He was not a
very good sentry, that one, for he
never looked up as he paced along the

eSCdTQHleuJ.
sa83 When thought I might venture
forth I arose and ran in a STOPPING po-5
sition for the breastworks. Ny foot
was on the escarpment in another mo-
ment I should have slid trump antly
into the ditch, when the sentry turned.
Down I ducked beyond the friendly
pile of sacking. But my movements
We're hardly quick enough. Clearly
the sentry had seen something suspi-
cious, for he retraced his footsteps and
came toward me. What was to be,
done? My mind was made up in a.
5trice- I measured the approaching
man in the dim light, and saw that he
was Of slender build a mere boy in
my hands. Then, as he reached the
heap of sacks, I suddenly leaped up
and grappled with him. 1T took less;
time than I spend in telling you to
wrest the bayonet out of his hands.
Just as he recovered nerve enough
to shout / threw one arm over his
mouth, and, clutclling him around the,
body with the other, we rolled over
the escarpment and fell side by side
into the ditch. He was underneath.
The fall stunned him, and as he lay
with expressionless eyes staring up at
the starry heavens, saw his face for
the first time" ss
And and You knew who he was ~
eagerly exclaimed Miss aFlaxen-hair.
stMy DEAR said the colonel with a
rather sad smile you know the story
by heart. Yes, you are right; I saw
who my prisoner was the moment [
looked into his face. There he lay. at
the foot of.the escarpment, dressed in
the gray uniform of the Confederates
my own brother, Jack, the son Of
my fathers house, my schoolfellow
and playfelloW since babyhood, and
now, by stern fate, my foe! Il
,'"There was no time to be lost. Even
for my brother, could not wait; so I
took out the brandy flask that the cap
tain of our company had slipped into
my pocket, and laid it on his nerve
less fingers. Then Just as I was about
to go, I remembered the Confederate
flag which carried. There was no
absolute need for me TO bring bac1l
those colors; and if they were missed
it might go hard with the sentry on
duty. My object, after all, was only
to recover our flag; SO I took the rebel
stars and laid them on Jacks breast.
Then forced some of the brandy be-
tween his teeth, and, without waiting
the result, ran with all speed toward
the Federal lines. Luck was with me
to the last, and I escaped scot free, to
receive great ovation in our camp.
They made me captain for that
nights work. z
'And Uncle Jack-what became Of
him?" queried Flaxen-hair.
81 He must have recovered, for I saw
Il 80
many times afterwards. Finally he
was. severely wounded and left the.
army Notwithstanding all my re-
searches I have never been able to
trace him. When my father died he
shared his pronertv between Jack and
myself. | set to work by every means
in my power to find tue lost brother.
Personals in newspapers, paid agents,
and the like, all failed to discover his
whereabouts. Whether or not he is
ashamed of the side he took in the
war, cannot say. Perhaps the poor
fellow died of his wounds long ago.
Heaven alone knows where he is to-
day."
The colonel ceased, and silently
dotted his SLOUGH hat, as though to the
memory of his brother. All the chill
dren sighed in chorus; and Flaxen-hair
gripped closer her grandsire's sword
hand as though in consolation.
During the story they had made a
complete round of the soldiers section,
and were once more nearing that por-
ton of the cemetery from which they
had started. Many a tombstone bore
remembrances Of the children's love,
and the colonel's kindly comradeship.
'.'.And now, grandfather said little
Flaxen-hair, chow about the grave
without any stone over it, I've kept q
real nice cross for that grave St&
''You are a thoughtful little LASS"
answered the colonel, "and the real
nice cross shall be laid on the grave
without delay. But stay! What is the
meaning Of the excitement yonder?'
Under the maple tree, and quite
close to the nameless grave for which
Flaxen-hair had reserved a cross, a
small crowd was gathered. AS the
colonel and his conveys Of boys and
girls approached they saw that it sur.
rounded two persons one an irate
man in the uniform of cemetery
warden, the other a small boy. An ex-
lclamation escaped from Col. Flanders
when he recognized in the boy the
same pal0, Ill eau uTculu, WuOlu lie
had noticed on the path earlier in the
afternoon. The cemetery official was
clutching the lad by the shoulde
our worthy veterans, bidding Flaxen-
hair and her companions stay where
they were, hurried through the Gordon
of onlookers and gained the culprit's
side.
The brass buttoned warden, recog-
MIXING in Col. Flanders one of the
cemetery governing board, saluted re-
spectf fully a8
ssThis boy has been pulling flowers
from the shrubs and creepers, IS he #ex-
planned. 81 caught him in the act''''
81 The colonel looked at the boy.
/ Come, my lad, e he said, how does
this happen? Have you any excuse
for destroying the shrubs?' III
Up to this the little prisoner had
borne up bravely, and even sollily; but
the gentleness Of the newcomers tone
and manner proved too much for him.
II w-was picking a few flowers for
fathers grave, he said, gulping down
Ea sob Mothers too poor to buy flow
ers, and and didn't like to see the
grave without flowers on Decoration
| Day -
The listeners were yisibly affected.
There was a spontaneous movement,