The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-15

Why, there isn't anybody out
there the girl called in response. She
stood for a moment with curious
smile upon her face as of gleeful salts
faction at her daring.
The breeze was waving the boughs
of the apple trees. A rooster with an
air Importantly courteous was conduct
ing three hens upon foraging tour.
The girl swung impulsively from the
little stoop and ran toward the barn.
The great door was open and the
carved pig which usually performed
the office of a catch, lay on the ground.
The girl could not see into the barn
because of the heavy shadows. She
paused in listening attitude and
heard a horse munching placidly. She
gave cry of delight and sprang across
the threshold. Then she suddenly
shrank back and gasped. She had
confronted three men in gray seated
upon the floor with their legs stretched
out and their backs against Santos
manger. Their dust-covered counten-
ances were expanded in grins.
AS Mary spang backward and
screamed one of the calm men in gray
still grinning, announced: 7 knowed
you'd holler" Sitting there comforta-
bly, the three surveyed her with amuse-
ment.
-
her hand up to her throat. "Oh, she
said. you frightened me"
We're sorry. lady, but couldn't help
it no way" cheerfully responded an
other. 81 knowed you'd holler when l
seen you coming yere, but l raikined
we couldn't help it no way. We hain't
a-troubling this we're barn, 1 don't
guess. We been dom some mighty
tall sleeping yere. We done woke when
them YaukS lOOed mast
Where did You come from? Did
did you escape from the-the Yam
kees?'' The girl still stammered and
trembled.
The three soldiers laughed Nom,
Nom. They never catch US. We was
in a muss down the road yere about
two mile. And Bill yere, they gin it
to him in the arm. Keh-plunk And
they pasted me thah, too. Curious
And Sim yere, he didn't git nothing,
but they chased us all quite a little
piece. and we done lose track of our
boys"
WAS twas it those who passed
here just now? Did they chase you?'
The men in gray laughed again
'What-them? No indeedee. There
was mighty big swarm CT Yanks and
a mighty big swarm of our BOYS too.
What-that little passed? Nom"
She became calm enough to scan
them more attentively. They were
much begrimed and very dusty. Their
gray clothes were tattered. Splashed
mud had dried upon them in reddish
spots. 1t appeared. too. that the men
had not shaved in many days. OF their
hats there was a singular diversity
One soldier wore the little blue cap of
the northern infantry, with corps en-
blem and regimental number still upon
It; one Wore a great brown SLOUGH hat
with wide hole in the crown. and the
other wore no hat at all. The left
sleeve of one man and the right sleeve
of another had been slit, and the arms
were neatly bandaged with a clean
cloth. These hain't no more than two
little cuts explained one. I'VE stopped
up yere to Mis- Heavitts-she said her
name was--and she bind them for us.
Bill yere, he had the thirst come on
him; and the fever, too. We"
Mary interrupted him without inten-
ton. Are you hungry she asked.
The soldiers looked at each other,
struck by some sudden and singular
shame. They hung their heads.
''No'm'm.'' replied one, at last.
Santo, in his stall. was tranuuillN
chewing and chewing. Sometimes he
looked benevolently over at them. He
was an old horse and there was some
thing about his eyes and his forelock
which created the impression that he
wore spectacles. Mary went and pat
ted his nose ''Well, if you are hungry
| can get you something she told the
men. 'Or you might come to the
house
I'VE wouldn't dast go to the house"
said one THAT passel of Yanks was
only a scouting crowd most like. Just
an advance. More coming, likely"
We'll, L can bring you something"
cried the girl. eagerly. Won't you
let me bring you something?"
, Well said soldier, with embar-
rassment. we haint had much. If
you could bring up little snack-like
Just snack. We'll
Without waiting for him to cease,
the girl turned toward the door But
before she had reached it, she stopped
abruptly. Listen" she whispered
Her form was Bonded forward Her
head turned and lowered, her hand ex-
tended toward the men in a command
for silence.
They could family hear the thud-
ding of many hoofs, the clank of arms
and frequent calling voices
BY cracky, it's the Yanksr' The
soldiers scrambled to their feet and
came towards the door 81 knowed
that first crowd was only an advance"
The girl and the three men peered
from the shadows of the barn. The
view of the road was intercepted by
tree trunks and a little hen-house
However, they could see many horse
men streaming along the road. The
Torsemen were in blue.
"Oh, hide-hide-hide" cried the girl
with a sob in her voice
''Wait a minute whispered gray
soldier excitedly. Maybe they're going
along by. No, by thunder, they hain'ti
They are hating. Scoot, boys,'
They made a noiseless dash into the
dark end of the barn. The girl stand
ing by the door heard them break forth
an instant later in clamorous whispers.
"Where'll we hide? Wherell we eide?
There hain't place to hide" The
girl turned and glanced wildly about
the barn. 1t seemed true. The stock
of hay had grown low under Santos
endless munching and from occasional
levyings by passing troopers in gray.
The poles of the NOW were barely COW
cred, save in one corner, where there
; was little bunch.
The girl espied the great feed box.
She ran to it and lifted the lid. Here,
Herei she called, get in here
, They had been tearing noiselesslv
around the rear part of the barn. At
her low call they came and plunged at
the box. They did not all get in at the
same moment without a good deal of a
tangle. The wounded men gasped and
muttered, but they at last were topped
down on the layer of feed which COW
cred the bottom. Swiftly and softly
the girl lowered the lid and then turned
like flash toward the door,
No one appeared there, so she went
closer to survey the situation. The