Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-30

At last the major burst through the
crowd and went to the roadway. There
as they all streamed after him, he turned
and faced them. Now, look a. here. 1
do" he told them forcibly. "An that I
know is that there's rebel over in Smiths
woods. an all l know Is that I'm a-goin'
after i'm"
"Hcw do yeh know he's a rebel?'
Il know he Is" cried the major. Don't
yeh think knew what rebel is?''
Then, with a gesture of disdain at the
away, his rifle held in the hollow of his
arm. At this heroic moment a Few clamor
arose, half admiration, half dismay. Old
Peter hohbled after the major, continually
repeating: "Hor en- minret.'
The little boy who had given the alarm
was the center of a throng of lads who
gazed with envy and awe, discovering in
him rev quality. He held forth to them
figures of the major and old Peter, his pur-
suer. JeroZel Brorscn a half-witted lad
who comprehended nothing save an occa-
sioral genial word, leaned against the
fence AMI grille like skull The major
and the pursuer passed out of view around
the turn in the road where the great ma
pies lazily shook at the dust that lay on
their leaves.
listened intently If they expected to
hear a sudden shot and cries from the
distance. They looked at each other, their
lips a little ways apart The trees sighed
softly in the heat of the summer sun.
The insects in the meadow continued their
monotouous humming, and somewhere
hen had been stricken with fear and was
cackling loudly.
Finally Mrs. Goodwin said: "well, I'm
goin' up to tn turn n tn road, any
how Mrs Willets and Mrs. Joe Peter
sen, her particular friends, cried out at
this temerity, but she said: well, I'm
goin', anyhow"
She called Bronson. Come on, Jero-
Eel. You're a man an If he should chase
US, why. you mus pitch inteh i'm. Hey?"
Bronson always obeyed everybody. He
grinned an assent and went with her down
the road.
little boy attempted to follow them.
but a shriN scream from his mother made
him halt.
The remaining women stood motionless,
their eyes fixed upon Mrs. Goodwin and
JeroZel. Then at last one gave laugh
of triumph at her conquest of caution and
fear and cried well. I'm goin' too"
Another instantly said: so am l." There
began a general movement. Some of the
little boys had already ventured a hundred
feet away from the main body, and at this
unanimous advance they spread out ahead
in little groups. Some recounted terrible
stories of rebel ferocity Their eyes were
large with excitement. The whole thing
with its possible dangers had for them
delicious element. Johnnie Petersen, who
could whip any boy present, explained
what he Would do in case the enemy should
happen to pounce out at him.
The familiar scene suddenly assumed a
rev aspect. The field of corn which met
the road upon the left was no longer a
mere field of corn. 1t was darkly mystic
place whose recesses could contain all man
ner of dangers. The long green leaves,
waving in the breeze, rustled from the
passing of men, In the song of the insects
there We're now omens, threats.
There was warning in the enamel blue
10 Of
in the very atmosphere. Above the tops
of the corn doomed the distant foliage of
Smiths woods. curtaining the silent action
of a tragedy whose horrors they imagined.
The women and the little boys came to
halt. overwhelmed by the impressveness
of the landscape. They waited silently.
Mrs. Goodwin suddenly said I'm goin'
back The others, who all wished to re-
turn. cried at once disdainfully:
We'll, go back, if yeh want to-
cricket at the roadside exploded sud-
denly in his shrill song and a woman who
had bean standing near shrieked in startled