The National tribune., 1898-07-07


light went ont I'd only one less mouth to
feed and got rid o his jawin' an cussin' all
the time. But that hahn t nothin' t. 60 with
you. Yous'e jest putin on n leetle authority
kase we could. But all men air alike that-a-
way. Elect man Constable, an he wants
t. put on more airs than the Guv'nor; marry
him, an he makes We his slave"
81 should think it'd be bold man tbat'd
try to make you his slave, madam" ST
ventured.
arms akmbo. "Who axed " t. think,
Why d. " strain y'rself doin' somethin' "
amt used t.?
1T did Shorty so much good to see ST
squelched, that he chuckled aloud and called
out
Give it to him, old Snuff Dipper He's
from the Wabash, an hant no friends. He's
bin tchin' a long time for jest such skin
min as you are givin' him"
"Who air YOU calm Snuff-Dipper? F."
she retorted, turning angrily on Shorty
'What've sc got t. say agin snuff-dippin', any
way, " terbacker-chawin', likker-guzzlin'.
wall-eyed, splay-footed, knock-kneed oaf?
What air you greasy hirelings a-comin' down
who air your superiors
"Give it to him, old Corncob Pipe" yelled
ST. . He needs lamhastin' worse'n any man
in the regiment. but what did you want to
see ME for?"
IS wanted to see yo' bekase got a letter
to yo' from friend O. mine, who said yo'
wuz gentlemen, an rayly not Yankees at all.
He said that yo' wuz forced into the army
agin yo' will u
Gracious what a liar that man must be, -
murmured Shorty to himself
"An' that yo' rayly had no heart to fight
for the niger, an that yo'd treat me like a
sister"
"a sister," Shorty exploded internally
"Think Of ieller's havin' sister like that.
Why, | wouldn't throw her in soap
grease barrel. :"
.Who was this friend. madam ?" said ST,
and where is his letter."
81 don't know whether to give it to yo' or
not, - said she. ''Y're not the men at all
that he ascribed to me. He said yo' wuz
very good 'ookin', perlite gentlemen, who
couldn't do too much for q lady"
"Sorry we're not rs handsome rs you ex-
pected," said 81 "but mebbe that's because
we're in fatigue uniforms. You ought to see
my partner there when he's fixed mp for
parade He's purtier'n red wagon then
Let me see the letter. | can tell then whether
we're the men or not"
kin yo' read" she asked suspiciously.
40, YES" answered ST laughingly at the
thought almost universal in the South. that
reading and writing were like the Gift of
Tongues-a special dispensation to n few
favored individuals only. 81 can read and
do lots o. things that common people can't. Pm
seventh son of n seventh son, born with q caul
on my head at the time o. the full moon Let
me see the letter"
She was not more than half convinced, but
unlocked her dress and took a note from her
bosom, which she stuck out toward ST. hold
ing tightly on to one end in the meanwhile.
ST read read, in Levi Rosenbaum's flourish
ing, ornate handwriting:
Corporal JOSIAH kLEGG,
Co. @, 20Oth Indiana Volunteers,
in Camp on Duck River"
"That means me, :" said ST, taking hold OF
the end of the envelope. There amt but
one 2OOth Iniianny Volunteers; there's no
other CO. @, and Pm the only Josiah Klegg. -
The woman still held on to the other end
of the letter.
ct comes" continued ST, "from man a
eyes, dresses well, talks fast, and speaks q
Dutch brogue."
That's him, " said the woman, relinquish-
ing the letter, and taking seat under the
shade of n young cucumber tree, where she
proceeded to fill her pipe, while waiting the
reading of the missive.
ST stepped off little ways, and Shorty
looked over his shoulder as lie opened the
letter and read
"DEAR BOYS: This will be handed you, if
it reaches you at all, by Bolster, who
has more about her than you think"
Il don't know about that muttered
Shorty; the last time l had the pleasure o.
meetin' the lady she had 'steen dozen bottles
o. head bust about herr
''She's u Confederate, as far as she goes, :"
ST continued reading, (which is not very
far. She don't so but little ways. A jay
bird that did not have any more brains would