Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-10-05
FHR SERGEANT OF TfttE euARD> :
Bx p. x. BLACK.
Copyright, 1895, by the Author.
CHAPTER II.

Mother ReVel!, ola CampalSner anC
fearless of weathers, pulled on warm
ly lined pair of rubber boots that show
ed honestly beneath her sensibly short
skirts, wrapped a warm shawl over hel
head and shoulders and ventured boldly
away from her little cottage by the
creek, plodding through the knee deeI
snow. The blizzard which the teamstel
had scented afar had blown past, and
again the wind was stilled, so that the
drifts lay motionless, freezing crisply in
the moonless night. No. on the guard
house porch, beyond the lines Of bar
racks ans, officers houses, lonely in its
grimness, saw her coming, cloth COW
cred basket on her arm, and challenged
her with smiling ceremony.
"Who comes there?" he cried, and
she answered cheerily, "A friend. "
"You bet you are, Mother Revell, "
said the sentry and helped her on to the
porch. WANT to see the sergeant?"
He opened the guardroom door and
pushed her gently in.
Another prisoner for you, sergeant, "
he said and grinned.
Hello, mother!" cried the sergeant
of the guard, coming forward from his
little office bedroom. "What brings you
out in the snow?'
Its Mother Revell," the troopers
called out, throwing aside cards and
jumping from their hunks, land bas'
ket. What's in the basket?"
II thought" said the little, gentle
eyed woman, who for all her long, rough
life with the army could yet blush
pleasantly. II thought as it was Mar
tins first guard as a sergeant you boys
wouldn't mind if just fixed you all a
lunch, seeing it's so cold.
The sergeant laughed and gave the
little woman a boys hard squeeze.
"You ought to be brevetted colonel, "
screeched the young trumpeter.
"Ach! Mutter Revell! Why vas you
not secretary of var made alretty?" q
Dutchman grunted
No. l poked his head in at the door
anxiously.
Make them keep some for me, Mrs.
Revell," he cried earnestly. "I've halt
an hour yet to freeze out here.
Hot mince pies and can of better
than messroom coffee came from the
big basket, and the soldiers ate with
boisterous good humor. Mrs Revell sat
on the edge of a trunk and eyed them
comfortably. She knew them all, knew
many of their secrets, as she had known
recruit and veteran, private and SER
geant of the old troop for 20 years and
more Her quick gray eyes glanced from
one to the other motherly.
Brown" she said, "are those your
best boots? Mind you draw a new pair
next clothing issue. You'll be on the
sick report with pneumonia if you don't
take care. Billy McNab, how's your
arm? Thought you knew better than let
your horse throw you. Have you got
enough coffee, Martin, boy?"
How, mother?"
Mrs. Revell glanced at the barred and
closed door of the common prison room.
"Mayn't they have some, poor
things?"
"Oh, we're empty tonight, mother.
There's only old Barney Constable-the
usual thing-and he's sleeping it of. :"
"Poor old Barney! I doubt but
they'll bobtail him in the end. Where s
the-the stage robber?" she whispered.
"Sulking in his cell there. guess
they'll ship him off to the civil authori-
ties soon, if the roads open up. If it
hadn't been for the blizzard, They'd
have sent him before this. We've had
him five days now, and the adjutant
don't like the responsibility of keeping
such desperate murderer in this old
wooden shack.
Mother Revell had little of wom-
ans curiosity, and great deal of a
woman's tenderness.
HE must be cold in that dark cell, "
she murmured. Won't you give him a
mug of hot coffee?"
He'd only growl and refuse it."
"Let me" said Mother Revell, with
innate Red Cross proclivities.
She took the tin cup and filled it
steaming full and took as we'll piece
Of pie. With these she stepped lightly
along the dark corridor to the farthest
cell, dark and chilly dungeon, utterly
lonesome, securely barred. She paused
timidly foot away from the grating.
BY the smoky light of the oil lamp in
the corridor she made out to see bun
die of blankets in the far corner.
-'"Would you like cup of coffee and
apiece of hot pie?" asked Mother Rev
ell.
90 The blanket was slipped from shag-
gy, gray haired, gray bearded head and
two eyes, red shot, stared out.
1--WE brought you cup
The blankets were tossed aside and
the prisoner made a spring at the bars
His lips were apart in surprise; his
hands shook; his eyes were eager.
Good Lord! Are you still with the
boys?" he whispered
The mug of coffee shook in Mother
Revell's hand until much of the draft
was spilled OH the wornout boards, but
Mother Revell had courage and wit and
presence of mind, developed by her un-
usual training. She neither screamed
nor tainted, but her breath came pant
mgly.
"You againH' she whispered at last,
and they we're silent, staring at each
other, the man with an astonished, half
pleased smile, the woman white and
dazed. At last she found herself and
pushed the coffee and pie between the
bars.
Drink it, she murmurcd. Il shall
see you again.
He noddnd To hnr and rulnpd the hot