The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-19
Copyright 1893. BY THE AUTHOR, !

Y of starved animal when the courG
: house bell began to clang excitedly
: Miss Melanie locked at her captive i'm
0 ploringly.
: Now. my good boy, do please hurry
t up. We are all dying to hear what you
| have to tell us about Colonel Bascom's
' men.
5 Moses gulped the remainder of his
!, food with bullying eyes and got up tc
$ follow Miss Melanie, who was speeding
down the street on flying feet.
By the time they reached it the old
courthouse was full of anxious faced
women, who had already caught the ex.
citing rumor that somebody had arrived
, who knew something about their loved
ones.
Nanny Jane and Uncle Toby were
among those who stood nearest to the
door. They had been fetched in haste
for purposes of Identification. The old
woman scanned her returned offspring
in a scornful silence before laying any
maternal claim to him.
Eyes, that's Moses, my boy Moses,
which l sent away from me God fear
in. self respectin boy in a clean shirt
an breaches. Now he surely do look
like runaway niger, fresh from the
canobrake."
With the air Of one preordained to de-
fend an entire corps Moses turned re-
buking eyes Oh her.
NANNY, that's the way the army
does all us soldiers. You all ought to
JUS see Mr. Reggie"
Uncle Toby was no less scathing in
his final acceptance.
Eyes, sir; there sno denyin that that
is Moses. But'-here he turned severe
ly OIL the returned native-"boy, you
sho 'ly does look like the brlzzards' been
peckin at you. l wouldn't use you for
skeercrow in green pea time. No,
sir, wouldn't.
IF it is Moses the right Noses let
US hear from him. We don't care fig
for his clothes. "
And Moses was hustled forward un.
til be stood crouching like frightened
hare i'll the middle of the PLATFORM with
the Rev. Brownell and Miss Melauie
acting as cnstodians.
"Now, then, my boy" said the rev.
crend gentleman generously, 1--WE want
you to give us succinct account of CIV.
crything that has happened to the sharp.
shooters since they left Cloverdell. "
"SahF' Moses rolled his eyes until
only the whites were visible
Tell US how You left the company,
said Miss Melanie, CURLY hustling tho
Rev. Mr. Brownell into the background
This second command appealed moro
intelligently to the bewildered Moses
and received prompt if not satisfac-
tory reply.
I'll left 'em just a-fightin an a-scratch.
in an a-shootin each other like man
worn't Of no more importance than
reedbird. I is done got all I want of it.
An when Marse Reggie were stuck in
the back ~ ~
Toby jumped ezcitedly to his feet and
said:
Now, Moses, I know you is allyn. |
Marse Reggie never were stuck in the
back. l know better. That boy worn't !
the one to turn his back
Moses glanced in the direction of this
He worn't runnin, daddy; I never
said he were. His horse were shot under
him, an whilst he were down Marse
Yankee he plugged him in the back.
We was fightin all that day"
"How much of it did you do? Don't
you come no brag game over these
ladies', boy"
II recommend" said the Rev. Mr..
Brownell, emerging from under the ex-
'inguisher that Miss Melania had cap.
ped him with "that Moses father be
expelled should he interrupt the nara
i've again"
"Shut up, Toby" said Miss Melauie,
or we won't lot you hear another
word"
Lemuel Street had pushed his way
trough the crowd of women until he
TODD at the foot of tho platform. He
i'd not often show himself in these
atherings, but tho noise of returned
had brought him to this
me. He wanted to hear all about Reg
maids plight.
Here, you boy, tell us sharp and
uick about Captain Belknap. Is he
luch hurt:''
'Yaas, sir, he is for sure
Lemuel glanced over the white faces
the women gathered there and re.
'iced to miss Marianne's. Perhaps it
as as well, too, that Miss Bascom was
Of there. Hewisely judged that series
clear questions would expedite the
Hing of Moses story and tend to the
adler relief Of the women who were
angling Oh his hating narration.
How many Of the sharpshooters
ere hurt in this battle you speak Off"
Nary one as I is heard of 'cept Marse
eggie an the captain"
Colonel Bascom, do you mean?"
Yes, sir. We amt never been able {
find inch of him sence he went into I
at fight as hale an hearty as you is
w. Marse Reggie he was fetched off '
Q field for dead, an when 1 left he :
dn It know nothin at all" J
And you deserted him." !
mo- Stree, I didn't. DR.. No'thcote, N
u all knows him, he come to mo an
say, Moses, the bes' service you can 8
,der the captain'-you all knows q
arse Reggie was made captain after us o
t here-'is to work your way home II
tell his family If it is possible to II
him through the lines he should CT
taken home An, folkses, l amt
.red myself tryin to get here as fas'
I could" OF
You think Dr. Northcote meant by N
't'-Miss Melanie looked at Moses 10
tn frightened face-"that Captain 81
lknap is badly hurt?" IL
4 think"-Moses drew ragged dt
ave over his eyes-"that if Marse
ggie amt daid already the good Lord nj
performed a mericle sence I lef'
a." fe