Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-05-19

ing lbs.
Help who2 Help those women out
yonder at Sans Souci?"
Eyes. What do they need?"
Seth laughed mirthlessly.
"Need2 Well | reckon they JUS
about need everything women folks IS
used to havin. The madam, she is got a
brand new dress-a mighty fine one.
She helped spin the yarn for it herself,
and sissy wove it on the hand loom. LII
za's got to be frs class weaver. Nam
my's wearin petticoats made out OF old
bedtickin, but she declares they are
prime good Sissy goes clompin round
in q pair Of things called shoes that l
cobbled up fur her ont Of All alligator
hide. They amt dancin pumps JUS ex-
ac'ly, but they beat no shoes all hol-
Ter. Mothers wearin u pair Of slippers
/ figured out of pair Of wornout sad
dlebag flaps. You see, we don't 60 in
for the fashions very heavy these days"
"But food? Every outside source Of
supply is closed against you. How do
you manage to keep in the necessaries
Of life?''
Seth looked a him with lofty con-
tempt.
1T depends purity much on what you
nout call the necessaries OF life we
used to think that coffee and sugar and
-four come under that head, but we've
changed our tune sence we've come
down to okra pod coffee and sassafras tea
without no sweetenin.
Strong Martin groaned audibly. Seth
flung taunt at him.
Don't groan, majuh. You're on the
winnin side, as you've took occasion to
tell me more'n once this mornin. No
danger Of you ever bein put to it for
cup Of coffee or pair Of shoes AS for
us, we've got sorter used to dom with
out things, and it don't hurt half as bad
as you might think. 1t don't hurt half
as bad, no, sub, not one ten thousandth
part as bad as findin traitor in the
bosom of your family"
A book came hurting toward his
head, sent by Strong in perfect frenzy
Of evaporation
"Hold your haunting tongue, you
driveling sentimentalist Do you sup
pose that anything you could say or
leave unsaid could make me alter my
way Of looking at this matter? Because
you were born in the quarter lot OF
slaveholding aristocrat and have been
content to crawl around doing his will
all your life, is there any reason why l
should spend my life driving negroes
too? Because you have identified your
self with his grievances and made his
Hght your fight, do you demand that l,
too, should risk my life to save his
property? Our father and our young
brother gave their lives that Governor
Srong's chattels should be put in a
place Of safety. have arrayod myself
against the side where such massacres
are possible Accept the issue now
friendship or hostility between you
and me-.
Seth covered his face with a romorse-
full cry.
"Poor old daddy! Poor little Charlie!
My lad, my merry little lad! l wished
! could a died in your stead, Charlie,
In place of livin to handy words of hate
and scorn with the onlies' brother I've
got left in the world. +"
The somber gloom Of the officers face
was dispelled temporarily by a smile Of
ineffable sweetness.
"Not hate, brother. l don't think
you ever really hated anything i'll all
your gentle life. Only shock Of dis
agreeable surprise, and certain frettul
uneasiness for the situation. You will
come to look at things and at me differ
emily month or SO hence, very differ
entity"
At this juncture Corporal Greenleaf's
ruddy face was suddenly framed in tho
doorway. 1t was furrowed with comic
al perplexity With an abrupt military
salute he craved his superior officers
pardon for his intrusion
"Thar amt no use, major They
won't be held back no longer. They're
wimmin, and wimmin are the very dew
il for carrying a point If they was
men, could q handed 'em over to the
guard. The old lady says she's rode sew
en- miles in a dumpin cart to get to her
son, and she won't be kept from him
by King George and all his army"
And she means every word che
says. f"
This Endorsement came from Becky
herself, who pressed resolutely to the
front, never once loosening her hold Of
IA little nut brown hand, partially in.
cased in white cotton mitten, that be-
longed to discreetly yelled young wo-
man.
Agitated, breathless, confused, Mrs
Martin, standing in the center Of the
small apartment, did not look at all
like woman who had just carried her
point
That majestic officer, heavily beard
cd and sun tanned almost to blackness,
was an imposing object in his dashing
uniform, but he was not Seth Purpose
ly or by an impulse Of pity for mother
and son Seth's gaunt form was sudden
ly interposed between them.
Here am, minnie sound in wind
and limb"
Becky rushed at him with hysteric-
al cry.
Sonny! My boy Seth! Oh, my good
Lordl I've been that bad scared. l
didn't know what they might do to you
before l got here God bless you, son
Sethp
Mother, have you no blessing for
me?"
Seth felt himself forcibly set aside
At sound of that deep, sonorous bari
tone Rebecca turned her bewildered
eyes away from tho rustic in tatters to-
ward the officer behind him.
1.-THE voice, the voico-is-my boy
Strong 's-but
A soft sigh smote upon their ears.
The slight yelled figure lay in heap at