The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-09-08

through \ gap in the eneny's lines-
The family was at supper. A I en-
tered the dining-room my little girls
who was seated facing ne. Axed her hig
eyes on me In wonder q my sudden sp-
pearance. Z gave no reason for my.
coming. but stood awkwardly fumbling
the HIT ef my saber.
II am glad you came back for sup
per-" said the mother. kindly supplying
a reason for my coming. since / was too
stupid to give one myself, "but don't
you think b 1dangerous7"
"Dangerousy' The quiet supper-room
seemed very peaceful to me after my
experience during the day. "why. I
have been under fire since early morn
ing"
"Msmie, get chair" said the
mother.
The only vacant place at the table
was beside Mamie, VINO brought chair,
and sat down to supper. Mamie, re-
suming her seat, glanced up At me with
an admiring expression
"Aren't you afraid to fight? she
asked. tI. ...
had no thought Of admitting fear
10 such a pleasing admirer.
"Oh, no; q soldier must never be
afraid" replied.
"Not of the shells?''
"Only when they come too thick;
when one comes at time, and can
see It and dodge, I don't mind very
much"
"Nor the buliete?''
"The bullets are spiteful. kissing little
things" I admitted. but con face
them"
"Aren't you afraid Of anything?"
What an absurd question. was
tempted TO confess all the fear felt,
but could not endure TO shatter the
ideal of bravery she had created for
herself.
swell, IL don't like the noise"
This was the only truth 1 gave her.
The pandemonium Of sounds in fight
so terrified me that / had no bravery
left for the missiles Of war.
RI don't see how you can stand it,"
she said, wonderingly. Il couldn't; I'm
such q coward"
but you're only a girl. don't think
you could bear 70 see men killed. saw
sergeant this afternoon; he was
standing by a gun; a piece OF she'll
struck him end"
There was pressure OF soft hand
on my sleeve. and Mamie was looking
at me with an eagerness, terror. that
warned me to desist. glanced down
at the hand she had uuconsciously laid
on my arm, then raised my eyes to hers.
She blushed, and drew her hand away.
How brutal Of me 70 speak OF such hor-
I rors to girl. did not finish my story.
When supper was ended we all went
across the hall 10 the siteing.room.
The windows were up, for II was mid
summer, and though we could not see
out into the darkness, we could hear
the tramp Of men in the road, and
scarcely minute passed without dis
tant boom or a faint sound Of picket
firing. There was an anxious look on
the face of Mamie's mother. surrounded
as she was with her little ones, and
feeling that the younger children would
be better asleep, she took them away
and put them TO bed. This left Mamie
and me alone. We were not troubled
about the approaching battle; we were
interested only in each other.
Mamie's admiration for me grew
every moment. She asked me why I
wore yellow facings on my uniform,
and I told her that they were to dis
tinguish the cavalry. She was delight
ed with the jingle Of my spurs, the
golden shine OF my buttons, and when
let her half draw my saber, her ex-
pressive eyes CLEANED with mingled
awe and wonder. Dear little innocent!
she mistook the glitter OF war for
bravery. Was not soldier, bristling
with steel, armed TO the teethq while
she-she was only q girl, and coward.
When my trappings and weapons
ceased to interest her, we sat side by
side looking over book Of pictures.
Mamie was continually glancing aside
at me and smiling-though there was
nothing to smile at-then looking down
at the pictures. Some fine strands OF
her hair brushed my cheek. How II
happened, l never knew, but I, perhaps
accidentally, let my hand fall on hers,
She looked up at me with that same
meaningless smile-meuningiess, be.
cause she knew no more than that
II was the first tender opening Of wom'
ans heart.
= I have no distinct recollection OF
I what first made me aware that armed
men were without. remember Ma.
mics Jumping up, going TO the win
dow and peering into the darkness
then turning with blanched cheeks, o
wild terror in her eyes. In another mo-
ment she had pushed me into closet
locked the door and taken out the key
Soon after / heard the tread Of mer
and their voices In the room.
Standing bolt upright in my narrow
inclosure, my heart humping, was al