Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-06-08


By the time I reached the house I
heard his voice shouting hoarsely on
the parade ground, and moment af-
Ter the notes of the bugle rang out,
sounding the assembly.
As I passed through the back yard
I stopped for moment at the hydrant
to dash some water into my snarting
eyes. There was tub under the fsu-
Get, half full Of the overflow, and I
was just leaning over this, scooping
the water up in my hands,. when I was
suddenly thrust aside SO violently as
to almost lose my balance.
Recovering myself Indignantly, I
recognized the Indian woman, Judy.
She had blanket in her hands, and
with o desperate energy she was
sousine It in the water. Her face was
wonderful to see. She looked like
one about to do battle to the death. I
had but glimpse of her when she was
off and up the hill, her head down and
partially covered with the blanket,
running and leaping from stone to
stone like hound on the scent. She
did not stop to look or listen, but
sped on till in a moment she was lost
to sight.
Then heard the quick tramp Of
the infantry company coming across
the parade ground at double time, and
as it reached the edge of the woods, 1t
deployed as skirmishers and advanced
into the smoke, but as toiled up the
hill once more by the side of the agon-
ICED father, painting and with the
sweat running down my face, I knew
where the only hope of the child's SAL
vation lay. a.
We had not penetrated far, though
il seemed great distance, when
among the smoke.wreathed trees in
front of us appeared a spectral thing.
A tall figure, but whether man or
woman it was hard to say, for its gar
ments hung in smoldering rags about
it's limbs, while its lace was buried in
a bundle that its sinewy, blackened
arms hugged tightly to its breast.
"It's Judy" I cried. SITS Judy!
She's got the boy"
A great shout went up from the men
in hearing, and was repeated down
the line. And at the sound the poor,
scorched, blinded creature sank slow
~ to her knees and then fell prone
upon the earth. In an instant dozen
strong hands were lifting her up and,
while the captain relieved her of the
boy, the rest of us carried her as gent.
ly as might be down the hill to the
house.
The child was unconscious from
smoke and fright, but the doctor soon
revived him and pronounced him in
no danger from his adventure. But
when he examined poor Judy's in
juries he slowly shook his head. All
that he could do was to make her as
free from pain as possible till the end
came. She knew she was dying, and
we could see how she suffered, but
she endured the ordeal with marvellous
patience and dignity. At the very
last she said, with her quaint Irish
accent: "Cap'en, I been dacena
Christian woman for nigh on two
year. When I die wilt I go I'd
heaven?" :;
"Yes, Judy" said the captain.
"Well, SEQ here, cap'n," she said.
ST been thinking bout thot, an I
kind O. changed my mind. ou see,
I amt sure my husband and baby'll
be in Christian heaven, cause they
don't know bout it, on I don't want
to take no chances, dye mind. So 1
guess I'll make sure an 60 wheriver.
they are. You can fix it for me,
cap'n, can't you?" she added rather
anxiously.
"Judy," said the captain, in voice
full of emotion, you've always been
an honest, faithful worlan, and you've
just given your life to save that of q
little child. I am sure that God will
be good to you. Only ask Him for
what you want" i
"Well, "said Judy, call I want is to
go where Tuosilt and Inotlin are,
that's all. But if I got to ask God,
maybe I'd better say thot prayer He
likes. Dye think 80, cap'n."
eyes," said the captain, covering
his eyes with his hand.
And as she began, in failing voice,
"Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name," we all rev,
erently kneeled and joined in the
petition. And when wo said the final
"Amen," the captain, who had been
holding the poor creatures hand,
gently laid it on hor breast, for Judy's
generation had been made complete.
Atlanta Con stitntion