The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-10-19

closed. Gan De OF any assistance!
The woman threw back her veil,
and there rose loud murmur of sur.
prise.
81 wanted to join the company
declared deep, masculine voice, and
a mans face full of trouble looked
out from under the black bonnet
from one wondering bystander to
another.
"It's Mis- Barlow's Bill, murmured
a lad, tapping his forehead in mean
ing way; "and by George, he's got on
the old lady's thingsl He was in the
war, you know, and guess the sound
of the drums has completely turned
his head.
The captain was among the crowd.
Stirred by generous pity, he event up
to the fantastic figure.
"The ranks are full, he said. "YOu
should have applied earlier.
Couldn't" returned Billy, simply.
'Much as ever I'm here now. Mother,
she's dreadful set against my going.
She burnt up my clothes to keep me
to home. Been locked up three days,
Regular blockade. But got away, l
got away!"
The boys crowded round with de-
lighted laughter at the news of the
first engagement of the war of 1898,
and the captain slapped the camel's
hair shawl on the back as its wearer
told the details of his eacape.
why, you are historical person
age, manp cried the former, merrily,
"and deserve to be escorted home by
O detail of soldiers. Come, fellows,
fall into line, and we'll see that Mr..
Barlow gets back safely. You must
do duty as one of the home guards at
present, sir, and be ready if second
call for men comes.
So, with an imposing military at
tendance, Billy returned to the little
red house under the apple trees as
pleased and proud as a major general,
his heart beating fast and his head
held high as he fell involuntarily into
the familiar marching step.
1t was droll sight as the black silk
skirt did its best to keep up with the
smart, blue trousered legs, and the
cavalcade made merry as it advanced.
Mrs. Barlow heard it approaching,
and filled with presentiments hurried
to the door to behold horrible carica-
ture of herself trudging along in the
centre or squad of militia. For one
moment she felt faint and sick at heart,
then with sudden rush of certainty,
the truth dawned upon her, and tremb
ling, she ran down the path and met
the procession at the gate. She seized
Billy, and hustled him unceremoni-
ously inside; and returning, still at a
white heat, addressed herself to the
captain:
$50 you've got him in spite Of me!
Well, take him, if you want him. l
suppose his body's good enough to
shoot at if he amt got any mind to
speak of. But it's wicked, wicked
thing!"
Her voice quivered and broke.
The young officer grew sober in an
instant.
"You are mistaken, Mrs. Barlow"
he said. "We do not want your hus-
band. We are only bringing him home
safely to you, for he might well meet
with insult in such dress. But don't
lock him up again. He deserves bet
ter things He is hero, and has won
the first victory of the warp
With which perplexing speech the
men broke into new laughter.
"Bout facel Forwardl Marchl"
cried the captain, and they wheeled
away.
twas some time before Billy's ward
robe was replenished with modern
garments, for his wife happened to
think of some of his old army duds put
away in the attic, and to his intense
delight he found himself again wear
ing the dear old blue. The next morn
ing, when Company Q passed by on
its way to camp, he stood at the gate
in ragged uniform which had been
on more than one hard-fought field,
and when the men caught sight of him,
ringing cheer went up for Billy Bar
low. Poor old Billy! He never
guessed the truth, but thought they
were cheering for the flag, and when its
stars and stripes went marching along
before his eyes again to the stirring
sound of fife and drum, he put his
grizzled head down on the mossy gate
post and cried like a baby.
And all the while, Mis- Barlow, with
set lips and ears that refused to hear,
sat in the kitchen mending the three
cornered tear in her black silk skirt.
1t was matter of history. Boston
Herald.