The Press., 1898-09-29
WHY HE ENLISTED.

AS bne T0CTu1IS COmm6uC6Q bO bCaGC6r sround in the shade the journalist and she Hancock volunteer proceeded toward the headquarters of the colonel of the regiment After the salutations had been exchanged before the tent of the commanding officer the volunteer ad- dressed the colonel, saying, "Cap'n, if you need any more of Hancock county boys I'll get'm for you"
 "n they're all as fine looking physical specimens as yourself, !" the colonel an swered jovially, "I'd like to have a whole army of them. Our regiment vii, be filled up in day or so. but I'll let you know in time" a# F. .-
 After they had left the quarters of the colonel and were stretched upon the grass in the shade the newspaper man took occasion to put his favorite ques- tion, "Why do you enlist?" Sometimes this question elicits an outburst of pa triotic ardor which fills the air with stars and stripes and eagles, sometimes (most frequently) it calls forth hard luck story, which paints in glowing oolors the virtues of the victim, but on this occasion the answer was merely, "Well, have nothin to lose. " "But, '' protested the newspaper man, 'tthere's no telling how long you'll have to be from home, and there's no man that will take the same interest in running your plantation that you do. for I presume you are a farmer"
 That's true. sir; that's true," was his deliberate response, "but you see things ain't just as they was. Before Mary left took interest in everything, but now-I jes' turnt the farm over tc couple of fellows an thought nights well to come to the front au fight for my country. I'm 34 years old, an ain't never done nothin but farm, an thought I'd take a little fightin in mine jes' at this stage"
 Here o forced smile played over hit rugged, careworn features The core spondent wished to follow the clew just thrown out about the desertion oi Mary, but didn't know just how to pro. ceed. Well, don't want to discourage your patriotism, he said, "but your giving up the peaceful leisure of rural life for the dangers and excitement of 6 campaign in which disease is as much VI bC ADoA NHA <Ao OPNhASh OdAACbo-
 Stranger, said the volunteer, that's jes' it. From the way you talk bout peaceful leisure I see you uin never lived in the country. Farmin's q good thing if 8 mans got money or don't mind workin, an don't, but that was jes' the whole trouble. bl'eve now whenI think of it that if had { had more time to make her happy she'' a been contented to stay, but it seemed to me we was married at the busiest time of the year, an then afterward il looked like had jes' as much to do al all times. l always had to look aftel the milkin at daybreak, an then be sides the regular work there's enougf chores and the like to keep a fellow hustlin all the time. Even on rainy | days there's harness to mend an such | But, friend" and here his face bright ened up until it was radiant with tn, recollection, eff you could have seer that little wife of mine in the dair, | you'd a seen the prettiest sight you eve saw. In little speckled calico skim min the milk an washin the crooks singin the whole time. jes' as happy a a lark. She looked like little pinl | TOS6Duu. SOm0Glm6S lL b60Iu0O GO u she was more like 8 angel than 8 wom an. But beg your pardon, sir" h. concluded, refilling his pipe, "you sai' | you wanted to meet all the Hancocl boys here, an guess I'd better go mak you 'quainted with 'em stead of telli, you all my personal affairs, which ism the right things to tell to strangers. l This sudden halt in the narrative an noyed the journalist, who had inter viewed woman suffragists, heard tn confessions of criminals, synopsized tn | prayers of ministers and even invade, the sanctity of the home for the purpos of publishing to the world the secrets 0 private life. The story had somehow placed him in that supersympatheti condition from which tact takes flight but, summoning the little skill whicl remained, he determined to make tn man lay bare his heart
 "No," he said, "don't apologize fo