The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-11-03

"YOU Mustn't KILL
I s'posed that wuz the way ,o'uns alters
married foikses in the army. Alters some
thing happens at weddin's down hyah. Mos
ginerully hits free fout betwixt the young
felIers O the BRIDE an bridegroom's fam
blics, from sputin' which family g made
the hest match. When Brother Wills mar
| ricd Becky Rarnstable we HEARTBURN boys said
that wills mout've looked higher. The
Barnstable boys done TUX hit up, an said
the Barnstables wuz Ell good ez thu Hart
burns airy day in the week, an at the we'd
din Neis Barn5table had his eye gouged
out. Ike Barnstable wuz knocked down with
fail, an had what the doctor called dis
| cussion o. the brain, and ole Sandy Barn
stable cut off Pete Hartburn's ear with a
bowie. They'nns reopened the argument at
the Unfair, an laid ont two o. the Hartburns
with ox-gads. / don't think they orter used
ox-gads. faint gentlemanly. Dye think
SO? Knives an pistols, an guns, an even
| fails an axes is all right, when you can't
git nothin' better, but think ox-gads is low
an ornery."
ST and Shorty looked at the gentle, drawl-
ing, mild-eyed young Tennessean with
amazement. A young girl could not have
seemed softer or more plant yet he quietly
| talked of savage fighting as one of the most
casual things in life.
well" said Shorty, eff that's the way
you celebrate weddin's and in fairs down here
in Tennessee, don't wonder that you well
come battle for change. think I'd pre-
fer debate with guns to one with axes and
fails, and anything that'd come handy. It's
more reg Ter to have umpires and referees,
and the thing conducted accordin' to the rules
of the P. X. Then when you git through
you know for sure who's licked"
''Jist 'cordin' t. how ones raised" re-
marked Nate philosophieally. "Tve alters
done seed big furse o. some kind at we'd
dim Don't all youns have none at yo'uns's
weddins?"
'Nothin' worse'n gittin' the girls dad to
consent" answered Shorty, land scratchin'
round to git the money to git married Onto
buy a new snit o. clothes, fee the preacher
pay for the license, and start housekeepin'
That's enough for one lifetime"
well, nam an the gals made Wils's
weddin' cloze,' said Nate refectively. He
had his own sheep, which he sheared in the
Spring. They 'uns carded, spun, dyed, an
woye the wool themselves an made Nate
the purtiest suit o. cloze ever seed on the
mountings.'
Your mother and sisters goin' to make
your weddin' suit, SIP" asked Shorty
"What'd he have to pay for the license?"
License? What's that?'' asked Nate
"License? Why license,'' explained
81, g is something you git from the County
Clerk. It's leave to git married, and pub
lished in the County paper"
Don't have T. have no leave from nobody
down here t git married. Hits nobody's
business but the mans an the gals, an
they uns's families. Some times other folkses
tries t. stick Their noses in, but they gifts
sot down upon"
'What'd he pay the preacher?" asked
Shorty
"Why, mann gin his wife hank o. fine
stockin' yarn, an dad gin him couple sides
o. bacon''
''At present prices o. pork in Injianny,"
remarked ST after little mental figuring,
g that wasn't such a bad fee."
"If you speak to the Captain" suggested
ST, 'he'll let you go back home to your wife.
| don't believe there's goin' to be anything
special tonight. The cavalry don't seem to
be stirrin' up nothin' out there"
81 don't keer t., - said Nate, in his sweet,
girlish drawl. Ruther stay with yoall
Mout somethin' happen. Biff Perkins an
his gang o. gOrillers is out thar somewhat,
not fur off, huntin' a chance fur deviltry.
I'd like moutily t. git whack at they uns.
Nance'l keep. She's mine, now, fast an
good, forever, anil wait fur me- Afore we
wuz spliced | wuz Altered Zach Barnstable
mout work some continuance t. git her, but
now she belongs t. me-"
The Toys took him to their hearts more
than ever.
At the coming of the early dawn the regi-
ment was aroused and marched back to camp
there to meet orders to move forward at once
Away it marched for the Tennessee River
behind which Bragg was supposed to be
gathering his forces for the defense of Chatta-
nooga
As Co. @ went by the cabin, Grandfather
Onslow was seated in q rocking-chair ON the
porch, smoking a cob pipe, while Mrs. Nancy
Gns!ow Hartburn, with her finger bashfully
in her mouth, peeped around the corner. Co.
q gave her a cheer, at which she turned and
fed out of sight, as if it was some railery
on her newly married state, and Nate hung
down his head, as if he, too, felt the boys were
poking fun mt him.
'Geod-by, boys. Lick the life outen Ole
Bragg" Guavered Grandfather Onslow, wav-
ing lis hand after them.
That's what we are goin' to do, )" shouted
the boys IN reply.
We'll, said 81, 8. bet if ever I'm married
I'll kiss nay wife before 80 away
Me, too,' echoed Shorty, very soulfully |
Shorty and 81 considered Nate HEARTBURN |
their special protege, and were deeply anxious