Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-06-09

rulous tendency and the window
closed, softly, but with some evidence
Of determination.
Charville slept, awoke and ate its
breakfast; so did Peg Wilson. But
the bacon and potatoes cooled on the
stove hearth and the brat did not ap-
pear with his healthy appetite.
Peg become nervous at last and
went to his room. Tom was not in
sight but in the center Of the floor
was the old -four barrel, and traced
across the head even the limited edu-
cation of Peg enabled her to decipher
the letters in chalk:
Gone to Skulp JEFF Davis!"
So, the brat had gone to war! For
there was no one in town who could
drum so well as he, not even Major
Smith. Many peighbors had told her
so. Poor Peg. She had much diff
Guilty in swallowing food that day.
She marveled that the fool chickens
could strut around contentedly and
gulp down corn, handful at time.
Things were awry and the solar sys-
TEN seemed to move more sluggishly
than usual. But the red-headed brat
was gone!
The struggle Of Stone River was
one that tried mems souls-even men
whose experience in the field had been
OF the rougher and more dangerous
kind. The long roll had sounded for
the Third brigade, when Col. Miller
OF the I'D, noticing the stripping
drummer, addressed him in the kind
liest manner:
MY little man, this is no place for
you. All that you can do has been
done. Get to the rear and seek q safe
hiding place."
But | belong to-"
Never mind, you red-headed brat!
Get to the rear, tell you.
The drummer moved sullenly rear
ward. Already the I'D was forming
for the Iharge-nay, even worse, for
the foe was advancing in the death
struggle. Not regiment in gray,
but brigade, on the immediate front
OF Col. Miller. II was a wild, fierce,
impetuous onslaught. Men fell on
cit - side like wheat before the reap
or; otherA'en filled their places, and
the wild wave OF war ebbed, flowed,
surged and dashed amid the fury Of
mortal passion.
Down went Sergeant Robinson with
the colors. They 1.-THE colors) were
up again, waving grandly and def
antly. Corporal Jenkins seized the
staff and sprang forward-ten, TWEEN
ty paces-but no more. Like mock.
cry Of human hope the flag Auttered
helplessly to the ground. Willing
hands grabbed at the splintered staff,
but death was quicker than mortal
energy, and men went down as rapid
ly as the attempts were made. The
foe was suffering even more, but his
numbers were greater in that portion
OF the field
Col. Miller leaped TO the front with
drawn sword, and the fierce struggle
for the old flag was hand to hand, eye
to eye, heart to heart. Around the
brave officer surged the Confederates,
flushed by the assurance which a
temporary superiority of numbers
gives. The colonel was pressed back
ward, bravely though the color guard
fought. A Confederate captain sprang
forward, aiming a revolver at Col.
Miller's heart. With a shudder the
men fighting about him saw the act
and the falling of the pistols ham
mer.
But quicker than the captain were
another hand and eye. Col. Miller
turned suddenly, his face burned by
the powder from the shot, and beheld
the STRIPPING drummer, who, disobey-
ing orders, had followed the very
center of the regiment into the fight.
Again he turned and beheld the Con-
federate captain wildly endeavoring
to rise from the spot where he had
fallen.
This shot not only saved the colo
nel's life, but it created an important
diversion. The enemy fought as
bravely, but not as enthusiastically,
for daring leader had fallen. Sud-
denly the tattered flag seemed to
spring from the ground and rush
right through the Confederate line.
Wild was the cheering as the boys
followed it, the onslaught being so
vigorous that the foe gave back, wav-
cred, retreated, after firing one last
volley at the colors.
"Who bore that fag?' screamed
Col. Miller. who's the color bear
err"
None answered him.
What ails you, men-are you all
dumb? Who's the last color bearer?
II he don't get captains commission
III resign. Who is he?"
He has his promotion, colonel"
answered Sergeant Black, whose pow
der-smoked cheeks already showed
suspicious traces and cutters. His
commissions come"
Ravarentlv Col Millar annroanhad