The National tribune., 1898-08-11

amining. Consequently, O'Nel and the res
sought in vain for anything that ould Justify
the wOmen's opposition to their entrance
until just as they were on the point of leaving
Bronson, whose attention had been arrested
by the queer contrivance of 4 valance saw
something move 1t IN very suspicious way
He uptoed quickly acro>s the floor, raised
the valance with his left hand, and with hi:
| right caught the ankle of an enthusiastically
masculine riding-boot Walter saw him
ard springing with the swiitness of cat
caught the mate Of the ridins-boot in a smi
| lar manner
Pull =" said Bronson
Ont came, bringing with him tub o
| picked pork he had ciuciIed in Il vain at
tempt to prevent his being drawn forth. a
young man in gray uniform and wearing the
insignia of Second Lieutenant He was
mortified, and the women enraged beyond
expression, not only at the capture, but the
! ignominous manner of it, and Pollv.-who>e
| lover it appears he waS,-who had managed
III some way to elude the vigilance OF Karl
and Stock. ran to the fireplace, and. dipping
rom kettle hanging upon the crane,
started forward as if to throw 1t. but, en-
couniering O'Neil's threatening g&ance, she
flung the gourd down. and, covering her
face with her apron burst into tears.
Finding he WAS caught, the young fellow,
who despite the nature of his hiding-rlace
proved to be frank, manly youth acknowl-
edged that he was an officer i'll a Tennessee
regiment that had been hurried forward TO
reinforce Donelson, and finding himself in
the neighborhood Of his sweetheart, he had
taken the first opportunity TO slip out to see
her. He had hoped TO he able to slip through
our lines after might had fallen.
Satisfying themselves that he had no com
panions, the File sent Karl back to camp
with him, while they prosecuted their scout
still farther. Finding nothing, they started
10 return. Coming. again to the house, 4
flock of geese wadd!ed across their path,
kissing furiousiy.
1t had been a very fatiguing day and they
were exceedingly hungry. Is it very sur
prisIng that the tempter should whisper to
each OF yfen that Il dish OF goose would be
NEST agreeable variation from the salt ork
that had been their mainstay so long?
Human nature and especially the human
nature OF infJntrymen-is very weak in the
presence of iat poultry, and our friends for
got all about the stringent rules against mis-
cellaneous foraging just at the moment when
ihey should have kept those most in mind
war when our commanders were guarding
with tender care the onIon-beds and smoke
houses OF the men who were in arms in aid
OF the rebellion.
ONeil glowered at one particularly fat
goose
Be jabers," said he, "ye're kissing
at me blue uniform, We miserable ribil
burrd. Ye've caught bad manners from yer
Saycesh mistresses, an Oh won't STAN it to
bay so insulted so Oi won't"
He struck the offending bird blow with
his musket that broke its unfortunate neck
and laid it Topping in the road, where he
sent two others to join it,
Might as well be hung for an old sheep
as lamb" said Bronson, sententiously.
as he knocked over four. Let's take in
enough for the whole company while we're
al IL ~
Walter and Stock needed no encourage
ment, and they secured the rest of the flock
without much difficulty.
If the women oil the house had been dis
tressed over the capture of the young rebel
Lieutenant, they weIe distracted by the de-