The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-02-23

Co. throughout, and won such good
opinions from his superior officers that he
was told to consider himself sure of a
commission. Walter did equally well as
| the acting Orderly Sergeant OF the com
pany.
The day after the battle fought at Ray
mond, which, like all the actions that pre-
coded it, had resulted in the defeat and
| flight of the rebels, Co. A was on picket
| on one of the roads leading into the town.
Looking down the long stretch of highway
glowing in the fierce heat of the day,
Walter saw a cloud of dust approaching,
which he at first imagined was n small
party OF impudent rebel scouts. who were
making a dash down toward the line for
the purpose of gaining information. He
was about to order it to be fired upon,
when the dust rolled away little, and he
saw that the horses were attached to a
vehicle. The remarks made upon the
apparition had aroused the Company from
its siesta under the magnolias, and every
body was on his feet, regarding the new
arrival with constantly increasing curl
OSlty. Coming nearer, a couple OF Splen-
did coach horses, gotten up in the Eng
liSh STYLE with bObbed names and tails,
were seen to be attached to a vehicle that
might well have been claimed to be the
state coach of one of the 18th century
Governors of Virginia. No picture had
ever represented a more oddly conceived,
Anticipated specimen of the carriage
makers art. Ii might have come from
China, or Japan, or been dug up from
some glacial formation, like the elephants
in Siberia. The driver, who sat on the
box and handled the rope lines with
manifest dexterity, was dressed in finery
that seemed no less Anticipated than his
carriage. A huge bell -crowned fur hat
stuck tightly on his head. The rest of
his costume was made up of blue
broadcloth coat with gilt buttons, a buff
vest, a ruffled shirt, and pair of nan
keen trousers, which stopped short about
the middle of the calf of the leg, and
showed protruding below very hairy ex-
tremities, terminating in big splay feet
that looked as if they had recently under
gone some terrible rough usage.
The costume was completed by 1t
strapped around the waist, and which
carried well-filled cartridge-box. An
Enfield rifle lay on the box beside the
queer parsonage.
In the carriage was a very red-faced
entleman, with hair and whiskers OF
| more than auburn tint. He wore one OF
the gaudy coats affected by the higher
officers of the militia of the past genera
ton, and upon his head was a cooked and
plumed hat, belonging to the same cos
tune One hand held a drawn sword
while the other grasped with much more
confidence and familiarity an Enfield
rife. From the waist down the warlike
gentlemans person was hidden from view
by mass of hams, IoaveS of bread,
strings of onions, and full sacks, that
filled up the whole of the body of the
| coach. A demijonn covered with wicker
work, rested on top of the pile, and
| seemed to be regarded by the gentleman
with peculiarly affectionate solicitude.
Once he dropped his sword in alarm to
save the iemiiohn from rolling out of the
window
"BIood an'youns, Stock, why the divil
don't we DROVE aisyr" he said pettishly.
That's the second tonne in less than
half mile that we've come near sindin'
that delightful taste of sperrits out into
the middle of the road, which same would
break me heart for it's certainly the
foinest tipple that Owe met with since Oh
crasst the says. If We can't be aisy be as
aisy as We can"
"Ali right, Lieutenant; but you be
mighty keerful that ye don't lose none Of
them hams neither. Whoa, there
He reined the horses back on their
launches, for the man on duty had COM
manded halt.
There was moments pause, as the
guard waited for some explanation from
the occupants of the carriage.
Then the wonderfully attired coach
mans face lighted up with pleasure, and
he sang out.
al say, Wit Armitage, amt that your"
Walters surprise was manifest. The