The National tribune., 1899-07-13
At least that was what it seemed to him.

At least that was what it seemed to him.
He did not exactly know what homesick-
ness was from personal experience, as he
had never really had a home. But he had
seen thousands of boys more or less affected
by that obscure but stubborn and danger
GUS malady, and had noted their symptoms,
which StrongI Y reSembled his own.
Somehow, the sun only shone with real
brightness and warmth over the pleasant
homes and fertile fields of Posey County,
sweetness there denied to their sex else
where, and somehow the flower of them all
was buXom maiden of 20 dwelling under
the roof of Deacon klegg.
Shorty appreciated very properly the
dignity and responsibilities of his two
stripes. He was going to be the model
Corporal Of the regiment, and give all the
rest copy which they could follow to ad-
vantage. OF all the CorporaIs he had ever
known, ST Klegg had come nearest his
ideas as 10 what a Corporal should be, but
even ST had his limitations. He would
show him some improvements. So Shorty
bent his mind upon the performance Of
everything pertaining to the Corporalcy
with promptness and zeal. He even set to
studying the Regulations and Tactics-at
least those paragraphs relating to Cor
porals and their duties-where heretofore
he had despiSed "book-soldiering," and re-
lied on quick observation and horse sense"
10 ueiCl lllIil tIl Ufldt was WOIGil knowing.
But his stay in the Deacon's home showed
him that they esteemed "book-knowledge"
even in common things as of much value,
and he began to have new respect for that
source of instruction.
Even through the pressure Of official
duties and responsibilities there Weuld
steal, like the waiting Of sweet song to the
ears Of the reapers in hot field, thoughts of
the GOODNESS, the beauty and the peace of
that quiet home on the Wabash with one
fiower-faced girl, with white, soft arms,
going about her daily tasks, singing with
such blithe cheerineSS that even the birds
stopped to listen to sweeter note than
theirs. Some subtle fragrance from her
seemed to be with him wherever he was, and
whatever he might be doing. When, as the
tallest Corporal in Co. Q, he stood on the
right OF the company, on drill and dress
parade, and made the others "dress"o on him,
he wished that Maria Klegg could only see
how. straight the line was, and how sol
dierly the boys looked. When the Colonel
personally selected him to command the
squad which was to escort the Paymaster
through a dangerous part of the country.
he would have given much to had Maria
known of the trust reposed in him. And
when, as Corporal of the Guard, he sup
pressed in his usual summary way a noisy
row among the teamSters and cooks, he was
very glad that Maria did not hear the re-
marks that Corporal always thinks neces-
Sary TO make on such occasions. Shorty
did not swear with the fluent ease of be
fore his visit to the Klegg homestead, but a
little excitement gave the old lOoSeness to
his tongue. And when he sat around the
guard-fire, he would refuse to be drawn
into any little games" but turn his back
upon the chattering crowd, and fIrtiyely
draw from his breastpociet the rem
nant of Maria'S dress, and feel it, and muse
over it, until aroused by the call:
80 tl,..I NJ
want drink O water"
Shorty began to watch for Sis mail a
good deal more anXiously than that worthy
did. He managed to go by the Chapain's
tent whenever duty took him in that part of
the camp, and sometimes when it did not
and inquire if there was any mail there for
ST. One day he was rewarded by the
Chaplain handing him two letters. His
heart beat little quicker by seeing that
they were both poStmariied Bean Blossom
Greek. The smalier-a white envelope,
superscribed in AnnabePs cramped little
hand--he thrust indifferently into his
pocket, and the larger-a fat, yellow enyel-
ope, covered with the good Deacon's mass
i've crow-tracks, and securely fastened by
a dab of sealing wax, pressed down with
cent-he studied with tender interest. 1t
had come directly from her home-from her
father. 1t probably told something about
her.
It seemed as if there was something of the
perfume of her presence about it. Possibly
She had carried it to the station and mailed
it. He turned it over gently, studied every
detail, and fixed his eyes upon it, as if he
would make them pierce the thick, strong
paper and devour the contents. Then it
occurred to him that the better and quicker
way to get at the inside would be to deliver
the letters to ST. So he hunted up his part
ner whom he found about to take his squad
out for a turn at wagon guarding.
ST looked pleased as he recognized his
fathers letter, but his face flushed to the
roots Of his sandy hair at the sight Of Anna
bells. He put the latter carefully in his
pocket. 1t was too sweet and sacred a
thing to be opened and read under the gaze
of any one else's eyes. He broke open his
fathers and as his eyes travelled slowly |
down the largo foolscap pages. covered |
with tho Deacon's full-grown characters, !