Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1899-06-08

gold; every brad, green leaf wore .
heart Of gilded splendor. and the
muddy waters Of the river rolled
onward like . food Of precious
metal, heavy, FURNISHED. noiseless.
From 8 balsam bough . thrush
uttered three timid notes; q great,
gauzy-wlnged grasshopper drifted
blindly into q clump Of sun-scorch-
cd weeds, click click cr-r.r-r!
Purity, ain'tit,' said Craig, look
ing at the thrush. Then he swal-
lowed the last morsel Of muddy
bareback, wiped his beard on HE
cun. hitched up -his trohsers, took
OF his green glasses, and ruSksd
his eyes.
"A he catbird sings purifier, tho ,
he said, with yswn.
Alden drew out his watch, puffed
once or twice, and stood up, stretch
ing his arms in the air.
'it's four o'clock he began, but
was cut short by shout from Con-
nor.
Gee whiz = be yelled, what have
/ got on this here pole?'
The ramrod was bending. the
line was swaying heavily in the cur
rent.
ITS four o'clock, Connor,' said
Alden, keeping q wary eye on
Craig.
That's all right!' called Craig;
sthe times extended till yewr
friend lands that there fish,
pulls like a porpoise,' granted
Connor. Il bet it busts my ram
rod p
docs it pull p grinned Craig.
Yes. dead weight! =
Don't it Jerk kinder this way
and that asked Craig, much in.
terested.
Nav said Connor; 'the. bloody
thing jest pulls steady
Then it amt no red horse; 'it's
a catfish =
sHuh sneered Connor; don't I
know Q catfish? This ain't no cat
fish, lemme tell yer 7
Then it is log laughed Alden.
'Bv gum here it comes,' painted
Connor; here, Alden, jest you
ketch it with my knife; hook the
blade, blame yep
Alden cautiously descended the
red bank of mud, holding on to
roots and branches, and bent over
the water. He hooked the big
bladed clasp knife like scythe, set
the spring, and leaned out over the
water.
'Nowp muttered Connor.
An oil circle appeared upon the
surface Of the turbid water-anoth-
er aud another and another. A few
bubbles rose and fioated. upon the
tide.
Then something black appeared
just beneath the bubbles, and AL.
den hooked it with his knife and
dragged it shoreward. It was the
sleeve Of mans coat.
Connor dropped his ramrod ard
gaped at the thing. Alden would
have loosed it, but the knife blade
was tangled in the sleeve.
He turned q sick face up to Con-
nor.
'Pall it in,' said the older man.
Here give it to me, lad
When at last the silent visitor
lay on the bank, they saw il was
the body Of q Union cavslryman.
Alden stared at the dead face, fas-
cinated; Connor mechanically coun.
ted the yellow chevrons upon the
blue sleeve, now soaked black. The
muddy water ran over the baked
soil, spreading out in dust-covered
pools; the spurred boots trickled
slime. After O while both men
turned their heads and looked at
Craig. The Southerner stood silent
and grave, his battered cap in his
hand. They eyed each other quiz
city for O moment. then, with o
vague gesture, the Southerner walk
ed back into his pit and presently
reappeared, trailing his rife.
Connor had already began TO dig
with his bayonet, bat glanced mp
sharply ut the rife in Craig's hands.
Then he looked searchinglY into
the eyes Of the Southerner. Pres
emily he bent bis head and quietly
continued digging.
1t was after sunset before he and
Alden finished the shallow grave,
Craig watching them in s;leuc.