The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-15
BENEATH
OLD GLORY'S
FOLDS.
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cceoccooco

work In most surprisingly short time
Almost before the blue-coated officer.
left the dining room she had fitted intc
the apartment and began 70 clear the
table The dishes ratified. the knlve!
and forks clinked. the water 10 the
dlsh-pan splnshcd In all directions
My, Miss Margaret, but 20 power.
full quick tday!" was old mammy's
comment, as she dried the dishes and
placed them IN the pantry.
II want 70 60 away to-day. Nanny
said Margaret. delvlng vIc!ously Into
the crenmer.
Go 'woy,chile?" said Nanny, aghast,
"And wild dem sojers all round us?"
II do not think you had better. 80
this afternoon, Margaret" said Mrs.
Winston. coming Into the kitchen. 1.-THE
general says there Is liable to be q
skirmish Mt almost any time now
but Harold will be expecting me-"
said Margaret. II told him I'd surely
come. He says both armies are BLY,
ouackcd. He says General Lee Is wait
Ing for reinforccments. General Grant
( does not intend to move forward be-
fore day after Tomorrow. I believe
Harold. mother; he always knows what
he is talking about"
But would you place his word
against that OF the general HIMSELF"
asked Mrs. Winston.
mot exactly" replied Margaret. "But
t! never yet heard Harold say anything
that wasn't So" RI
Amt yo' '.rald OBJ dem sobjers?"
asked Nanny. after Mrs. Winston had
left the Kitchen
what should be afraid of, Nam.
ny?" T
y dunno, Blu. dem gray uns's awful
bold" aFF3
THE blue one'Il take care of me,
Nanny"
II know one as would" and she began
to chuckle.. n
Margaret was not long In making her
toilet. She put on light rnuslln dress,
tied bit OF ribbon about her trim
waist. and carelessly throwing q huge
sunoonnet upon her head, stood for a
moment In silent contemplation,
u mustn't forget that" she said to
herself. going TO an old trunk In the
corner and taking out a parcel.
The dear old flag! It win soon be fln-
ished. Just few more stars to sew on,
and 1t will be ready to give to the gen.
eral. I wonder II he'll be surprised? I
Know bell be pleased when he hears I
made 1t all by myself. Well, must be
going"
She trlpped merrily down the stairs,
peeped In at her mother, who was doz-
he ~, a,,tz
then took the robust mammy-who
stood In readiness at the door-by the
hand and began to scamper along the
gravel walk.
Miss Marg'et, Miss Marg'et," cried
Nanny. gasping for breath, "d'yo
'spect my laigs is as nImble Us you'n.
My. but yo powerful quick in every
thing t'day."
Margaret slackened her pace. She
kept her eyes fixed steadily on the path
before her. For great part Of the dis
lance the ground was even and few OBJ
stacles impeded their progress. But
gradually there came change, the first
real difficulty being a narrow ditch,
whose bottom was covered to the depth
or several inches with stagnant water.
Margaret leaped over It safely enough,
but what for mammy?"
I nebber could cross ribber," the
latter said. even when rs girl. How
eber will l cross dis yere Rubicon?"
Can't you jump. mammy?" asked
Margaret. = $50
"Oh. yes. kin Jump" was the re-
ply. but Use sure to land right In the
middle OBJ de stream. / always had q
perfek horror oh bein' drowned. UGH"
You couldn't drown, NANNY" said
Margaret, the waters only q couple
Of inches deep.
Den I'd surely get stuck In de mud,
Miss Marg'et. And whoeber would be
able to pull me out? I'd take derrick,
sure" tt l-
Cant you walk across that los?"
asked Margaret.
Nanny opened her eyes in amaze
ment. me walk Logo" she exclaimed.
Why. whole sidewalk jes' about fits
me. amt no 'tight-rope. walker" .
Margaret tried to think Of plan BY
which nanny could be transferred TO
the other side, Of the ..-Ruh!con." But her
thoughts few off in another Direction,
leaving the problem unsolved. Nanny
stood by. now looking at the ditch, now
at Margaret. The fat. round face wore
an expression OF deepest dismay
Cant you take little rum" sug-
bSSNSo boiClf ollA k1lCll JuElp.
1T can't take no mo- little runs to-
day." said nanny. Ones enough To-
me-" III
well, II you wouldn't mind, then"
said Margaret, IN run on and you
can walt here until come back"
'"AiR't 20 'fraid. chIle?" asked MAN.
my.
mot at all." said Margaret. &.
BE cure yo' amt 'fraId?"
I'm not the least bit afraid" said
Margaret.
But IL Is"
Here was new predlcament. Mar
garet surveyed the horizon. then turn
Ing to nanny said:
i"You needn't be afraid here, This Is
a private path. Tho soldiers never use
It,"
but dem gray uns has. no respeck TO
private paths" said nanny. mo morn
dey hab for brack faces. Use genuine
'fraid. Miss Mar'get. Is"
Margaret espied clump OF bushes a
ehed nanny by the hand she led her
toward them.
Here's a good place for you, man.
my" she said. Just crawl In there
Nobody'll ever find YOU"
"Dem's berry bushes, Miss Mar'get,'
said nanny. "Sojers likes fruit, d.
fust thing they'd do II dey came dis way
d be 10 see OBJ any berries was on
Think u dey'd come cross dis yere big
black berry," and she pointed to her.
SELF "Ugh!" 7.#g N II
Margaret finally succeeded In convlnc.
Ing her that there was not the least bl,
OF danger. Nanny after entering the
bower made Margaret take different
ppsitlons at various distances so al t.
mike certain that she was invisible"
Cant you heah me breaye?' she
asked. ~
"No. nanny" replied Margaret.
But breave like T. steam engine
when Use excited" went on NANNY
''Yo' can mos henh my heart beat To-,
feet way. II ! eber saw one OF deu
gray goJers comm dis hyar way-MIs,
ma. La n..I -i..A .-''.',