The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-28
A DRINK OF BRANDY.
By Cy warman.


.r,onn the Yankees!" said the gray
major shaking his hand that was drip
ninq with blood He mad just ordered
Io.reat and the dust-colored column was
..+reatipg sullenly. The major had fought
At The front coming up, cheering his men
on 10 the charge. but now, going back, he
,1,shed not to be seen at the rear. He
cat his horse going down the valley with
an expression Of bitter disappointment up
On his face, and hatred for his triumphant
adversary filling his breast. He glanced
hack Nd the gentle slope, down which his
men had charged awhile ago, and saw
them toiling up the hill again, bearing
their dead and wounded and staining the
stones with their young blood.
The column of blue was steadily advance
ing At the head rode the blue general,
who had turned the Hank of the grays as
g Tin sword turns when driven against a
stone wall.
"Damn the Yankees was all the gray
major could say, and then driving the
spurs into the TANKS of his horse he gall
looed away after his command. AT The
Ton of the hill he halted his shattered
band and offered battle. for the hill was
hard TO climb and he hoped to punish the
blue general as he came on. Seeing The
great advantage they held, the gray col
umn took new courage and fought desper-
ately. Steadily forward the blue general
led his men, drunk with the thought of 4
victory that was three-fourths gained.
Many there were who went down that
sl5pe. but the rest pushed on and up until
the gray column began to waver. The
desperate but thoroughly beaten men look
ed appealngly to the gray major, and at
last. seeing the utter hopelessness of fur
tber resistance, he ordered another re-
treat Now as at the foot of the hill,
lie dauntless leader sat gazing with min
eled hatred and admiration at the stout
figure at The head of the blues. And as
he locked bullet came whirring up the
hill and pierced the breast of the gray
major lie sank upon the neck of his
faithful horse and then rolled helplessly
10 the earth.
This blue general, having paused with
his field glass to his face, saw the brave
major fan, but when he reached the sum-
nit OF the hill he observed that the Of
fcer had fallen a little to one side of the
road his good horse remaining where the
rider had gone down.
Summoning his own surgeon, the gen.
era babe him see what could be done for
his fallen foe. The doctor dismouuted and
examined the wounded man. He lifted the
majors head. Damn the Yankees said
the major
Don't swear" said the doctor, and then
the major opened his eyes and gazed
about His glance rested upon the kindly
face of the blue general and he imme-
diately extended his hand. The blue gen.
eral dismounted and gave his hand to the
ri Of
commendaton for his bravery. Then he
gave the major some very fine brandy,
and the major being of the South, knew
that it was fine and was very grateful
4 10 the general for it, and for the attention
4 Of the blue surgeon.
Goodbye" said the general, mounting,
n Il must hurry on"
Goodbye, my gallant general Good
luck to you-but-Damn the Yankees"
II.
Just thirty years later the blue general
was made commander of the United
Il States soldiers stationed at San Antonio,
Tex He had grown gray in the service
4 OF his country, and the gentle woman who
/ had begun in her grlhood 10 be a soldier 5
wife had grown gray beside him. Their
. children were men and women making
places for themselves in the world ana
presenting them with interesting grand
children.
In little while the hero of Grassy Hin
aud the charming woman who had walked
through score and a half of years at his
eide won the hearts of the people of Tex
as which had been of the South but was
now OF the great and glorious West,
where there is neither North nor South.
Many men who had fought against the
olue general had come to know him per
Sonaty and to respect him. If now and
tueh they brooded over the past they
piessed the blue general and all his house.
one day while the generals grandchl-
uteh were driving in a pony cart, a horse
drawing delivery wagon, got away from
NE driver, and went flying down the
street.
me boys in the pony cart were turning
slowly, lheir cart hanging cross wise OF
the street. They We're talking and laugh
ms utterly unconscious of the danger
.hey We're in. A man who wore a SLOUGH
hat and had about him the air of an army
oneer, saw the horse coming down the
street, and saw the danger the children
We're in
Without moments hesitation he put
mmsef in the middle of the road between
tie children and the runaway horse.
me horse seemed to be blind with fright,
plt as he neared the man he swerved
eHgnuy, so that the wagon missed the
cart but it caught the man and rolled him
over and over in the dusty road.
Inc general, who was walking in the
avenue, saw 1t all and hurried to the man.
You are a very brave man." said he,
ana am unable to express to You my
appreciation of what you have done"
on, don't mention it, general" said the
nan, II was deeply in your debt for that
hill"
r. +. P, wonderful medicine; 1t gives
an appetite; it invigorates and strength