The National tribune., 1899-11-23

thrust in the ground bore an old wool hat.
To the twig a dog was attached by string
so cleverly arranged that when the dog
pulled to get free he would raise the hat
above the head-log.
"Say, Yanks, what d. yo-uns think o.
that zee fur a Yankee trick?" yelled a
voice from safe covert behind an oak
on knoll at a little distance. Wasn't
that a slick one? Why didn't yo'uns
keep on puggin' away at that old hat the
rest o the day? hope YOU didn't hurt the
dorg. He's a mean, wuthless yaller purp,
bat he's got more principle an better blood
and's more OF a man than any o yo'uns
So long. Well see yo'uns down at
Allatoony."
The speaker fired his gun as parting
salute, and disappeared in the brush.
Disappointed il not having been able to
force his enemy into decisive battle along
the EtOwah River, Gen. Sherman halted
his army for a few days before lanching
IL against the rugged sleeps and formidable
intrenchments OF the Allatoona Mountains.
The 2DOth Ind. was pushed forward until
it came within uncomfortable shelling dis
tance Of q rebel fort, and there threw up
line Of intrenchmentS, and waited de
yeIopments. The Smelling was at first eX-
citing, but in a little while everybody got
used to it, and settled down to his usual
yocatons without paying particular at
tention to the firing, except when some
specially well-aimed shell made furry.
After they had washed out of their clothes
the clay which had accumulated while they
were wallowing in the flooded rifle pits, and
doing some rude mending, Sis and Shorty's
next thoughts We're as TO writing responses
| to the letters they had received. ST had
reached the point where he announced
his purpose of wanting to write to his girl" !"
with open frankness, for the boy who did
not have girl" to write to was an ex-
ception, and considered as not in the swim
at all. But Maria was entirely too sacred
| a subject for Shorty to expose to the garish
| light of day and the comments of the rude
members of Co Q. So closely had he kent
his dear secret that he had not even init
mated to ST that he had received letter
from his sister, much less any hint of the
new happiness that glowed in his heart, and
softened his words and ways to all around
him. ST occasionally marveled inwardly
at the exceptional consideration and regard
which Shorty displayed toward him and
Pete, and for the want of anything better
attributed it to the effect Upon his brain of
the blow he had received at Chickamauga.
Shorty was more eager than ever to write
TO Maria, and more than ever at loss what
to say to her. He wanted to say every
thing, and yet he feared to say anything,
lest he might wreck the delicate fabric OF
his happiness.
Upon examining his writing materials
he found them in deplorable condition
The rain had reduced his paper and en-
velopes to limp pulp, which no drying
could cure. Inquiry among the other boys
revealed that all theirs was in the same
condition, and the, suffers wagon was
miles away, no one knew where. But, as
usual, obstacles only made Shorty more
determined, and he finally succeeded in
getting couple of blank requisitions from
the Quartermaster-the only decent paper
that he could find. With these a piece of
-, l1-t-I L.. i
wooden lnkStand, he repaired to the shelter
of large sycamore on the bank of Pump
kin Vine Creek seated himself comfortably.
and drew out Maria'S letter and read it for
the hundredth time. He began his labori-
Gus reply, but had only finished writing:
in Camp at Punkin Vine Creek, Nav
the 81.
mi DEER
He paused with q flush of guilt. Would
he dare the presumption of writing Maria"
without putting the Miss" before it? How
he longed to ask some one in whom he had
confidence-Capt McGillicuddy or Lieut..
Bowersox, for example. what to do? But
he would not lay bare his secret even to
those cherished advisers. But, then, she
had written him, Mi deer Daniel" and
there would be something ineffably sweet
in addressing her the same way; He did it
with fingers so nervous that his writing
was so unsatisfactory that the sheet was
spoiled. Yet he tore off the strip contain
ing the words, carefully folded it, and
placed it among his other treasures.
He re-wrote the opening lines more
carefully, and gazed at them with salts
faction. Little Pete came running up
with siX-pound unexpioded shell in his
hands.
90, Corporal" he said, I've bin lookin'
all around for you. Here's a shot that Just
come over from a new battery the rebs have
opened. Me and Sandy have been dis
putin about it. He says it's bum-shell.
l say it's only a big iron mimic bullet, same
kind of thing as we shoot, only made of
iron, and intended to bust trees and breast
works."
That's a shell-a percussion shell, from
a rifled gum" answered Shorty, abstract
edly, looking up from his sheet. ~The
same as some Of our guns shoot. Prob
ably come from one o. our guns they've
captured. Be mighty careful of it. Bet
ter go and throw it in the crick"
He resumed his writing:
Il talk mi pen in hand to inform you that