The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-27

their sudden wealth old Nat had char
tered Il trading boat. Il miserable
scow-like affair. which was towcd
up or down stream as occasion served.
Ostcnsiblv it WAS Il suffers boat. In
reality il engaged in all manner of
contraband trading. \ cotton cargo.
once safe under matches meant more
profit tnan many weeks in camp. Old
Nat had planned to smuggle such q
cargo aboard before the Lucy tied
ND at Wake Forest landing. He had
slipped outside the lines spying where
best to seize it, leaving his wife and
swan in charge of the boat.
Soldier villages gossip even more
than ordinary villages. Everything
at headquarters is soon the common
property Of the camp. Thus Swan
came to know very soon all the par
ticuars Of yellow Ned's arrival she
pondered what she had heard a day.
then Just at sunset. startled hef
mother by saying. I'm going over TO
the outpost. Funny | never thought
of it before-but there is my chance
to see the inside o Wake Forest.
There was no protest. Mrs. Hin
y
turn Swan from her purposes. But
something. she knew not what, made
her kiss her daughter shyiy.
fearfully. once. as she felt swan
trembIe at her touch. out of the full
ness Of her mother heart.
II wish | could take .Tou, too, but
that would spoil everything" Swan
said. patting her cheek and almost
running away. She had rumaged out
her old fiddle. and put on short
frock, much frilled and spangled,
which she had worn in the days OF
he band. 1t was black. and came
low in the neck. 80 she threw over her
shoulders blue artlleryman'S cape
disp0Sin0 one end so the scarlet lin
ing would show At the very last
she turned back and thrust something
deep into her bosom. saying, with Il
lazy smile "You don't never know
what may come in handy when Won
90 on a 'poSsum hunt this time o the
year
As she picked her way through the
company streets there were hills
from every hand--cries of admiration.
invitations to supper. banter for IL
tune. just one-but she stayed for
none Of them. Words she flung back
in plenty: her tongue had gained in
license, in piquancE. and pc-nt. y
very young officer, riotously full Of
beer ran out and tried TO kiss her in
the face Of all. but was rappe'l
smartly over the nose with the fiddle
bow. and ran back bowling with
pain.
As she came to the outpost the
pickets made a feint Of hating her.
She stuck the fiddle under her chin,
played three discordant bars, and
said: Let me through-Or You'll
hear worse than that" All the camp
knew her-she had indeed the free
dom Of more than one army corps.
She was kind in sickness or trouble,
a good comrade in health. square
every man of them would have staked
his life on that and straight. fer all
her freedom. both of speech and ac-
ton. SO she won easily to Col. Flow
tows door. She would have passed
the sentry there, as she had passed
the others. but that Flowtow himself
was just coming out. with yellow Ned,
as usual. at his heels.
You. What do YOU do here:" he
said roughly. catching her arm in a
hard grip.
Me! O., l. just came to find out If
you-all were dead Swan said jaunti-
ly. Il didn't know but Mister Fer
rests critter company had slipped in
and made crow s-meat of the lot"
"What is that to YOU? Women are
not for fighting Flowtow said, still
roughly. Swan laughed, an airy, hap
Ply laugh.
NO. Women are for kissing" she
said. 'I'll kiss you. Col. Flowtow-
and play you Il tune into the bar
gain-if you'll do Just one little thing
want"
oh! IIo, | am TO 70 bribed-in
face of the articles of war" Flowtow
roared. We'll. bride me. Swanchen
| will hear what it is about-after-
ward"
You shall take the tune first"
Swan said. throwing off her cloak
and setting the fiddle beneath her
chin. Before Flowtow could protest
she had struck up Run. Niger
Rum" looking as she played straight
at Flowtow's new servant. Without
a break she glided into another strain
almost an improvisation, full CT swell.
ing chords and soft wailing minors
She had played it first upon her we'd
ding night Morris had snatched the
how from her hands and had 1roOvad