Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-08-06
CHAPTER III.
A DEFINITE OBJECT,

M4,y never neal! lime lilies,
W w and /. who should be
up and doing, am Gagged
Ike a tiger walking back and forth
within the limits of its inclosure."
This was my complaint as | paced
nv room one morning shortly after the
accidental reopening of my wound. NV
Il nratieuce was not without cause. |
4 Ind gone south, as l have said, with
4 Two obiects-to find my enemy and tc
a gather information. l had failed in
finding my enemy, but had gained a
complete knowledge of the points es-
seutial 10 the capture of north Ala.
hama and was carrying it to the gen
.r;l on the day | was shot. 1t had oc.
cured to me before setting out that,
after finishing my military mission,
might still wish to continue my search
for my enemy. Besides, there were
other contingencies. such as arrest or
illness. which needed to be provided
for. had therefore arranged that the
s generals fayorite scout should be at
4 Huntsville on the morning of the LIST
1 Of April TO receive any communication
! might find it necessary to transmit
If were prevented from meeting him.
i | was TO send a messenger and had de.
4 yisel code Of signals by which he
| might be recognized. The appointed
| (Iay was drawing near. l was not alb
| to keep my appointment. and there was
| no one at hand to whom l could in
trust the message.
lchafed till had exhausted my small
store of strength, then threw myself
On MY couch. Little Ethel came in
and, like a soft ray of sunlight break
ing through stormclouds, turned my
thoughts into gentler channels. She
held in her hand bouquet of flowers
which. it was easy to see, she intended
for me, but needed encouragement to
offer. finally induced her to do so
and TO admit that she had been out
long while looking for them for me es-
pecially. tried to unloosen her
tongue. to induce her to confide in me,
but in spite of all | could do she re.
manned shy, and there was ever present
that awe she had shown before Of one
who had taken life.
why do you look at me in that way"
asked.
She made no reply, casting down her
eyes at my brown hand, which held her
dmpled fingers.
You mustn't dread me because I am
obliged TO fight" / continued. These
are Wartimes. There are a great many
soldiers in the land who think nothing
Of killing one another"
Don't theyW She raised her eyes,
wide open with surprise.
"0f course war is cruel, but-but 1t
calls out much that is noble"
When they kill each other"
What pulling questions to come
from such untutored lips. l was cast
ING about for some explanatory reply
when a sudden interruption relieved
my embarrassment. A negro boy dash |
ed into the room. through 1t and out |
Of another door. He was followed by |
The white boy had noticed on the day |
of my arrival. who was screaming: i
"Docgone yo', FAC; I'll break every ,
bone in yo' consumed black body.'
The words were scarcely out when !
he shot through the door by which the
fugitive had vanished. Little Ethel F..
looked after him with frightened eyes,
evidently dreading a catastrophe.
who's that?" l asked.
Buck" ,r..,r -
your brother?"
Yes"
Don't be alarmed. That's only a
sOy's passion. 1t won't amount to any
thing"
HE says such dreadful words"
That's habit. He doesn't mean any.
thing by it. But it's habit that should
be broken"
soon got her quieted, and she pratt
tied about her dolls, her playhouses,
Some pet rabbits and a nook in the gar
Gen where she kept them. How singu'
lar that war, which absorbed all about
her, should have no place in her MIND.
Amid all the turmoil, the rumbling of
cannon, the tramp of men and horses,
bushwhS cking, skirmishing, battles,
'AlS innocent little maid was strangely
out Of place Her mother came in pres
emily and took her away, fearing that
she would annoy me. | was loath tc
part with her No healing balm had
been applied TO my wound so soothing,
50 grateful as was her prattle TO my
levered brain and chilled heart.
They had scarcely left me when
buck stalked into the room. his boyisE
lace as FREE from passion as if he had
lever been ruffied. He had made sew
ta attempts to visit me, notwithstand-
ihs that he had been forbidden the
room. Seeing the coast clear, he slip
fed IN unannounced and began fire Of
Questions.
Does it hurt?"
! AJ arm? Yes. it hurts some"
II glad yo' plunked him"
Why do you sympathize with me in
s'ead Of the other? Yen have only seer
ne few times"
ms was too much for him TO ex- ,
pam. could see that he had conceiv'
~ I'D a.lmiration for me. but he could
Lot tel svhy.
Nhat did he try TO kill go fo'T' he
asked.
vel. perhaps IL was because my ex. =
-',,hre annoyed him." !.
WHAT did 20 want TO kill him fog =