The National tribune., 1901-09-26
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ODShIortN
On the March to the Sea
Patsy the Kinch Provides New Form OF
Observation-Disclosures of the Mail.
Copyrighted 1922 by the publishers of THE NATIONAL
IyTRfnuSF.

in the army.
What in time is up?" inquired 81, rub
bling his eyes Has Grant took Rich
mond, or Thomas welted the immortal
stufling out o Hood?'
NO" said Pete, who had been inves-
tigating. IAN officers just come mp from
Kings Bridge, who says that the mail
boats there, and they're now sorting out
the mail according to the CORPS and divi.
sions, and it'll be up here presently"
1.-The mail"' gasped Shorty. Il won
der if I'll get anything from
He stopped short, and his sun-burned
face grew as red as Il September pump
kin, for he feared he was revealing to the
world the deepest secret as well as the
most fervent wish of his heart.
The mni?' said 81, with n flush of
happy expectation reddening his face.
There ought to be several letters there
from Annabel-my wife" He grew red
der still, for this was the first time he
had ever ventured to speak out loud the
sacred name of my wife" 'When's the
mail likely to be up here, Peter
Didn't think TO ask" answered Pete.
Il amt going to get no letters. so | didn't
| worry about when it come. Say, Sandy,
do you suppose we could find some of
| them oysters growing on trees If we went
over to the riverI'
Now Pete admonished Shorty. "You
just keep away from the water, unless
I'm along. You can get into quite enough
trouble, for all practical purposes, on dry
land. You'll have enough to do to take
care of yourself from the Johnnies, with
out having unnecessary tackles with ALT
gators, sharks, and deyil-fsh."
We'll. | guess none o them has killed
| me yet" grumbled Pete, sitting down on
the ground beside Sandy, at Shortys com
mand. They astonished me II little at
first. but l know all about 'em now"
The restless youngsters, boy-like, chat
ing under their enforced inactivity, imme-
diately began whispering to one another
suggestions and propositions to make the
| rest of the day lively, while 81 and the
rest were all eagerness about the mail,
and could think of nothing else.
Harry, Monty. Alf and Gid We're all
expecting letters from mothers and Sis
tiers, and with possibly even more anx-
iety from girls, not yet progressed to the
dehniteness Of sweethearts, who had
promised to write, or whom they hoped
would think enough of them to do so.
Pete and Sandy were still at the hob
bledehoy period when girls letters and
everything relating to them were scorn-
fully regarded las weaknesses to which
men should be superior.
Nor did Abe Grimstead expect letters.
He would have, given much if he could.
For three long years he had been as dead
to his family, and to rone who had prom
ised to be his wife, and to wait for him,
while he went South to earn the higher
wages there, the sooner to provide them
selves with a home. Was she unmarried
and still waiting for him, or had she
shaken him off as a rebel and n traitor,
absolutely unworthy of her? That the
rebels had forced him into this appear
aDce TO her gave a positive venom to his
hatred of them, and savagencss to his
acts that surpassed even Tom Radbone's
bitterness for the insults and expressions
he had endured at their hands. 1t was al
ways before Abe Grimstead's eyes that
the rebels had in all probability robbed
him of the woman he loved as we'll as OF
the three years of his life that he wanted
to devote to building a home for her.
This made him bitterly vindictive against
every one who IN any way represented
the COnfederacy.
Tom Radbone. on the other hand. had
been able to communicate with his fam
lily and his betrothed before the army
started on the march, and to get the glad
news that she was still unmarried. and
apparently waiting for him. He had writ
ten to her, and expected letter from
her.
Say, cullies," said Patsy the Kinch,
coming up breathlessly, i've fixed it up
witt, some of the boys over there to have
an alligator fight. Twill be more fun
than n three-ringed circus, with a dozen
clowns, and band o MINISTRIES t'rowed in.
Holy Gee. but it'll be a lark. You've
mustn't miss it for nothing"
An alligator fight?' queried the boys,
pricking up their ears. who's going to
| fight the aligators?"
why, don't you twig? The gators is
going to fight themselves. OATS where de
stacks o fun comes in. It's lively fun
Il IL ole - ..,,e@
marker to having they've fight theyself.
But | hain't no time to gas. You've see
where dem two tall expresses is? Well,
you've just break for dem. Don't lose no
time, for de curtain'll raise jest's soon l
kin git over dere."
a fight between Two alligatorsr' ex-
claimed the boys, gathering themselves up.
with the light of keen anticipation in
their eyes. why, that'll be something to
see. Thatll be just he-old scrap. Let's
get over there, at once-mustnt miss
that"
Orderly" said the Adjutant, coming
up, and addressing himself to Pete, you
and Baker saddle up at once, and go over
| to Division Headquarters for the mail.
Here's the order fer it. Be spry, now,
| for everybody's crazy for his letters"
Concern it," grumbled Pete, as the Ad
| jutant passed out of hearing and he
looked around soury for Abedncgo's sad
die and bride. That's the way in the
army. They never want a boy to have
no fun He just come down here and
give me that order to make me miss that
| fight | never get to see nothing. Some
body's always interfering just that way"
''Dog-go it," echoed Sandy Baker,
with a longing look at the two expresses;
eff they wanted the mail in such q hurry
why didn't they send some of these fell
! lers who are so crazy to get letters from
their girls? l never could see any sense
| in fellow being struck on girl Gives
him more trouble and worry than any
thing else in the world. And what's the
good, any how? What use are girls, I'd
like to know? They're always in the way,
and you can't do this, and you mustn't
THAT'S So" agreed Pete. "They make
there wasn't no girls nowhere. Us mend
get along lots better"
Hustle, there, boys" commanded 81,
We're all anxious fer our letters"
Jump, there, Pete" added Shorty
whats the matter with you? You're
slower than molasses in Winter"
| In their impotence 81 and Shorty, and
finally the others. rushed over TO the
steeds and helped Pete and Sandy saddle
and lifted them to their seats.
''Now, don't let the grass grow under
your feet, you young rascals,'' ST admon-
ished them, giving Abednego sharp cut
| with q switch to emphasize his words
Were all on needles till we get our let
ters."
Concern EN-" muttered Pete, angrier
| than ever because of the treatment of