The National tribune., 1901-03-21

| PROBABLY 4 j UST1CE o THE PEAC
fensive," said ST, in a conciliatory tone
None of us would insult disabled men
We're very sorry that you have had sucl
misfortunes. Where are you from? AnC
what are you doing here"
| The stern hauteur of the Sergeant's face
relaxed at once, under Sis kndliness, ano
he answered in a softer tone:
"We have been on duty at the State
| Capital, sab, and when Gov. Brown, and
| the Legislature retired before yorc fo'ces
sab, we fO'med reah-gyard to coyeh their
retrat, sah."
very proper and soldierly," said 81.
Sergeant, for | see that you have the
| same rank as myself, L have my canteen
good long drink? / think you need it,
and it'll do you good. Drink all you want.
We've plenty more"
Shorty and the rest each handed their
canteens to the Sergeants companions,
who received them eagerly.
THANK you, sab" said the Sergeant,
after he had imbibed pint or more.
Great Caesars ghost, but that's the best
stuff I've drunk since the beginning OF the
wah. can feel it clear to my toes. I'll
say, sab, that you Yankees are awful cute
in cutting off ouah coffee, sab. If we
could get coffee, | believe we'd lick you
out of yOuah boots, sah."
well, you shan't have any coffee"
said ST, gOod-naturedly. You're hard
enough nuts to crack, as it is"
Where are you from, Sergeant? said
the rebel, dropping all his dignity. and
becoming quite social.
We're from Injianny. We belong to
the 200th Injianny Volunteer Infantry"
You don't say SO! We bucked up
against the 200th Ind. at Kenesaw. l tell
yOu they're thoroughbreds, every man of
them. They acted as if they'd walk right
over us, in spite of abatis and breast
works 10 feet high. They just kept COM
ing in through a fire that it didn't seem
a jay-bird could live through. Never saw
such wOuldn't-stop fellows. There's where
L lost my arm. | saw the fellow plain
who shot me. He'd got clear through the
abatis, and was standing on the back of
the ditch. He was large man with red
hair, and''-
You've been on duty in MilledgeviIle,"
exclaimed 81 and Shorty, together, anx-
icus to turn conversation which threat
ened beSOming entirely too personal.
What's going on there?'
Say" said the Sergeant, with look of
disgust. This is n great crowd of poll
ticians that you are fighting for. We're
hearing all the time about Northern pol
iticians, but if they're any worse'n these
down here, God pity the country, sab.
If he could only make them get together
and fight the thing out themselves, what
q blessing it'd be, sah.'
Il think they're mostly lodging the
draft on the grounds of whiteness OF the
liver, and progressive softening of the
ventured Shorty.
Just ought to've seen that crowd up
there at Milledgcyille," continued the Ser
geant, taking another swig at Sis can
teen, and becoming moro communicative.
THE moment the news come in that your
men had crossed Murder Creek, and were |
heading that way, every member of the |
Legislature had the buck-fcyer. lie |
grabbed up whatever was handiest, made |
a break for the nearest horse, mounted, |
and skipped out for dear life. | was plum |
that such men were GeorSians,
was for a fact. They didn't wait for |
any motion to adjourn, but each fellow
it out for himself"
Couldn't the Governor rally them, and
lold them?' inquired Shorty.
20, the Governor! The Governor"
;neered the Sergeant. 'Why, he was the
worst of the lot. Old Joe Brown was like
/ hen on a hot griddle from the very min
Ite the news come in. You'd'ye thought
hat Governors room, that he's had fixed
Up so stunningly. and where he's been
swelling around for years, had become a
Dutch oven to n horse-fy. He didn't
eem to care nothing for the arms, maga-
ines and people i'll town-only to get
lway himself, with his wife and such
hings as he could carry. He was par
icularly anxious about the picture of his
ligh and mighty self that conscripted
Dago has been painting, to keep himself
nut of the army. Old Joe had it grabbed
Ip the first thing, and when he went by
IS he was looking out for it as carefully
IS if it was the warranty deed of his sal
alton. I'm getting less use for old Joe
Brown every
Hey, what's that?" asked 81, suddenly
Man with a picture.
hat went down this way a littlo while
go? Do you mean to say that was Joe
Brown, the Governor OF Georgia?'
Certainly, sah," answered the Ser
cant. ''Who else do you think we were :
citing as reah-gyard for, sab, but Gov.
brown, and the Legislature of Georgia 2" 4.
THE Governor and the Legislature of | n
ieorgia," shouted Si and Shorty in con- /
ert. You don't mean to say that raft :
f measly sapsuckers and fy-up-the -cricks T
nat just went down the road was the
Governor and Legislature of Georgia?" g
I'm your prisoner, gentlemen" said the
with dignity, "and l cannot re- Y
,nt as | should your abuse of my super (
II officers, but l ask you if you think it 4
right to insult prisoner that Way?"