The National tribune., 1901-06-13

impediments, determine to enter into mat
rinony, it is the duty of a minister of God
to unite them. That duty | shall pro-
ceed to do, though l shall be glad to hear
of any just cause or reason why the mar
riage shall not be solemnized.
Not hearing any, he proceeded with the
ceremony, pronounced the two man ana
wife, and gave Sophronia an unctuous
pastoral kiss.
ST stepped forward to shake hands with
the Surgeon, and wish him JOY, when the
, sound of galloping hoofs attracted every
ones attention. ST dropped the Surgeons
hand and went out on to the porch, fol-
| lowed by his boys, each one seiZing his
musket.
It's Kankakee coming on dead rum
! said Shorty. There's trouble at the
stockade."
/ Every one ran for his horse, united him,
mounted and rode out, in readiness for
| Sis orders.
Sergeant" shouted Kankakee, as he
reached 81, Foster Walsh dispatched me
with the imperious information that
Words of one syllable, kankakee,"
said 81, curtly.
Communicable coming to
i his First Reader manner.
"Sure? Is Foster Walsh sure" asked
81.
Dead sure
81 vaulted into his saddle. rode to the
head, and shouted Forward"
| How did you find out, KankakeeT
| 81 asked, as they slowed down to cross
| muddy ford.
well. Dan Kip, a measly hungry
guard, that Foster didn't kill when he laid
out Jabe Turnbull, come in shortly after
| you left, and said that if we'd give him
something to eat he'd tell us something
that we ought to know. We filled him
up pretty well, and then he told us that
while he was laying out he overheard two
rebel scouts talking. They'd bin sent on.
to see who was down at the stockade,
! and if a train coming up from Savannah
could not be got past the junction. They
was going back to report to their COM
| pany that it could gobble up everybody
| there easy, and hold the junction. Fos-
| ter Walsh was sure the man was telling
| the truth, and started me on the jump
for you"
Hello, Sergeant; caught up with you
at last said Surgeon Brookes, reigning
in his foaming stead alongside of 81.
''Hooray! three cheers for the Surgeonp'
shouted the boys. Hes a brick
''Why. Doctor, I'm astonished,' said 81.
''Why didn't you stay with your wife?
We didn't expect you to come with us"
I've told Sophronia right along that
our marriage must not interfere an in
slant with my duty. We only married to
make sure that we should not lose one
another. The ambulances have come up
for those men back at the house, and now
my whole duty is with those at the stock
ade. I'm sure 1 can save some of their
lives by being with them. And want
to be with your squad, anyhow"
They were relieved to find, as they
came near the hospital grounds that they
were ahead of the rebels.
Foster Walsh, who had been on the
anxious lookout, came out to meet them,
Ia 1A,.I aIr
about an inch thick, which he had freshly
cut and trimmed into n serviceabie
weapon.
1--WE got the roads barricaded," ne
said, with a good high fence across the
one that they're likely to come in on.
Stoughton, who felt able to use gun,
are down there behind it"
But you hain't any gun,' said 81. |
Cant you find one for yourselfT'
"No; 1 shall not use one. l promised |
the Lord 1 wouldn't shed any more blood |
during the war. But I cut this stick, |
which 1 think / can use to effect in help
ing stop them, if they come to close quar-
ters''
You're sure they're coming, are you"
80. yes; they can't be more than two
or three miles away this time. l sent Dan
Kip out for more information, and he
climbed tall hickory and saw them COM
ing"
81 had his boys dismount and securely
tie their horses, when they ran down to
the barricade.
''Fore God I'm powerful glad yo'uns
done come" said Uncle Ephraim. 81 wuz
moutily afeared dat Aunt Minervy Amid
be widder dis afternoon"
They took positions behind the barri-
cade, extending it with logs and stumps
to the right and left, with Foster Walsh
leaning on his stick in clear place at the
left flank and waited the attack.
They did not have long to wait. They
soon saw the rebels coming straight up
the road in column of fours. and riding
at sharp trot, without advance guard or
lankers.
They intend to ride right over us"
said ST. Steady, boys. Don't fire till
they come closer. Me and Shorty, and