The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-09-28

or there might be other sharpshoot
ers watching. His first view of the
Confederate told him his shot was ia
tai. 1t mad gone through the body
The unfortunate soldier was lying on
his side, and when Masterson came
up was fumbling for an inside pocket
| What is it, Johnny; what do you
want?" asked Masterson kindly,
kneeling beside him.
In here-letter-my little girl"
was the almost inaudibie reply.
| Masterson put his hand inside the
mans blouse and brought forth let
ter. The envelope was red with blood
rs this it, Johhny?" he asked.
| The Confederate nodded
rs this from your little girl John.
ny?
Again nod The Union man, with
tears In his eyes. drew the letter from
its stained covering. curl of brown
hair fell to the ground. The dying
| father tried to speak, but only CUR
gled instead, and died before Master.
son could raise the canteen to his lips
| Chattanooga had been fought. Sher
man had backed Johnson into Atlanta
| defeated him, and was in control OF
Georgia, the Workshop granary and
arsenal of the confeieracy. The
march to the sea was on.
A small division of the great army
that was devastating Georgia camped
for few days in one spot. Master
son was with this body of men. Sharp
shooters were not so much needed
during the memorable trip of $50
miles in latitude, 800 to the main, and
he had been relieved of special duty
The name of the village nearby re
minded him of bloodstained lerte,
which he carried in his haversac!i
Inspecting it. he found he was neal
the very postoffice from which it had
been mailed.
| White persons avoided the Union
army, but negroes were plentiful, and
from them Masterson learned that a
family named Bower was living IN a
farm close by, and hired black t.
take message there for MIN,
| The next day an old man, dressed
in hOmespun, came TO the Yankee
camp and asked for Sergeant Master
son. who was easily found. Mastersor
discovered the visitor was the father
of the Confederate sharpshooter, who
under the existencies of war. had
died at his hands. He did not explain
the details of the soldiers death, but
told the gray haired man his son was
no more and gave him the letter he
had carried from Tennessee.
"Ani the little girl?" asked the ser
geant after they had talked awhile
is she alive and well?"
Yes. well in body" answered the
man. but many an hours cry has she
had because her dad never answered
the letter. It's been long time, sir
since we heard. Even his own com
raies didn't know what had happened
to him. They wrote us he'd gone
We hoped he hadn't deserted. and We
hoped he hadn't been killed. If he't
been took a prisoner. you know, is
might get back to us sometime"
Had he family?" inquired the ser
geant.
!, Only his wife and baby. The wifi.
had died since he went and the littl,
gals alvin with us-we're her grand
folks. Every day she wants to know
if he amt a-comin' home and whel
| you all came along she made sure i
, was her dads regiment comm back.
: MasterSon asked the grandfather
to bring the child to see him the fol
lowing day. in case the army did no
) move on. No change in location wa.
made. and it happened the next da.
mat Masterson was sergeant of tn,
: guard His duties kept him at tn,
outpOstS. In the middle of the fore
, noon he saw the old man and tn,
, child coming across a wasted fell
: The little girl was dressed in tat
tered calico. sunbOnnet upon he
head. and she was barefoot. She
walked slowly, and kept firm girl
upon her grandfather's hand.
5 The sergeant hailed them. passe,
them through the lines and took then
inside the guard tent. He found
seat for the man and talked will
them about his son. The little on,
r on her grandfather's knee sat will
+ curious eyes looking out through tn,
: tent opening at the pacing sentries
;. the sleeping forms of the men of
duty and the quiet camp scenes. Sh,
5 turned her head and watched tn,
: kindly looking man who sat befor,
g them. Then her eyes rested upon
: rifle leaning against the tent wall
Masterson grew uneasy. 1t was tn,
Q same weapon that had killed her faith
: err 1t seemed to fascinate the child
J. She looked at it's owner as if to max,
A an inquiry, but Masterson. anticipat
ing her. went on talking. A momen
!. later. when he stopped. she asked:
e Mister. how did your gun ge
a broke?"
;. Masterson made no reply He coul,
: not tell her it was her own father,
e bullet that had broken the hole in tn,
r stock. Again she asked the question