The National tribune., 1901-06-13

| that they usually assumed for funerals
! while in the presence of ''the remains, -
| but occasionally darting freezing looks ut
| the Yankees several aunts of Miss So
| phrOnia, who had been hastily summoned.
They had brought with them their
| daughters who had at first scornfully re-
! garded Lieut.. Gilen and his men from
behind the window blinds, and were sur
! prised to find them so good-looking. Pres
emily their curiosity demanded a closer ac-
| Cuaintance with the ist Oshkosh boys,
| who, as usual, did not venture into the
mending their clothes, sewing on buttons,
reading, writing, sleeping, and otherwise
| putting in their leisure.
They took no notice of the bright eyes
scanning them, though these made their
observation momentarily bolder, scorning
at last concealment behind the blinds.
| Finally one of the bolder girls determined
| upon decisive manuver. With great
austerity of manner, and pulling her skirts
aside that they might not by any possibil-
| ity touch the boy who was sitting fully
six feet away, absorbed in scrupulous
cleaning of his gun-nipple, she tip-toed
across the porch to pick up Il strap or
something hanging on the banister, and
swishing about deftly caught her skirt
in a spiintered banister. She uttered an
exclamation of impatience. but apparently
could not release the cloth. The soldier
dropped his gun, was on his feet like
flash, and instantly released the skirt.
Thank you," she said snappishly. Il
didn't imagine you Yankees could be po-
lite
Yankees are always polite responded
the soldier. Particularly to ladies, and
to them who are so young and pretty"
81 don't want no compliments from in
vadcrs of my country" she said haughtily,
turning as if to leave his hateful pres
ence, but still halting to hear his next
words.
But the ice had been broken, and pres
emily all of the girls were in eager discus
sion of the war with the Wisconsin boys,
and exceedingly surprised to find how at
tractive young men in the horrible blue
clothes could be.
The aunts inside whispered to one an
other, in the manner that they inter-
changed ideas at a funeral.
Gould hardly git my own consent to
come. But 'Phrony has a masterful way,
and I'll own up that / was powerful curl
Gus to see the man she'd got at last"
Thought she'd We died before she'd
married a Yankee"
''She'd we died without marrying at
all if she didn't marry him. 1t was her
only chance. All the men round here was
afraid of her. | don't believe she's had
anybody keep company with her for 10
years. The last one that l kin recolleck
was Sim Croft, that went to Californy,
and was killed by rock caving in on
l recolleck him taking 'Tildy from me and
carrying her to rest me, and 'Tildy's now
grown"
cTildy was the one who had started the
Irritation with the Wisconsin boys.)
"'Phrony set herself too high in the
first place It's the old story of the
crooked stick. But to take Yankee, Of
all men,"
But he's a doctor, and doctors amt
real Yankees Only school-t teachers, ped
lers and soldiers are real Yankees"
''Well, I'd a heap ruther 'Tildy d die
than to marry Yankee, of any kind"
We'll" answered the other, shifting
her seat little. so as to get better view
of what was going on in the noisy, laugh
ing group outside, "'Phrony's disease
seems to be ketching, and if you don't
want a Yankee son-in-law you'd better
stir yourself. l see 'Tildy walking down
there toward them laylock bushes with
Yankee, and L think he's got hold of her
hand"
''Tildy Butler, come in here this min
ute," screamed the mother, and the others
echoed her alarm, with imperative calls
of their daughters names. The girls re-
luctantly huttered back into the sitting
room, and gathering behind their mothers
began to scan and whisper giggling COM
paGlSOus oh 81 > S4uhu, VIM, caps III uhnu,
were lined up in chairs on the opposite
side of the room trying to keep their faces
in the expression they thought proper to
this extraordinary occasion.
Presently who should enter but Elder
Hornblower, Bible in hand, and with the
slow step and dignifed mien he assumed
for ceremonial occasions. He walked
slowly by the line of sisters, shook each
one by the hand, and inquired as to her
health and that of her family, and pres
emily coming to the end of them east his |
eye to the other side of the room, and |
recognized 81 and Shorty. He stopped, |
startled. and his face grew red.
The boys instructive reverence for a |
preacher in the exercise of his functions |
moved them to do something. and that |
instinctively took the soldierly |
form of standing at attention and salut-
ing.