The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-06-14
{ Concluded from last week. J

'Only some water, he C&plalneu Ill
surprised tones of mild reproof.
"I'll get it for you," said shc and she
did. had all along been aware that
there were mosquitoes in my black
hole. and when the lovers went back
to the. fire and began on their i'm
pressions and rccollcctions and feel
ings and symptoms generally l forgot
my prudence, lost my temper and slap
ped my face viciously, determined to
be rid of my tormentcrs.
"Whats that?" cried William.
ooh, nothing" said his sweetheart.
81 didn't hear anything" The pre-
sentiments and dreams and conyic-
got in some fine work, too, perfectly
understanding that l was completely
in their power. l could not stand it.
let fly, with a resounding slap again.
"There it is again. cried William.
"See here, Mary, there's somebody
round"
Don't be such a goose" replied his
sweetheart ut was the COW outside,
l reckon
"NIighty queer COW. never knew a
COW slap herself before. 1t was slap,
Mary. l know slap when l hear
one."
"Well, do you see anybody here ex
cept you and me-" asked Miss Fibster
calmly.
mo, I don't" he replied. "Was it
you?
mo, tit wasn't anybody" insisted
the lady. The feelings and fancies
and future plans now fairly ragged,
although, to do Miss Mary justice, she
three times proposed retiring from the
subject and the Kitchen for the night
The mosquitoes were delighted and
put in their little bills-about an inch
deep-as if long overdue. 1 was all
doubled up like jackknife. l was
stiff, l was cross, l was tired. My
temper was never of the best. l could
hardly breathe. | handed the particu-
lar mosquito who was preying on my
left cheek and thought himself settled
for life one, two, three slapS, loud,
clear, unmistakable. l pushed aside
the sideboard and, pistol in hand, but
held out of sight, advanced upon VIII
liam. His amaZement kept him dumb
for fully moment, for he did not
know of the black hole. Not so Miss
Mary, to whom l explained that the
situation had become intolerable. She
had great deal to say. She vibrated
and communicated and mediated be-
tween us with tact, an intelligent
appeal, that could not be resisted. She
subdued and conquered us both in Eve
minutes. She made us friends in five
more. William was so happy that he
had no place in his heart for anger.
She began by making him promise to
be neutral for her sake. She wound
up by making him willing to help me
for my own. She already had me in
her pocket. 1t was all beautifully set
tied. We all had another supper to-
gether after he had inspected the
black hole. Both of them accompa-
MED me to the stable, William lent
me his horse, saddled 1t and told me
where to leave 1t, a hundred miles
away. Mary held the lantern and
helped the thing along, rewarding her
William with remarks composed of
equal parts of butter and sugar as it
proceeded. You are not a Confeder-
ate, you are a-cow," he remarked as
l rode out, and we all shook hands and
laughed as | told Miss Mary she had
much better wait for me. And, though
! have never been dissatisfied with my
own 'old woman" for one moment,
get soft and warm about the heart to
this day when | think of that girl. If
half the good things have happened
to her that l wished her as | rode off
briskly down the turnpike, she has
certainly been, as she seemed likely to
be, the happiest of women.
Williams horse and Mary's goldpiece
between them took me as far as Nash
vile, where a confiding tailor rugged
me out in gray again. ! wrote them
from there and hope they got the letter.
l now set off afoot to join my COM
mand and, with the help of railway
conductor and three farmers, soon
found myself back where my division
two engagements, however, in my alb
sence. We had got the worst of it.
The army had fallen BACK into Georgia,
l found to my great dismay. ! was in
as much danger as ever. l had to give
the Federal army q wide berth. ! had
to pass through q country eYerrun with
enemies who were neither brave nor
honorable, region infested with
'bushwhackers" and guerrillas. The
first was easy enough, for l had every
assistance from everybody met. The
second required cool head and much
caution. After three days of careful
advance and "tacking" and reconnoi-
tering | found myself one evening at
the close of long. wearisome march
of 80 miles in such need of food, rest
Ind shelter that I looked eagerly about
me for some house that gave promise
of all three. The only one in sight
was handsome pseudo Greek struer
ture, whose white pillars were only
partly visible behind a grove of fine
trees 1t was set on the crest of hill,
with a glorious sunset behind it, and
looked very retired and imposing, SO
that | rather shrank from presenting
myself Il dusty travel stained soldier