The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-03-07


sat In the corridor OF a Memphis hotel.
turning again the pages OF that Book
Of the Past, where soldiers love 70 lin
ger.
Love and war?-why not?' said
the captain; 'the two are indissolubly
welded. There's something about a
soldiers life that makes love a neces-
sity. Many a time and oft I've heard
my general say that the men without
~sweethearts OF wives were easier to
whip and easier to Kill than the fell
lows who were tethered to life by a
good strong affection. Why, man aliyei
I've heard the echo OF take Your Gun
and Go, john, So loud above the noise
Of shell and shrapnel that / could have
sworn it was the real thing: and
when I went into battle It Was OF her
{ thought, and Of what she would sayl"
Who was she? Where was she?"
asked the comrade with a quizzicai
smile.
Who was shei Why. she vas vari-
Gus, various persons, according to the
location OF my command. Once she
was a dreamy Yicksburg aristocrat-
blue blood to her finger tips; then she
shifted and became The Merriest Girl
That's Out up IN Maury county, Tenn.
After that, she somehow got to be a
Virginia girl-but that's a long tale
and goes deep"
THE deeper the better; FIRE away"
And the veteran settled himself CON
tentedly to listen.
We'll you see" continued the cap
tain, I'VE had moved on to Petersburg
and were hoping-but what's the use
Of saying anything about our hopes7"
skip 'eml" said the other with a
sigh that showedstne kindred soul; "a
Confederate's hopes-in war, not love,
you Understandable things a fellow
must learn to forget. But when Cupid
was aheld, that's another matter. You
we're e Petersburg?"
Eyes. but hang it all, so we're the
Yankees, and getting nearer every day.
We all felt that a battle was immi-
lent; and were waiting to see just
What turn to take. We filled in the
lime Of waiting-why should we not?-
by getting acquainted with some Of
Virginia's fair daughters. Know any
thing about those Virginia women?"
and the captain paused as II the an
Swer to this question gave the clue to
what was to follow.
my wife's a Virginian," the other
answered succinctly.
"She is? Oh, well, then, explana-
tons and application are unneces-
sary. You can easily understand that
crossing the App6nattox at night and
being shot at occasionally by Yankee
pickets was the jplliest sort Of fun
when the smile Of a pretty Virginia
girl was the reward"
'0nly one?" asked the comrade, in
eredulously.
For me-only onel There were
others, a sister aud a lot of cousins.
You know how the woman folks con-
gregated in the big Southern homes in
those perilous days. But soon Miss
Gladys was, for Ae inevitable
She me otheN IMPLY didn't exist.
Col. Bascom. her fhther, was a wealthy
tobacco planter; hnd / don't need to
tell you Just what sort Of welcome we
ragged rebels got I'm those old homes
1t that time. We were all comrades
10 the men and heroes to the women.
That accounts for the luck some of us
had"
For instance?" tentatively suggest
ID his friend.
Now don't try to hurry a fellow
It's good to go over those days, and.
ike rare old wine, n loves to sip II
eisurely. But Miss Gladysl You
Ihould have seen herr"
skip it," interjected the other.
i've travelled the road, and they all
Ook alike at that period. Angel? Yes,
hats all right. Had you proposed?"
mo, 1 hadn't. I was just in that
blissful borderland where anything SO
tangible as a proposal seems sacrilege.
think I must have meant to, If l had
topped to ask myself what l really
aid mean. Well, matters were at this
Slissful state; Col. Baseom telling the
boys they were welcome whenever
they chose to come, and the girls, moi
telling them SO in words, but making
them feel in a thousand delicate lit
lie ways"
1--WE felt EN-" said the other dryly
Nov, see here, old fellow, If you
Ion't quit putting in, you are going tC
Miss General Gordon's speech thil
Wening. for I'm billed to finish THU
iarn before we get up from here
Where was II"
with Miss Gladys. / presume"
Eyes, / remember, the night tn,
tanks came in on Us. We were all II
no parlor-Lieutenant Preston, Chal,
ners and a lot Of us boys. Gladys wa