The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-22

| Say, somebody ought 10 Sc uoWH u the
ford at once, and see what's happened to
that CommiSsary fellow-Capt. Thos. BuZ-
zeII" said ST, as Monty Scruggs was writ
ing out the paroles for the officers by the
light of the fire, and Elder Wylie, who
had been let come out from among the
men. was consoling and advising the girls
and. with Capt. Hickox and Lieut.. Var
nell, assisting them with their horses.
Capt Hicllox was too engrossed in tight
ening the girths on his brides steed to
heed him. Mrs Sarah Jane Iarnell-neG
MOwer-had tight handhold on her hus-
band. and was so filling his ear with sweet
condolences that there was room for moth
ing more. Miss Linda BirdsOng, conSpIcu-
ouSly older than the rest Of the girls, and
rapidly gaining flesh. if not discretion, with
years, was much more perturbed than any
of the rest, and required all the attention
of the Elder to keep her reasonably quiet.
NO, Miss Linda" said the Captain pO-
litely. I'm sorry that we cant take you
home. It'd be Il good piece out of our
way, and my wife and | are going to take
the shortest cut. We hain't much time
to he together. and want every minute
ITO think that year or two ago Bob
1ickoX was crazy to go any distance to
see me or he with me-" sighed Miss Linda.
He's nightly set up since he got to be
Il Captain. 'Fraid I'll have to 20 with
. L
kind of folks. and he was always nightly
tickled when | noticed him little"
"NO. Lindy Birdsong, can't think OF it,
said the new-made Mrs. Yarnel. when the
suGges ton was made, and not allowing
her husband to speak nor releasing her
| handhOld. 'Jim's had a very tough day of
it, and yesterday. too. He ought to git
to some place as soon's he kin and rest.
! He hain't no call to be gallIvanting round
| Snnir,y hnp,n His Nrifn'S hons q q
the place for him. and we're goin' to take
the highest cut for there"
The aSpcrity with which Mrs. Yarnell
spoke showed that there were some unpaid
scores between the girls.
Nightly set UP because you're mar
ried, Sally Mower" retOrtrd Miss Bird
song. Don't blame you. You've wanted
your cap for that Tom Buzzeil. that you d
useter hardly notice.
You're prctendin' to be so 'fraid to 20
| home alone" returned Mrs. YarnelI.
You'd be glad to have even a Yankee
carry you off. Pity the Yankee, though.
| Come on, Jim"
Elder, you'd better come along with
me, and stay all night at orr house" said
Miss BirdsOng to the preacher. "MOther'li
| be glad to see you"
very sorry, Sister Linda" replied the
elder. 'V'ould like very much to have
your company and the inequalities Of
your home. Want much to see Sister
| Birdsong. who is dear sister in the Lord.
But duty calls i'll another direction. Lit
tie Sister Mollie Pease is the youngest,
! tenderest, / might say, the fairest of the
| flock. She is here entirely alone. It's my
duty to see that She gets home safely. Say
to your dear mother that | hope to see her
| tomorrow sometime"
| E'Sovp rolf ted 81 HSpma of Won
ought to 90 down tOithe ford there, and
see what's happened TO Capt. Tom. Buz-
zell" ..B
Capt. Tom Buzzell," repeated Capt.
Hickox, impatieutly. as he lifted his wife
into the saddle. Don't know any such
Il man round here
''He means Tom Buzzell. that usetcr be
in the Ordinary's Office" Uttered Mrs.
| Yarnell. "He calls himself a Captain
now"
THAT bomb-proof whippersnapper,"
grOwled Lieut. Yarnell. 'He amt no
Captain. He amt nothin'. Tried to con
script him into the company, but his ex-
emption papers was too strong for me.
| What's happened to him."
HE rode into your torpedoes down
there. and they went off, and there's no
| telling what they've done to him." said 81.
We'll, he got smell of gunpOwder at
| last. anyway" said Capt. Hickox indif-
| fcrentiy. putting his foot in the stirrup.
Il hope them tOrpedies was good, an
tended to their business" added Lieut..
Yarnell. It'll cure him o lallygaggin'
round other mems girls"
"All the same, you ought to 20 down
there and see what's happened to him, ~
persisted ST. Hes one of your own men,
and it was your tOrpedoes."
81 won't" said Capt. Hickox, mounting
| and starting I've got other use for nv
time. He never belonged to my company
| "Neither'll l." echoed Lieut.. YarneIl,
| helping his bride into the saddle. He
never had no nse for me, nor me for him. ?"
But, Elder" protested 81, arresting
the minister is the act of mounting, you
certainly are not going off without some
| inquiry into that young mans fate?'
faint my business" replied the
preacher. "These military things amt in
my line. / never NEEDLE with them. My
| first duty is to get this young girl safely
| home from this dangerous company. If
that man is dead. and his relatives wish it,
| III take pleasure in conducting his fu-
neral"
you're an Internal old hypocrite," said
81 Indignantly.
young man." replied the elder sternly,
you're a Yankee and Yankee soldier-a
vandal. Don't add to the overlooking cup
of your iniquities and tempt down the fire
| Of Heaven upon your head by abusing a
minister OF the Gospel"
With this crushing rejoinder he rode
away by the side of Miss Mollie Pease
you're passed. o selfish, heartless up
starts" screamed Miss Linda Birdsong
after them. You've no thought for moth
in but your own tacky selves"
| 81 declare" she continued to those
around her, while Tom Buzzeli amt just
my kind of man, he'll average up long
side of Bob Hickox and Jim Yanell. His
folks are bout as good as the Hickoxes
and heap better'n the Yarnells. Bob
! Hickox amt bin a Captain so very long,
and he's only Captain of gang of parti-
sans-not reg'ler soljers. And Jim Var
neil-what's he? I'm sure Tom Buzzell's
got as good Il right to handle to his
name as them mushrooms"
Then she communed with herself:
"Tom was always nice to me-nice as
I'd let him. Sal Mower fished for him, or
he'd bin danglin' after me all the time. I'll
go and look after him now. I'll let him
know I'm the only one who cared any
thing for him. If there's enough left of
him to be worth while | may marry him"
Then aloud to the other girls:
81 think it's perfectly shameful to neg
lect that poor man. Some of you girls
ride with me down to the ford, and see
what's happened to him."
Deed, | won't" answered one spite
full beauty. mounting from the stepping
block and repelling Shortys assistance.
There may be Yankees down thar, and
want to git as fur away from them as pos
sible"
ME neither" said another. "Never was
| . ,tban ho oil