The National tribune., 1902-12-04


Infantry" quietly replied Otterbein
Kramer, without changing his course.
"Can you point ont where it is p
But l order you to turn them out and
take them down into that hollow said
the Quartermaster, speaking more quietly
to him than to the others, for there was
something impressive in Kramer's voice
and manner. lyon must do it,
Not being a soldier, | am not under
your odrefs,' replied Kramer, calmly
pushing on. =.
But you must obey my orders, or I'll
make you, you internal greasy cook. What
60 you mean by talking backF' said the
Quartermaster, angr;ly. Corporal. knock
that man off his horse if he don't mind
me-"
Sir" said Kramer, with the tone in
which he would have rebuked an offender
from the pulpit, these wagons are the
home of widow and her children-a lady
of most estimable character from the
North, and who is going back home. You
certainly would not interfere-
''Yes, I'll interfere, all right. It's my
business to interfere. Turn that wagon
out there, you white-whskered Niger.
Turn out, there, you preacher fellow, with
the leghorn hat" :
My names Horace Greeley, sab. l
was butler at Majah Buffin's residence,
sab, an it's my duty to mind the gentle
man in 'front.'" responded he of the white
whiskers, calmly disregarding the Quar-
termaster's orders.
I'm Henry Ward Beecher, sah." an
swered the man with the leghOrn hat.
Il belong to the same church with Broth
er Kramah. I must go with him."
whats the matter with you men
Why don't you make them turn out!'
shouted the Quartermaster to his men,
who were all, however, SO busy with other
recalcitrants that they did not hear him.
Il repeat, sir" said Otterbein Kramer,
in a voice Of impressive admOnitiOn, that
these wagons are the present home OF q
most estimable widow and her orphan chill
dren. The Lord has placed under our care.
There is heavy guilt on him who dis
tresses the widow and the fatherless.
Have care
20, come off," said the Quartermastcr,
impressed, but still incredulous. what
stories you fellows do get up. Produce
your widow"
20, Mr.. Kramer, what's the matter!
Did some one inquire for mef inquired
Mrs. Wimple, in sweet, agitated tones,
opening the back of the cover, and exhibit
ing refined, serenely -dignified face to the
astonished Quartermaster.
Excuse me, madam" said the abashcd
officer, reddening TO the roots Of his HAIR.
No intention of discommoding a lady,
l assure you But orders are orders
You don't mean to say that they will
compel you to take away the home of the
widow and the fatherlessT" asked Kramer
again in his awful tone.
Never looked upon mule teams and
army wagons i'll the light of home for
the widow and fatherless before, the
Quartermaster started in to say rather
pertly, to recover his equilibrium, but a
searching, panied look from Mrs. Wimplc' S
great gray eyes completely overthrow him
again. well, drive on" he said hastily.
You are going to the camp Of the 20Oth
Ind. l believe you said!"
Yes, sir. We're going there" an
swercd Kramer.
VERY good 1t lies right over there.
Inform Col. McGillicuddy that l have
charged these two wagons to him, and
me when this lady completes her journey
Say. Shorty. you said something awhile
ago undertaking my friend Otterbein
Kramer" said St jollily, as the wagons
moved along. -You must stop that. l
won't stand il"
Take it all back, Si'p answered Shorty
hes one of US.
Good evening, Mrs. Wimple," said 81,
riding to the rear of the hindmOst wagon.
I'm glad to be able to report TO you that
your fears were groundless, and though
we have had what you might cali busy
day, we're all safe and sound, and that
we've got Fayetteyille.p a.
..God be praised she answered with
deep feeling. Are those two dear little
boys-Peter and Alexander-perfectly
well and unharmedT'
"All right, both Of them, but hungrier
than sharks, though they're always that.
This'll end your living in wagons. Wen
take you into Fayetteville, and find some
house where you can stay tonight"
mo; no." she protested. Take me with
you, wherever you are going. l feel SO
much safer with you than with anybody
else. Take me with yOu-that is, unless
I'm too much trouble to yOu."
From them all came a chorus of vehe-
ment reputation of such thought, and
assertion that nothing gave them such
pleasure az her presence.
THANK you" she said earnestly. "At
least, let me stay with you tonight, for
want to hear all about what you have
been doing during this long, anxious day
Every shot that l heard tore my heart
for felt that it was aimed at one of you
want to be where ] can see you all, and
be glad over and over again that each one
Of you and all escaped"
The camp Of the 2OOth Ind. was reach
ed, and the wagons parked in sheltered
spot little apart, with the boys lettering
their horses and making their own camp
near. A bright fire was soon blazing, by
which Mrs. Wimple sat, while OtterbeiI
Kramer cooked supper, and the boys
groomed their horses. The children were
wild with delight at being let loose from
their cramped quarters, and got into
trouble everywhere.
While they We're at supper the Adju.
tant came over to see how they had got
ten along with the wagons. After they
had told of the experience with the Chief
Quartermaster, the Adjutant chuckled,
complimented Kramer, and said:
1.-The feeling at headquarters is that we
may expect steamboat up from Whining
ton with the mails almost anytime soon-
tomorrow, even. They are terribly inter-
ested in us in Washington, and the Gen
eral down there at Wilmington-SchOfield
IF the Army of the Ohio-has urgent or
ders to communicate with us at the ear
liest possible moment. And you know old
Schofeld is Il pretty prompt fellow"
whats that?" said Shorty, stopping
his cup OH it's way to his mouth, and listen
ing with strained intentness. Seems to
me l heard something like the drumming
of paddlewheels."
ly that they felt they could hear their
to hear the faint. regular mur.
mur OF distant paddlewheels, and then all
at once the evening air was clOven by the
shrill unmistakable blast of a steamboat.
whistle.
Hungry as they were, supper was for.
gotten. Cups and plates fell without re-