The National tribune., 1902-01-23

l IL
the right of way. and probably will monop-
oize the attention of the Senate for the
next month.
81 KLEGG AND SHORTY.
tConrinued from fourth pase.b
dicate that he belonged to the Engineers.
Ills uniform was of the finest cloth, ftted
him to a hair, and was rigidly according
to regulations. Apparently he saw no one
else ON deck, and his manner was that he
owned not only the vessel, but the EOto-
mac River, and all the lands watered by
it.
That's Colonel Bonesteel, Of the
United States Engineers, SAID Capt. Sea
bury. He's going to inspect the FORTH
cations of Savannah. The Notifications
may consider themselves highly honored.
Lieut.-Col. Dumgilkie gave a curt, for
nal salute, which the Colonel did not seem
to see. Mr.. HigginbOttom openly scOwled
his contempt of any man who should pre-
tend to be an officer on the same earth
where British officers lived and command
ed; but the Colonel strobe by him, as in
different to his presence and his feelings
as to that of the canvas tunnels serving us
ventilators for the hold. The Colonel was
taking his morning constitutional walk,
with the usual solemn assumption that
everything about him was merely subsery-
lent and contributory to that exercise.
Col. BOnesteel of the Regular Engi-
neers,' gasped the Deacon. why, that's
the man that 81 and Shorty were with
when they went up the Tennessee River.
I'll speak to him. He'll be glad to know
Sis father"
He waited till the promenade brought
the Colonel opposite him, and then step
ped forward and greeted him. in his po-
ltest manner.
Good morning Colonel. / ought TO
know you, and l think you ought to me.
My names klegg, from Indiana"
doubtless q very excellent name for
Indiana" returned the Colonel, stiffeniug
his hauteur, and momentarily checking his
measured walk. Most of the names of
people of Indiana are of that One-syl-
labeled, plebian character. But that fur
nishes no perceptible reason why should
know you"
But, Colonel, my son-Si Klegg jr.-
was Sergeant with you when you went
up the Tennessee River over the Mussel
Shoals, you know explained the Deacon,
taken much aback.
Possibly, possibly" replied the Colonel
with wave of his hand, as he continued
his walk. Il cannot remember all the
men under my command, though L seem
to have faint memory of such a name,
and that it was of good soldier. Good
morning, SIR"
1t seemed to the Deacon that the
weather had suddenly become chilly
enough to demand an overcoat.
"'E's been to Hingland, and seen 'ow
, Er Majesty's officers treat blooming cads
that try to scrape hacquaintance with
en-" remarked Mr.. HigginbottOm
Think of the himpudence of Il blooming
cattle grazer speaking to Ugh hoflicer,
and not taking hoff is at. Beastly man
ners iii this country"
1.
land of snobs,' cordially joined in Lieut.
Col. Dumgilkie. Its been no land for
a self-respecting man to live in since the
PreSbyteiians lost power with Oliver
CromwelTs death. State-pampered hire
ling priests and arrogant lord-bishOps
breed snobs, as they do beggars and hypo-
critics"
Mr.. Higginbottom scorned to reply,
and the Deacon soon became so absorbed
in the scenery as to forget everything else,
even the snub he had received.
In the afternoon they came into the his
tOric waters around Fort Monroe, and the
Deacon could not miss moment while
the short daylight lasted. The great fort,
with its high granite walls, its deep ditch,
with drawbridge and outlaying batteries,
its mammoth Coumbiads showing in ugly
power over the parapets; the roads where
the Monitor and Merrimac met in their
world famous struggle, the towns and
forts on the shores, the men-Of-war lying
at anchor, guarding the fleets passing to
and from Grants lines around Peters
burg, and Il thousand other features Of
great wars activities engrossed eyes and
brain. He did not even pay attention TO
Mr.. Higginbottom's disparagement of Fort
Monroe and the Yankee ships, nor to his
laudatiOn of a couple of small British
war-vesSels lying in the harbOr, which,
he sanglIinely asserted, would make short
work of the great fort, and the monitors,
and all the rest OF the Yankees that they
could get at.
The Deacon finally had to go to bed in
sheer WEAKNESS of sightseeing.
When he awakened the next morning
the vessel had run out between Capes
Henry and Charles, and was running
down the coast out of sight of land
The vessel was rolling and pitching
considerably, and the wind sang through
the rigging, but this did not prevent the
Deacon laying in q very generous break
fast. MIR. Higginbottom was at the table,
growing audibly at everything in the
beastly States, and particularly at the
ship, the victuals, the service, the impos-
sibility of getting any bitter beer fit to
drink, and the manifestations of Americans
which compelled Englishmen to visit the
country.
Lieut.-Col. DumgiIkie improved the oc-
cason by inveighing against the venality,
the simOny, the place-selling, the selfish
ness and heartlesSness of the Church of
England.
The Deacon went upon deck and began
trying to get his sea-legs on.
After all, faint worse than riding a
bucking brOnchO," he remarked. No
sense in people making n fuss about such
thing as this. 'Taint nothing to what
81 and Shorty've bin through, and faint
Il once to rounding up herd of steers in
November blizzard"
Mr.. Higginbottom came up and gaZed
scornfuliy around as he lighted his black
pipe.
''Beastly ship, beastly sea, beastly wind
beastly weather." he growled. The fur
ther you get away from Hold Hingland
the beastlier heverything his"
weather promises to be as nasty as
Charles Ills court" remarked Lieut.-Col.
Dumgilliie, coming up and taking a sur
vey of the scene. That big beer-bibber
will be sicker than q swung hen before an
hour"
The two began solemnly pacing around
the deck, keeping a rod distant from one
another.
Presently Col. Efingham, Immediately
attired, and even more stately than-ever-
came up, and began his pompous prone
made.
Wish 1 had as many dollars as he
thinks he's big and important" thought
the Deacon, cycling him rather sourly. He
may find lots of fun in being grand,