The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-11-20

to leave them all behind. as soon rs posi-
p Bile. l have. had them with me constantl
for years, md they have become heart
sores. l want to think and talk abou
| home and my own people. l want to fin'
out where yon are all from. Perhaps som
I of you come from near where l did, ant
know somebody that do"
/ Her tact was so fine that she soon sue
cceded in setting the squad of bashful hob
bledeliOys somewhat at their ease, though
they continued to be painfully conscious
of the size of their feet and hands. and i
seemed that they could not touch anythin:
without knocking it over, nor speak with
out saying something too Outlandish TO
lady's ears.
| But when it developed that she hat
once known a schoolma am who had nj
most skinned Pete alive in endeavoring t
Ike him spell correctly. and write legibly
Pete was ready to worship her: She kne"
| a Judge whom Monty regarded as the
greatest lawyer in Indiana; minister ha(
| gone from her town who had once stop
ped with Sis father; she had taken dinner
at the railroad eating house in the town
| where Sandys mother lived; man whom
Harry knew had married one of hel
friends: one of her school friends had mar
ried and settled in Alf's town. Before the
supper was over they all felt blood reia
tionship with her, and each was her de
voted subject, even slave. She was moth
erly and sympathetic with the younger
boys, and to 81, Shorty and Abe she was
queen. who ryled regally.
From n distant camp, so far away as
to be hardly audible. came tile first faint
notes of signal which no soldier ever
hears without heart-leap. Sis quick
ears caught it, and he looked inluiringly
at Shorty, who listened for a second, and
then responded with another look:
Eyes: it's the long roll they're beating. y
A half-minute of intense listening show
ed that the nearer camps were taking UP
the call to arms.
All the boys were listening now, but a
look from 81 warned them to give no
intimatiOn to Mrs. Wimple of the deep
portent of the signal. She continued to
chat brightly, but the boys began to an
swer with some cOnstraint.
The drums of the brigade now began to
take up the chorus, and then the bugles of
the 2O0th Ind. blared out the Assembly"
Excuse us, ma'am," said 81. rising.
'.The Colonel wants to see lis on business.
Just make yourself comfortable. Wen be
back after awhile"
''Take care of yourselves, and come back
soon," she answered TRANQUILITY. Il
haven't talked half as much to you as
want to. It's so much like home to be
with you
They rode over to where the 2OOth Ind
stood in line, awaiting orders, for which
the Aijutant had gallOped over to head
quarters.
''Hello, Sergeant. I've found you at
last" came in Tom Radbone's voice, lit
tie weaker than of yore, but still strong
and full of gladness. '1've had such a
time in finding you"
SWhy Tom iS that Won ~ exclaimed
81. "What in the world are you doing
here? The Surgeon said you wouldn't be
fit for duty for n month yet"
Surgeon be blasted" answered Tom.
"Think l was going to hang around for
ever with that drafted old pill peddlery,
the ambulance, and miss all the fun?
Not for Joe; no, no. l prefer your So
ciety to that of the Surgeon and his Hos
pital Steward. He ordered me to stay,
but 1 grabbed spare horse, took fell
lows gun that came in with a bullet
through his lungs, and lit out"
"You had better go back and ride with
the ambulance few days longer" expos
tulated 81. We're likely to have pretty
rough work in the next day or two
''Pll look out for myself. You don't
need to pay no attention to me-" said Tom
dOggedly. "YOu just go ahead with your
business as usual, and I'll trail along be-
hind. l won't bother you none"
The Adjutant came galloping back, and
handed an envelope to the Colonel, who
sprang from his horse, tore it open, and
read its contents by the light Of campfire:
"Sergt Klegg," he said, after he had
and ridden mp to 81, I'VE are
ordered to move down that road at the |
dOuble-quick to check an expected flank
movement. You'll 60 ahead. Gallop
down the road until you reach the creek. ]