The National tribune., 1902-12-18

in Mas lap and cry ft to kill. Ma shs
never says nothing, but she knows, and
she Just smoothes my hair and huns un-
der her breath from Every Stormy Wind
that Blows. and then my heart gets
easier. II l could here from you II
woulddn't be 50 hard, but I write and
write and write, and never get no answer,
and 1t seems hard to stand. I know you
love me wherever you are, though, and
the Lord 10 going to let you come back
safe and sound to your own deer loving
Maria.
up. s-we are ali well and hope this
viii tnd you enjoying the same good
blessing. The Winter has been very open,
but there's bin some staying. l have not
been Staying any. The Times are too Sc
rious for frivolity, Elder Skruggs says.
Pete Farley's baby is dead and Anna
beis mother has had broncheetus pritty
bad. The Presbyterian Meeting House
has been painted white with red doors
and blinds and blue on the roof. it Looks
reel loyal, we think. Our Sheruff's broke
his leg. Mrs. Hinman, the widow. she
that was married to Annabefs cousin, is
married again to Bijah Stormont, whose
wife entered into rest last Christmas. We
think they was in scanlous hurry.
We've got hatchin' Of chickins peepin'
in the cellar. It's most too early. for
make fine Spring brilers. Mas got ring
around on her thimble finger from sewin'
so much. You remember Sammy WOg-
giles, well he's got the mumps, and got
them dreadful bad. We don't have sing
ing school now. the teacher has gone to
the war. Mandy had tooth pulled Fri
day. Elder Pipkin has q new board
fence.
PA and the rest has just come in.
They are dreadful excited. Pa says word
has come that Richmond must fail soon,
and then, Deer Will, you can come home
to your own loving Maria.
"P. S.-This letter is reel long, but
you'll soon be home and won't haf to
bother reading letters from your loving
MARIA.
"P. S.-Annabel says to give her love
to 81 and you. With love from your own
loving Maria.
"P. Spa and Ma desire to be remem-
bered to you. l am yours till death.
MARIA"
For a long while Shorty sat In q dazs
of JOY. He had never dreamed that the
world could be SO bright and lovely as it
now seemed. The air he breathed was the
wine of exhilaration. He would not have
exchanged that dull, commonplace tavern
room for the marble halls of palace.
The hardships, the days and nights Of
rain and mud, the chill discemforts Of
the two mouths long wading through the
swamps Of South Carolina were all am
ply paid for by mere second Of this.
Outside, the bugies blew their manda-
tory calls, but for once he regarded them
not. Big Generals were coming and going,
but he did not look out Of the window to
see who they were.
Fierce, noisy rows broke out In the
streets between men, squads and detaeh-
ments from the different corps, squab-
bling over captures, horses, mules, quar-
tiers, rations, and what not; shots were
even fired, and the provost guards had
trouble restoring order, but Shorty had
eyes, ears nor brains for anything but
those letters.
What were all these triaing common
places to man to whom the one woman
Of all the world was telling that she was
his own?
Strangest Of all, Shorty did not recog-
nize that he was hungry. He had to stop
reading, as the fading light of the March
day faded, and the FIRE died out on the
hearth. But he sat with his letters tightly
grasped, and let the happiness Of II all Gil
his being to over60wing.
He was aroused at length by q pound
ing on the door Of his room.
go away from there. What do you
,yautg he angrily demanded.
Scuse me, massa; is you alive yet"
politely inquired voice from the other
side.
"Of course I'm alive. Very much alive.
What's the matter with you, you fool
niggerT
Please open de doah, SO dat kin see
dat you is. My ordehs is very stric'."
What the devils the matter with you,
you big-mouthed moke" asked Shorty an
gri!y, finging the door open to find sleek
ffar- line nd MIN
Scuse me, massa, but we's all afeard
you'd done killed yo'self," answered the
negro. very politely.
KILLED myselfy' calculated Shorty, in
utter astonishment.
Yes, sab. OF coahse, it'd bin all right
If you had," the negro hastened to assure
him. "Gemmen guests got de right to
s'long's dey's paid for dem, an is quiet
alb bout hit, an don't muss up de cur
tains and kyarpet, lack dem las two
done. If you isn't gwine to kill yourself
better come down to supper. Dey's anx-
ious to git de table cleared off"
What in the world makes you think
wanted to kill myselfT'
why, you done acted jest as dose oder
two gemmen did, no done killed deir-
selves in dis very room"
What two gentlemen, and when did
they do itT' inquired Shorty, looking
around the room in little superstitious
awe.
why, two young gemmen, Confedrit
somefn lax you-red
heads-one las week, ont de week afore.
Dey'd loss all deir money at cards, DER
young ladies had Tilted dem, or sumin.
Dey come here, same as you done, an
asked fur de best room, got shaved, put
on deir best cloze, and had DER boots
BACKED, jest as you done, an den locked
deirselves in de room, and gun lookin'
ober DER letters, same as you DONE"
How did you know l was looking over
my lettersy asked Shorty, with a flush
rising to his face.
20, We was all watchin' you froo de
key-hole, an ober de transient, to see you =
cut your froat. You see, we didn't git "
see de oders do it, an we wuz sorter afix-
ous to see you"
why, you cold-blooded rascal, would
you have let me cut my throat without
saying a word?'
Yves got striek ordehs not to interfere
wid de gemmen in deir rooms, sab. De
landlord hisself don't dare do dat. s'long's
ley keeps quiet, an don't muss up t'ings."
But those gentlemen who cut their
.hroats must have mussed up things"
Not much, san. Not much. Dey wuz
.idy sort OBJ gemmen, sab. Bofe cut deir
froats on de oil-eloth, by de wash-stand,
IN a little moppin cleaned hit all up.
We done brung de mop long, SOS to be