The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-21
CHAPTER II.
The Return Of Two Warriors.

When the great contest began, Nan
was close to thirteen, and Gabriel was
fourteen. Cephas was younger; he had
lived hardly as many months as he had
freckles on his face. They wandered
about together, always accompanied by
Tisma Tad, all of them being children
In every sense Of the word.
And then, In the course of time. came
the collapse of the eonfederacy, and
this march Of time brought about a gra-
dual change in the rela tions between Nan
and Gabriel Somehow and to her great
disgust, Nan awoke one morning and
was told that she was a young woman,
or dreamt that she was told. Anyhow,
she realized all of a sudden, that she
was now too tall for short dresses, and
too old to be playing with the boys as
If she were one of them.
She asked herself a thousand times
why she should now begin to feel shy
Of Gabriel, and why she should be so self
conscious. 1t was all d puzzle to her,
and as Nan grew shy and shyer, SO the
newiy-awakened Gabriel grew more and
more timid and the two soon found
themselves very far apart without know
ing why. For a long time Cephas was
tho only connecting link between them.
lie mad not the least notion why the two
friends and comrades were inclined TO
avoid each other. He only knew that he
was not having Us pleasant a time as
fell to his porticn when they were all go
Ing about together with no serious no.
tions of life or conduct.
When the war came to a close, Ga
oriel was nearly eighteen. and Nan was
seventeen, though she appeared to be a
year or two younger. Regularly. she
used to hunt Cephas up ana carry him
home with her for the afternoon; and on
the other hand, Gabriel manifested n
great fondness for the little fellow. who
enjoyed his enviable popularity with a
clear conscience. 1t was years and wears
afterward before the secret of his ponu-
larity dawned upon him If he had sus-
pected 1t at the time, his pride. such as
he had, would have had a terrible fall.
one day, 1t was the year of Appomat-
tox' ana the month was June, Cephas
heard his name called, and answered
very promptly, for the voice was the
voice of Gabriel, and it was burdened
with with an invitation to visit the woods
and helds that surrounded the town.
And Cephas leaped from the house, glad
OF any excuse to escape from the do
mestic task at which he had been set
They roamed about the green wood. anu
over the hills and fields, and finally found
themselves In the public highway that
letuS 10 malvern.
Cephas found cornstaik and with
hardly an effort of his mind, changed II
INTO fine saddle-horse. The contagion
seized Gabriel, and though he was close
upon MS eighteenth birthday, he secured
cornstalk. which at once became A
ssddle-horse at his bidding. The stecd
that Cephas bestrode was comparativolv
gentle, but Gabriel's horse developed a.
desire to take fright at anything he saw.
and his example was soon followed nv
the steed that Cephas rode The two
boys were so busily engaged in trying
to control their preverse horses. that
they failed to see a big covered wagon
that came creeping up the hill behind
them. So, while they were cutting I'M
their queer capers, the big wagon, drawn
by two large mules, was plump upon
them. As for Cephas. he didn't care, be-
Ing at an age when such capers are per-
missible, but Gabriel blushed when he
discovered that his childish pranks had
witnesses; and he turned. shade reuder
when he saw that the occupants OF the
wagon were. of all the persons In the
world, Mr.. Billy Sanders and Francis Re-
thune.
Both of the boys would nave passed
on, but for the compelling voice of Mr..
Sanders. why, it's little Gabe. and
he's little Gabe no longer. And Cephas
amt growed a mite. Hello Gabe! Hello
Cephas! Howdy. howdy?"
Francis Bethunes salutation was some
what constrained, What is the matter
with Gabriel?, he askec.
ITS thousand pities, Frank re-
marked Mr.. Sanders. that Sarah Clop-
ton wouldn't let you be boy along