The National tribune., 1902-01-30


| 'Then who would care for Mother 'now?''
Katie looked up. surprised and hurt,
and Jack looking toward the men,
growled, Steady, there" and every sound
ceased.
II he truth is, Katie" said Jack, apollo
getically, I'VE have seen so many men
killed that we don't mind it very much,
and when you said so seriously n man
was killed yesterday it struck those boys
as something funny. We are going out
there, and this regiment will be deplOyed
on the skirmish line, and we will drive
those Johnnies out of sight before taps
Good, good" said the Army Girl, shak-
ing his hand heartily; that is the kind
of talk ] like to hear. | wish that / could
go with you"
Gould we not get spy-glasses and view
the battle from the top of some house =
asked the Navy Girl.
Il think So" said her companion: 1--WE
will get the glasses and go out there. Now,
Lieutenant, when you 20 into battle to-
day, remember that like the knights of
old, you are fighting under the eyes of
your lady friends"
He would be a sorry warrior indeed" "
said Jack, IF he failed to acquit himself
bravely under such circumstances. In
days of old did not the lady give her
champion some token to wear?
''You shall have one; here it is" said
the Army Girl, as she pulled bow of
blue ribbon from Katie's hair, and fas-
| tened it upon Jacks sword-hilt. Now,
Sir knight, 20 forth to battle for God,
country. and your lady love" Jack looked
TO Katie.
MAY wear it," he asked.
''Yes, Jack, if you care for it." was the
answer
The buglc sounded attention." the
ranks came into line and stood rigid. Or.
ders rang out sharp and clear A hurried
goOd-by to the girls and Jack wheeled
! his company and marched off.
How dirty those soldiers are" said
| the Navy Girl.
"Dirtyr' blazed ont the Army Girl in
| Indignation; they are perfectly splendid
Don't you see how clean their guns are
and how their accoutcImcnts fit them, and
how tough and strong the men are and
| how they march with that long, snringy,
swinging step? Their worn, dusty cloth.
ing don't count. They are equal to my
old regiment"
This last sentence was the very acme
Of praise from the Army Girl The girls
procured field-glasscs, and drove 10 n house
Il mile in rear of Fort Stevens. From the
cupOla Of this building with their glasses
| they could see the little pits where the
encmy's skirmish line lay
The leading regiments of the Sixth
Corps were filing into Fort Stevens, and
| they were soon able to locate the 10th As
they watched they saw the regiment leap
over the parapct and spread out like a
| fan.
They are depIoying as skirmishers on
| sixth company, the one commanded by
| Lieut.. Wright" said the Army Girl.
| Puiis of smoke and the dropping sound of
muskctry told the girl watchers that the
enemy were making a strong resistance.
| With their glasses the giIls saw .y. ~
| in blue fall and rise no more; others came
| imping painfully back to the fort. Katie
| lowered her glass; she was pale and
| trembling.
There's Jack. There he goes!'' said
| the Army Girl eXcitedly. Look! girls:
look! See him wave his sword. and see
| the men rally around him. They are go
ing TO charge. There they go! and the
enemy are fighting brayely, too. Mercy!
what volley! Now they are hidden III
the smoke. There they are again; our
men are driving them. Good boys! brave
boysr'
whats that?" asked the Navy Girl, as
something went shrieking overhead.
| That" said the Army Girl calmly, 'is
a rifle shell, and you young ladies can
say that you have seen Il battle and ac,
tualiy been under fire; it was n good line
shot, little high, and advise you ia
retire at once. for those shells are no re-
sFecters Of persons. and if one of them
should hit this old cupola the conse-
quences woud be serious. ;"
The girls returned to their carriages
Ambulances were coming down the road;
among the wounded in them were some
Of the men who had laughed Mt Katie's
remark about the man being killed yes,
telday.
|
In the Spring OF 1865 came the surren-
der at AppOmattox and the end of the
war. The 10th had participated in the