The National tribune., 1902-05-08

times when gray overcoat is needed,
ready wears a blue one, if he can get it.
You and Lydia overwhelm me; tbs
changeable uniform is just what | may
need tomorrow. Now, if you could only
tell me where | could safely keep Gel
Meade's authority to pass our pickets, l
! should want for nothing"
In good time you shall have what you
WISH" he replied.
Doctor" said |, ''if | should ever be
compelled TO stay long time in the Con-
| federate lines, it would require very care
| full conduct to avoid showing the inside
of this coat"
Yes" he said, but the two sides can
/ be separated. You could manage at night
| to throw away the blue uniform. Feel
these knots. Take this one and pull it."
The knot seemed TO be the end OF n
| cord which extended round one of the
| sleeves at the wrist There was n small
| hole in the cloth through which the knot
was showing; my pulling the cord brought
the sleeve together, forming a bag.
Now, if you cut this other knot the
two sleeves will come apart" said the
Doctor, suiting the action TO the word.
| The two sleeves were now separate. In
side each wrist the hem had been doubled
under, and in each We're small eyelets
through which the cord had passed.
II should not advise you to take the
garments apart unless under great neces-
sity. To restore this sleeve | must now
do this"
He pulled a cord from the tail of the
coat, thrust his hand between the two
parts, and turned the sleeve. Then he
rapidly ran cord through the eyelets at
the wrist, tied the knots, turned the sleeve
again, and put back the cord Mt the skirt.
1T will be n peculiar condition that
] cOmDpls tbronph this
Torrance" said the Doctor. Wear n
thick WOODEN scarf round your neck, and
nobody can tell where the blue and gray
meet. You see the blue garment is really
smaller than the gray. The purpose of
the gray is disguised. but the purpose OF
| the blue is only eUquet. If a Union sol
dier happens to see gray overlapping blue
| he can do You no harm"
The Doctor knew my extreme aversion
to being gazed upon.
Doctor, l shall take the old Enfield"
said |.
He seemed surprised at this speech. and
| added hastily-"Only for display. Where
is the gum"
"In my supply tent" said he.
/ soon had brought it. with the
cartridge-box and canteen and haversack.
Here, Doctor, see what / mean to do, ="
said l.
l tore cartridge. threw the powder
away, and rammed the bullet down. and
continued ramnIing until I knew that the
| chamber was tightly filled with beaten
I lead.
Now" said !; 81 can pop as many
cans as anybody."
But would not some one detect the
TRUTH"
IF so, l could at once begin to get the
gun into proper shape; men frequently
clean their guns: I've seen them do it
while q skirmish was going on"
WELL said he: you know that l dis
like any part of a ire-arm-or any
weapon"
Lydia's fears for me had been very
noticeable. | had not thought it best to
give my friends the details of my exper.
fence south Of the river. but my exhaus-
ton and evident suffering could not have
escaped her. and | was sure she was pre-
vented from expressing her anxiety by the
consideration of the futility of doing So
She was woman of strong reason and
great balance: the future oppressed her
no doubt, yet she knew that my honor as
soldier and as man was at stake. and
that to show weakness would not tend
to give me strength; she knew that | had
gone through many dangers and trials
and that before ME were many more, per-
haps greater dangers, and it would have
been no cause for wonder on my part il
she had broken down and given utterance
to her feelings. l knew that she suffered
far more than she showed by manner or
word. for although she tried to be cheer
full her nervousness at times betrayed her
On this night she was greatly depressed.
The movement for the 23d was post
poned in consequence of bad weather:
was ordered to be ready to attend Gen
Warren's advance for Thursday, the 26th
of November.
CTO be continued.)