Gilpin observer., 1902-02-06

SeSoOooOOOooOO OooOed
Two grizzled Confederate veterans
sat in the corridor of Memphis hotel,
turning again the pages of that Book
OF the Past, where soldiers love to lin
ger
Love and war?-why not?" said
the captain; "the two are indissolubly
welded. There's something about a
soldiers life that makes love a neces-
sity. Many time and oft I've heard
my general say that the men without
sweethearts or wives were easier to
whip and easier to kill than the fell
lows who were tethered to life by a
good strong affection. Why, man alive!
I've heard the echo of Take Your Gun
and Go, john" so loud above the noise
OF shell and shrapnel that I could have
sworn it was the real thing: and
when l went into battle it was of her
thought, and Of what she won say!"
Who was she? Where was she?"
asked the comrade with quizzical
smile.
Who was she? Why, she was vari-
GUS, various persons, according to the
location of my command. Once she
was dreamy Vicksburg aristocrat-
blue blood to her finger tips; then she
shifted and became The Merriest Girl
That's Out up in Maury county. Tenn.
After that, she somehow got to be a
Virginia girl-but that's a long tale
and goes deep"
The deeper the better; fire away"
And the veteran settled himself con-
tentedly to listen.
We'll, you see," continued the cap
tain, I'VE had moved on to Petersburg
and were hoping-but what's the use
OF saying anything about our hopes?"
Skip 'em!" said the other with a
sigh that showed the kindred soul; "a
Confederate's hopes-in war; not love,
you UNDERSTANDING things a fellow
must learn to forget But when Cupid
was afield, that's another matter You
were near Petersburg?"
Yes. but hang it all, so were the
Yankees, and getting nearer every day
We all felt that battle was immi-
nent; and were waiting to see just
what turn to take. We filled in the
time OF waiting-why should we not?-
by getting acquainted with some of
Virginias fair daughters. Know any
thing about those Virginia women?"
and the captain paused as if the an
swer to this question gave the clue to
what was to follow.
my wife's virginian," the other
answered succinctly.
"She is? Oh, well. then, explana-
tions and amplification are unneces-
sary. You can easily understand that
crossing the Appomattox at night and
being shot at occasionally by Yankee
pickets was the jolliest sort of fun
when the smile of a pretty Virginia
girl was the reward"
"Only one?" asked the comrade, in
credulously.
For me-only one! There were
others. sister and lot of cousins.
You know how the woman folks con-
gregated in the big Southern homes in
those perilous days. But soon Miss
Gladys was, for me, the inevitable
She The others simply didn't exist.
Col. Bascom, her father, was a wealthy
tobacco planter; and don't need to
tell you just what sort of welcome we
ragged rebels got in those old homes
at that time. We were all comrades
to the men and heroes to the women.
That accounts for the luck some of us
had"
For instance?" tentatively suggest
ed his friend.
Now don't try to hurry a fellow
it's good to go over those days, and,
like rare old wine, one loves to sip 1t
leisurely. But Miss Gladys! You
should have seen her?"
"Skip it," interjected the other.
I've travelled the road, and they all
look alike at that period. Angel? Yes,
that's all right. Had you proposed?"
mo, hadn't. l was Just in that
blissful borderland where anything SO
tangible as a proposal seems sacrilege.
l think must have meant to. II had
stopped to ask myself what l really
did mean. Well, matters were at this
blissful state; Col. Bascom telling the