The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-04-03
AN INCIDENT OF WAR
lOriginal.1

| ~ ~ W LILY Sell. IefQ0DS
VIII .eo no harm to me or mine to
M&4e II KNOWN now 1t was the eve
OF iettysburg. and ire were skurrying
from Maryland into Pennsylvania. Our
general threw out thin picket line and
had charge of corporal and eight
men stationed on the turnpike leading
eastward. We had been marching all
day, were ravenously hungry and
would not get anything to eat until
AFTER being relieved. One Of the men
| lighted fire and with tomato can
that he had picked up for frying was
endeavoring to cook some bacon that
he had taken from his haversack. |
noticed that If the meat were divided
among the picket post there would be
thin slice for each man. If he ate it
all, it would be merely enough to stay
his stomach.
May go homer" asked soft voice
behind me. l turned, and there stood
little country girl of fifteen. locking
UP at me from under her sunbon-
net with the timidest pair Of eyes,
fringed with dark lashes and soft as a
fawns.
go home?" 1 said. thinking more of
the girl than her question. Certainly.
Where do you live"
down the road there" pointing.
I looked mechanically where she
pointed, then at the girl. Then my
eyes dropped to a basket she carried
on her arm, full Of eggs. / forgot her
and her gentle face in the eggs. l saw
them boiled, scrambled, in omeiet.
probationary variety of egg that the
most sl:illful cook could devise.
Twill you sell your eggs?" | asked.
"No. sir but will give you some Of
them. I'm taking these home for the
children"
''Oh, well. if you are taking them to
the children" l said regretfully, you
may keep them. / wouldn't rob the
CRADLE"
You may have Dozen" she said in
her soft voice. THAT will leave me
seven to take home"
Just think Of those eggs broken over
that bacon sizzling in the tomato can
and emitting it's delicious odor! l fin
gercd the beautiful white ovals, hold;
ing one after another in the hollow Of
my hands, growing hungrier every mo-
mcnt. g.,
"Take a dozen off the top" said the
girl
"Why off the top" wondered.
l looked into her face. Her eyes were
cast down upon, the basket, and if ever
there was innocence depicted in the
human countenance it was in hers. a
few years older she would be perfect
model for Madonna.
Taking a fifty cent postal currency,
the only change we had in those days,
from my pocket, l dropped it into the
basket and picked out twelve eggs.
Something, l know not what, perhaps
q greed for more. induced me to take
up one of the eggs remaining and han
die it.
Happening to glance at the girl,
saw that she had her eye intently
on those I had not yet touched, and
she was holding her heart. / took up
each remaining egg till l came to one
w HILL 40 SOOh uSt hNAu ~ AA~" ~
be much lighter than the rest. That
there was something wrong with that
egg was evident. have always had
the faculty of keeping equivocal mat
tiers to myself till it is time to make
them known, and / did so in this
case IA
Here, corporal" I said, "are some
rr,. l,t do IN 0nnk
them" Then 1 spoke to the girl. Now
show me where you live"
| walked with her down the road till
I came to turn where we would be
concealed from the men. Then, taking
ND the light egg, broke the shell. In
stead of the contents Of an egg, l took
out q roll Of paper and enough SAND
to make the whole weight about that OF
an egg. Had not my sense Of touch
been very delicate would not have dis
covered the difference. Unrolling the
paper, I was astonished to read that
different parts of the Union army were
concentrating at Gettysburg The sew
erai corps were given under the name
Of their commanders. and l have since
learned that the information was toll
erably correct though at the ume'
being mere lieutenant in one OF these
corps, / knew nothing except what l
read. = 81 =;
1t had evidently been compiled
by some person or persons well fitted
for the work, possibly secret service
scouts in the employ Of General Lee.
and they had endeavored to get it
through the lines by using this girl.
glanced from the message to its bearer.
instead of being crushed at the discov.