The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08

going home at once, but the citizens of | Hale, or.daie Id hy Maj,r Psrdus and 1 Colonel Blasengame, would not hear of su ;h a thing.
 NO, sirs.' exclaimed Maj)r Perdue.
 ''We have long been wanting a red-letter day in this section, and now that we've got the excuse for making one. we're not going to let 1t go by. Everything is fixed, )r viiu be by day after tomorrow. We're going to hav3 6 barbecue halfway b ba:ween thls town and Shady Dale. The people of the two counties haven't mad a j"lr tication sincs the war, and now that We have the excuse we're not going to turn 1t loose until :he publication is over"
 And so 1t was arranged Notice was given to the people in the old-fashion way and nearly everybody in the two counties not only contributed something to the barbecue. but came to enjoy 1t.
 The details of the barbecue were in the hands of MT. Sanders. who was fa- nous in those days for his skill in such matters. The fires had been lighted the night before, and when the sun rose. long lines of carcasses were slowly roast ing over the red coals, contributing to the hreezes an aroma so persistent and pen etrating that 1t could be recognized miles
 
 away.
 A sneakers stand had been erected, and everything was arranged just as It would have been for political meeting There was a good deal of formality, too Major Perdue prided himself on doing such things in style. As tho .aajor man aged the affair, the friends of the young men caught their first glimpse of them as they went upon the stand. Gabriel was the first to make his appearance, but he was closely followed by the rest. A tremendous shout went up from the immense audience, which was assembled in front of the stand, and this was what the Major had arranged for. The shouts and cheers of a great assemblage were al music in his ears. He comported him. self with as much pride as if all the ap- plause were a tribute to him.
 When the applause had subsided, the Major made quite a little speech, in which he referred to the spirit of mar tyrdom betrayed by the young patriots, who had been seized and carried into cap tivity by the strong hand of tyran- nical government. and he managed to stir the crowd to a great pitch of excite
 nsnt He brought his remarks to close bv introducing his young friend, Gabriel Tolliver.
 There was tremendous cheering at thls, ana all of A sudden Gabriel woke up to inc fact that his name had been called, and he looked around with a dazed ex- nression on his face. He had been trying to see if he could find the face of Nan Darlington In the crowd, but so far he had failed and he woke out of dream to hear a multitude of voices shouting his name Why. what do they meanT he asked.
 "Get up there and face 'em." said Ma jor Perdue.
 Now Nan was not so very far from the stand, so close, indeed that she naa not heen in Cabriers field of vision while he was sitting down; but when he rose to his feet she was the first person he saw and he observed that she was very pals In fact, Nan had shrunk back when inc Afaior announced that Gabriel would sneak for his fellow-martyrs, and for moment or two she fairly hated the man. She might not be very fond of Gabriel, hut she didn't want to see him made fool of before so many people.
 Somehow or other. the young fellow diyined her thought. and he smiled in spite of himself. He had no notion what to say. but hs had the gift of saying something, very strongly developed in him. ana he knew the moment he saw Nan's acared face that he must acqult himaalf with credit. So he looked at her and smiled. and she tried to smile in re- turn. Gabriel walked to the small table and leaned one hand on it, and his oom- nosure was so reassuring to everybody but Nan. that the cheering was renewed and kept up while the youngsteF was try Ing to put his p0sg thoughts teEathsT.