Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-04-10

w and l, who should be
up and doing, am Gagged
like a tiger walking back and forth
within the limits Of its inclosure."
THIS was my complaint as I paced
my room one morning shortly after the
accidental reopcning of Iny wound. My
imTaticucc WIS not without cause. i
lad gone south. as | have said. with
two ohjccts-to find my enemy and to
gather Information. | had failed in
finding my enemy, but had gained a
complete knowledge of the points eS-
sential to the capture OF north Ala
bama and was carrying it to the gen
eral on the day was shot. 1t had oc-
CURED to me before setting out that,
after finishing my military mission,
might still wish to continue my search
FOX my enemy. Besides, there were
other contingencies. such as arrest or
illness, which needed to be provided
for. l had therefore arranged that the
generals favorite scout should be at
Huntsville on the morning Of the LIST
of April TO receive any communication
l might find it necessary to transmit
If | were prevented from meeting him,
/ was to send n messenger and had de-
vised Il code of signals by which he
might be recognized. The appointed
day was drawing near, was not able
to keep my appointment, and there was
no one Mt hand to whom l could in
trust the message.
chafed till had exhausted my small
store of strength, then threw myself
on my couch. Little Ethel came in
and, like a soft ray Of sunlight break
Ing through stormclouds. turned my
thoughts into gentler channels. She
held in her hand bouquet of flowers
which, 1t was easy to see, she intended
Tor me, but needed encouragement to
offer. l finally induced her to do so
and to admit that she had been out q
long while looking for them for me es-
pecially. l tried to unloosen her
tongue, to induce her to confide In me,
but in spite Of all 1 could do she re-
manned shy, and there was ever present
that awe she had shown before of one
who had taken life.
why do you look at me in that way? 2"
asked.
She made no reply, casting down her
eyes at my brown hand, which held her
dimpled fingers.
you mustn't dread me because am
obliged to fight" l continued. "These
are wartimes. There are a great many
soldiers in the land who think nothing
of killing one another"
Don't they" She raised her eyes,
wide open with surprise.
"Of course war is cruel, but-but it
calls out much that is noble"
when they kill each othcrY
What puzzling questions to come
from such untutored lips! l was cast
ing about for some explanatory reply
when sudden interruption relieved
my embarrassment. A negro boy DASH
cd into the room. through 1t and out
Of another door. He was followed by
the white boy had noticed on the day
Df my arrival. who was screaming:
"DoggOne 20, Fac; I'll break every
bone in yo' consumed black bodyw
The words were scarcely out when
he shot through the door by which the
fugitive had vanished. Little Ethel
looked after him with frightened eyes,
evidently dreading a catastrophe.
"Who's that?" asked.
"Buck."
"Your brotherT
"Yes."
Don't be alarmed. That's only q
boys passion. 1t won't amount to any
thing"
HE says such dreadful words"
That's habit. He doesn't mean any,
thing by it. But it's habit that should
be broken"
soon got her Quieted, and she pratt
tied about her dolls, her playhouses,
some pet rabbits and nook in the gar.
den where she kept them. How singu-
lar that war. which absorbed all about
her. should have no place in her mind.
Amid all the turmoil. the rumbling Of
cannon, the tramp Of men and, hQfaeA
bushwhacking. skirmishing. sEbaftleE
this innocent little maid wasfstran9Sky
out Of place. Her mother. came, intpre
emily and took her away, fearingt
she would annoy me. was loafh{to
part with her. No healing balmSh6d
been applied to my wound so soothing
SO grateful, as was her prattle to my
fevered brain and chilled heart.
They had scarcely left me. when
Buck stalked into the room, his boyish
face as free from passion as II he had
never been ruffied. He had made sew,
eral attempts to visit nc, notwithstand.
ing that he had been forbidden the
room. Seeing the coast clear, he slip
ped In unannounced and began fire Of
questions. z.
Does it hurtY X
my arm? Yes, it hurts some" ~
I'm glad yO' plunked him., :.
'Why do you sympathize with me in.
stead of the other? You have only seen
me few times"
This was too much for him to ex.
plain. could see that he had conceiv.
ed an admiration for me, but he could
not tell why. II
What did he try to kill yo' for he
asked. :.
well. perhaps it was because my ex,
istenos annoyed him." 4
What did yo' want to kill him fo'?"
Il found 1t incOnvenient to have him
shooting at me-"
"Fd like to shoot man. I shot a
rabbit once, but that's purity small
game. Pop. he won't let me have q
gun yet. He says may have one
when I'm 16"
''Buckw called a voice from the hall.
The boy dropped behind sofa. An old
negro woman entered and looked
around.
'Yo', Buck! YO' hidin somewhat.
Io' maw'll spank yo' sho' eff she cotch
yO' hyar troublin the gemmlen. Come
out o dar! l knows whar yO' ARR
1 was about to interfere. but q natu.
raj distaste at giving away q fellow
creature caused Inc to desist.
Il thought l hearn dat chile talkin."
The woman stood still moment, but,
hearing no sound, numbered out Of tho
room. The boy popped up from his
hiding place as soon as she had gone.
Il like yo'." We're the first words he
~ lpv Ali