The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-05-05

The sable gentleman, who had stopped
on his way to the mess-tent to take a little
sleep before completing the trip, started
from his doze at the sound of his name,
showed the, tray of reeking glasses over on
answer the call.
'Pausanius, take this demijohn out, and
lock it in the mess-chest. No; take it out
into the mess-tent, and set it down and
throw some blankets over it. I'll come out
presently and put it away. Do you know
where the Colonel keeps his Bible? That
Dig DOCK that ne uses to swear people 2"
Pausanius looked stupid and unknow-
ing go
-, that big black book. you know, with
shiny cover" said Capt. Pilkington irri-
tably. :
20, dat book what he make de rebels
bite afo' he lets dem go?' asked Pausa-
MUS; with sudden CLEAN Of intelligence.
Yes; that book. Where is itY'
Il done TUX it out to my tent. You
know dat big black wench what's bin pes
term round bout me bein' her husband.
case | jumped de broomstick wild her.
when l was young an green. l was gwine
to make her bite it, an 60 off an leab me
lone, same IS dem rebels is 'bleeged to do
after dey bites de book, an has TO 60 home
an keep de peace. l was gwine to make
her bite it, or bust her woolly head wild
HIT
Go and get it at once"
Pausanius set the demijohn down inside
the marquee and threw a blanket over it,
to start on this new errand. When he re,
| opened it, and laid it down by the candle
near the best easy chair in the marquee.
He gave look Of satisfaction around the
garnished tent. as he heard voices ap-
preaching, and stepped to the front to
meet 81 and the girls.
welcome, ladies, to my humble abode"
said he, land again let me express my
high qualification that I'm in a position
to render little assistance to old friends.
The place | offer you is humble, indeed,
but it is fairly clean and comfortable"
Thank you again, Mr.. PiIkington,"
said Maria, stopping for moment at the
top of the slope, to catch her breath and
take look at the lighted tent. 1--WE know.
from our long acquaintance with your hab-
its, that it is not only all that, but it is
free from the degrading practices which
we hear are going on in entirely too many
commanding officers tents. Wherever you
have control there'll certainly be no card
playing, whisky-drinking, or other wicked
immoralties."
Hem" said Capt. Pilkngton. changing
the. subject. When did you leave your
father and mother?' Are they quite well?"
"Quite well, thank you"
mo, that whey-faced copy-setter don't
drink because he can't" muttered Shorty
to himself, as he Jagged along in the rear
Of this Virginia pinetop would turn him
inside out and stand him on his head"
Maria" whispered Annabel, ''there
seems to be an awful strong smell of to-
bacco around here"
'They say there Is everywhere in Vir-
ginia." replied Maria, with her usual air
Of furnishing authoritative information to
her sister-in-law. Its the principal crop
Of the country, next to oficeholders and
rebel soldiers, and the whole land has
smelt of it ever since Powhatan bought
an English husband for Pocahontas with
his last years tobacco crop I'm quite
sure that Mr.. Pilkington can't help the
Don't know about that When he came
up to US noticed that his clothes smeled
great deal worse Of tobacco smoke than
They entered the tent The Captain
idgeted around to make things comfort
able: 1t was such joy to be once more
in the presence Of Maria. that he lin
gered, for the happiness of merely looking
at her and hearing her voice. He nagged
at Pausanius to keep him going in put |
ting the tent in shape.
THAT COMPOUNDED stupid son of Ham,"
he complained, gives me more trouble |
than my whole school used to, Miss Maria. |
He puts me in mind of an old wooden
clock grandfather used to have, that, no |
matter how much we wound it up, and |
tinkered with it, would persist in stopping
at the most unreasonable times There,
you see that he has actually stopped and
gone to sleep, leaning against the tent
pole, with q load Of kindling in his arm,
on his way to the stove"
Il think l can wake him up so that he
will stay" remarked Maria, with a laugh
and q quick stride to Pausanius's side.
She caught the sleeping negro by the
ear, gave it a sharp twist, and said in q
tona that admitted Of no further parley:
"Here, you lazy darkey, wake