The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-03-31

camp. all the available space on the back
of his horse covered with budgets.
Been buyin' corn of the Southern girl
again?' asked Henley.
"Yes, and loaf of good bread, and a
chicken, and glass of jelly. l thought
maybe them two last would tempt your
appetite"
of their partnership as messmates. Henley
scrimped and saved every cent of his
meager monthly pay to send home to
Anna and the child, and Morgan, who
claimed not living relative of his own,
made it up to Henley by insisting on d.
viding with him in this way.
But when the chicken was baked, Hen
ley refused to eat it, and sat munching
his bareback between gulps of the coffee.
Run out your tongue, jim, and let's
see if you're as sick as you think you are
Yes, there's signs of the malary there.
You must double up on the quinine. But
that amt all that's the matter; you're
pinin' to git home and wallop the stuffin'
out of that Home Guard Robinson. Why
don't you ask for a furlough agin?'
mo use; / have asked. / had one not
long ago, you know. It's agin the rules
| to give them SO close. Besides. Cap Riley
| thinks we're soon to be marched out.
| don't. l think We'll spend Christmas
here"
ooh, don't. Sherman's fxin' to go
| somewhere's. l don't know whether to
follow that Hood north, or take a new
line of march; but sometimes in the air
sence I enlisted. What's the use? This
| war is all the home I've got, but III see
| what kin do for you in that way. Maybe
kin state your case better'n you did"
And ere he had finished speaking, Morgan
was striding toward headquarters. Com
ing back an hour after, he thrust an en-
l-velope in Henley's hand, saying: '"There
| it is. Now git out of here to the first rail-
road station for home, and see you are
1t expires the next day. Remember, that
you're for roll-call that day."
| Jim Henley caught the envelope with q
joyful exclamation.
mo use openn' it, Jim. I'd have to
read it fur you if you did, and l don't
want to be bothered. The furlough's in
there all right. Now git out" exclaimed
Morgan.
Three days after, Capt Riley paused
in front of Morgan, sitting off to himself,
patching his coat. With quick start,
the Captain said:
"And it is you answering Jim Henley
name at rolLcall? Did he connive with
you in this?
Raising his cap Morgan answered
/ Knew uOtLllHS Oh IL. lie cannot feaQ
you know. He thinks the furlough his'n
Don't you bother about it, Captain. I'm
doin' this fur Jim's wife's sake, and it'll
| all work out right. This isn't the first time
this thing has been done. I got the fur
| Tough dead easy fur myself-me that
hadn't any use fur it, while Jim had. Sc
handed it over to him. Course he
wouldn't have took it if he'd knowed IL
wusn't fur him."
i HoarSeIv muftar;pp about IL
men being law to themselves, the Cap
ttain walked quickly away.
AT home, Anna, patient, pretty little
Anna. pleaded with Jim to have no words
with Robinson. "Just help me get away
into the little town yonder, where he viii
not have the right to cross my threshold
claiming it as his own, is all ask" Wher
Jim had complied with her wish, she fur
Their declared that he must see the ole
family doctor. The doctor came, and ex
aiming Jim. pronounced him too feebl,
to go back to active service for awhile.
"Let me see that furlough," he said; 81
think l can get an extension Of time OF
it" With knit brows the doctor read it
exclaiming: why, this is not q furlougl
for you. 1t bears the name Of one ALFRED
J Morgan"
4 In q perplexed way Anna looked at hel
. husband. and he. only, seemed to under
stand. $50 that's how Aft worked it {,
get me furf0ugh. He was bound tina
should come. no, difference how. Well
this settles it, II was in a dyin' condi
ton I'd have to 60 back now. And II
} go this very night. can walk over I,
. Zuleman Crossing and ketch that express
that goes at 10 tonight"
In vain Anna pleaded with him TO wal
J another day, or to hire a conveyance (,
take him to the crossing. He shook hi
head. Every minute, now, away from
camp might mean trouble, not only fo
himself, but kind-hsarted, easygoing MGR
gan.
When he started Anna chung to hin
weeping. Il will never, never again sc,
You alive, Jim; i have dreamed IL tim.
and again, and know 1t now. The rea
son that you want to walk alone to tn,