The National tribune., 1904-06-23

much Of chore for two such girls as
YOU"
"No, indeed" echoed Shorty. you've
said yourselves often that you'd been up
and down Pennsylvania Avenue 20 times
in search Of something that you wanted.
Pennsylvania Avenue is a full mile long.
The boys tell me that they haven't aver
aged Is miles a day"
"And the weather'n be much better
| now from what they've been having
added ST.
SHOULD think that you have had
marching enough already to do you the
rest of your lives" plaintively COM
mented Annabel.
But this'll undoubtedly be the last
march the 2O0th Injianny will ever make,
and we want to be in the wind-up with
the boys" pleaded 81.
Just because you've been marching
hither and yon all these years you want
.s to keep it it up m Is tn that it t snapped
It'll only be for three or four days"
argued 81. "We'll be in Washington be-
fore the end Of the week. There'll be no
lettering by the roadside. We want TO
show these. Army Of the Potomac fellows
how the Western boys can march,"
"Yes. and l want the Sergeants. here,
who are amongsthe best marchers in the
regiments to be with as. and give the rest
good example," said Maj. Bowersox.
CAS- matter of comfort, I'd rather
march back to Washington than be
hauled over that rickety old railroad" said
Shorty. well cut right across the coun-
try. instead of being carried clear around
Robin Hoods barn."
you're not thinking Of how we're going
to get back" said Maria, with asperity.
you're thinking only Of yourselves. Do
you think we ought to be left alone to
make our way back through that desert
of graves and burned buildings? We're
NOT going alone. | can tell you that"
That's 50. They oughtn't to have to-
said ST. -
''Tell you what we might do" sug-
gested the Adjutant, who was eager to
have the boys with him. "There are n
lot of transports down in the river going
back to Washington. We might get pas
sage on one of them for the ladies'"
"Humph." shifted Maria. with a lively
remembrance of her last trip by water.
when you get me on a boat again. I'll
have to be tied hand and foot, and hauled
on n dray."
30, Maria. YOU won't be seasick." ex-
postulated Shorty. "NO one ever has sea-
sickness bat more than once. It's like
measles and mumps."
"And the water is like n mill-pond be-
| tween here nnd Washington" added the
.Adiutant. NEARLY all river. and all land
locked. IT'S just like riding on a big
canal Not at all as if you were out in
the open sea- I'd rather made up my
mind we'd all go back that way. rather
than over that war-crazed right-of-way
that they call railroad"
"Well, we're not going back alone.
said Maria with settled determine ton.
you can drive down the first peg right
| there"
1--WE ought to reioin our regiment as
soon as we are able" ST debated. "And
| we're certainly able
"And we have come already under the
orders of Maj. Bowers0X." added Shorty.
I'm fact. we have rejoined. and can not
leave without his permission"
"What nonsense" said Maria. You
told us. when You first came up. and be-
fore the Adintant gave you that fool idea
about marching back with the regiment,
that You only fell into line to help the bows
make good appearance, and you in
tended to leave just as soon as the re-
view was over"
"Yes: you sEouldn't've gone if we'd
| thought you had any idea of staying
pOuted Annabel.
II never dreamed that it would come
to this" blazed Maria. chat | should
have to ask another man to make my hus-
band 90 home with me. but I'm going TO
ask you. Mai. Bowersox. as an old friend
of our family, to order Will and Si 10
stop this nonsense, and take their wives
back to Washington. They seem to
think that they've got to do whatever you
say"
Il really don't know whether they are
under my authority" replied the Major.
1--WE been considering the question, since
you opened it up. They are horne on the
rolls as absent in hospital ut Washington.
Has the Surgeon ordered yen back to
Your regiment. Sergeants?"
"Ne. sir" replied both the boys.
s.There is also an order" continued the
Major. against sending any more cor
valcsaen,s. recruits. or farloughed men on
III their regiments They are TO be held
in Washington until their regiments ar