The National tribune., 1904-08-18

for his brilliant little battle at Griswold-
vile, where he was wounded, and this is
his first duty since"
"Yes; yes;" said Maria, little petulant-
praises of other men, when all her soul
and her eyes were yearning for her hus-
band. But where are Will and 81?
Where's the 2OOth Indiana Infantry Vol
unteers? Where's Maj. Bowersox, and
Gen: McGillicuddy"
Yes, where in the world are 81 and
WillT pIaintively inquired Annabel, her
eyes filled with tears 1T seems to me
that I've watched million men, hoping
to see 81. I've looked at a thousand flags.
trying to see Indiana on them, but when l
could read them at all. for stains and tat
ters, they've been Ohio, or Illinois, or
Iowa, or Wisconsin, or Pennsylvania. or
places. A Kentucky flag was the nearest
home I've seen. I'm afraid the boys are
lost in this wilderness of men, and we'll
lost"
There, there. Annabel: don't be
afraid said Maria. They can't lose the
boarding house They'll show up there
when. they get hungry, 1 know that. The
crowd haven't carried off the streets, so
the bOysll know their way back"
But something must've happened to
them, or we'd've seen them long before
this"
mo, nothing's happened to them. But
l do wish, myself, that they'd show up,
iar."
'Hullo, Mis- Maria: mornin' Miss An
mabel" called out familiar voice. They
looked in the direction Of the parade. and
saw large negress attired as a Goddess
of Liberty. She had liberty cap. with
red and white stripes, and stars on a blue
field, on her head, her ample bosom was
covered with blue field with white stars.
and her skirts had alternate red and white
stripes. In her right hand she carried a
gilded spear. and in her left a pair of
broken fetters. She had been stalking
along with all the dignity of an Ethio-
plan Queen, but when she recognized the
girls on the benches she smiled so unre-
servedly that her face became all eyes and
teeth, and the girls did not know who she
was. They replied civilly, but vaguely"
Good afternoon. We can't tell who
you are"
The answer was loud, hearty, joyous
why, is Aunt Minervy Ann. honeys.
Don't y know yo'ole Auntie, when she's
Good gracious, Aunty, are you that
Goddess of Liberty?"
"Suttin is" she answered proudly
figger jes' perfect
"Of course, of course" Maria hastened
to say. "A better one couldn't be found
Where are the rest?'
Uncle Eph. he back dar, leadin' he
jackass, wild a slather OBJ Turkeys, chick
ems, hams an pigs slung ober him"
Where are the boys?' Maria asked i'm
patiently.
"Why, right back dar. Can't yo' see
dem," answered Aunt Minerva Ann,
pointing over her shoulder with her spear
Then she looked back herself, and ex-
claimed:
"Laws-a-massy," rs done loss my dis
tance agin, an de boys'll jes' rave"
She halted and began such q ludicrous
attempt with her big feet at marking time,
that the crowd went wild with laughter.
She looked over her shoulder presently,
to see il the regiment were nearing, and
said:
"Dar comes Gen. McGilicuddy, an
dar's de Adjutant wild him."
Gen. McGillieuddy, wearing with mod
est pride his new hOnOrs, rode quietly on,
to salute the President. In that whole
myriad upon myriad of brightly uniformed
men there was no more resplendent sight
than the Adjutant, who wore in its bright
est and shiniest everything that the regu-
ations would allow First Lieutenant
and brevet Major to don on occa sions of
ceremony. And the horse he rode never
had more than tWO feet on the ground at
once, nor these on the same side.
As the Adiutant passed Aunt Minerva
Ann he said in his usual low, but distinct
and penetrating tones:
WHATS the matter with you? What
are you getting so far ahead for! YOu
mustn't make believe that you outrank
even the Division Commander. Fall back
to the front of the first company, SO that
they can see you belong to the regiment"
As he came abreast the girls Maria
said:
MY Gracious, Adjutant, is you?
We didn't know you at first"
His eyes were straight to t front. he
was holding his sword at salute. while
his horse danced all over a square rood
of pavement, as he answered without turn
ing his head:
"Yes; warned you to get a piece of
smoked glass ready by the time | came
up."
Behind him rode Maj. Bowersox, calm,
self possessed. and unostentatious as ever.