The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-04-21
81 KLEGG AND SHORTY.
Continued from page %

be careful to LET you alone. and help you
all we can. l am not ilver-tongued ora
tor, like my friend here" continued the
Adjutant. with burst of frankness. but
what | am saying To you is what every
one of us who have been fighting sou all
over this country think and mean. and you
can bet the last stitch of your clothes upon
it."
After all. think that Yank is more OF
iightnin' talker than Polk Ballnger
even. said Wash. I'VE kin put a heap
more confidence in what he says"
The rebels raised rousing cheer, the
engine whistled tn be off, the Conductor
shouted all aboard" and the train rolled
away amid the acclamations of the crowd
The Hon. Polk BalinGer climbed i'm the
rear end amd stood. hat in hand. smiling
and bowling. as if it was all an ovation
to him.
When the train stopped and waited al
Gordonsvile the Adjutant and the boys go
out, I" look over that important railroad
junction. which WAS so long the objective
oi the cavalry of the Army of the Poto
mae. If they could once get that they
would cut off Richmond and Lees army
from the rich storehouse of the Shenan.
doah Valley
Polk Rallinger came up and introduced
himself as a member Of the Virginia Leg
islature.
Il may say to you in confidence" he
said. that | am heartily III favor Of tn,
l mon. l always was. but the rush oi
mighty events swept all of us from ouI
mornings"
Then why don't you frankly say so Il
your people,: inquired the Adjutani
curtIy
My dear friend" answered Polk Bal
lInger persuasively. IF you are going e
lead the people you must talk To them a.
hey want to be talked To. Id lose my
~ IN if 4 fol
them much that | really believe. They
are not ready for it. 1t is the duty of Us
leaders to gradually and carefully per
Sliade and direct them so that they L
hardly realize they are being controlled
That may be your style. but it ISM
NINE, blnrted the Adjurant. Il believe
In talking just what YOU mean. The talk
OF YOU politicians is what brought on the
war
My friend. as you said awhile ago.
returned the Hon. Polk Baliinger sadly
that is ancient history. Az great many
things have happened since then. We arr
opening new era. and putting the dead
past behind u.s. If the North wants us Il
become reconciled it must treat us with
generosity and consideration.
That's what we are going to do,
answered the Adjutanf. You can rely on
that to the uttermost"
Which reminds me- said Polk Balm
ger. tiat hurried away from home witt
quite an insufficient supply of money.
find also that our own people are now
quite avcrse to take our Confederate
money. They have been growing so for Q
| long time. which further embarrasses me-
Should naturally think they would.
the Adjutant replied. '''Tisn't worth al
much as wall paper now"
IF you could oblige me with a little
loan. say $50. it would, think. show Q
genuine desire to restore pleasant rela
tons between the warning sections. and dc
much to assuage bitterness engendered by
the unhappy fraternal conflict
'Those fellows were right when they
| said he was lightning talker." Shorty
whispered TO 81. Lets see if he can talk
500 out Of the Adjutant.
Well, / certainly want $50 worth to
restore pleasant relations between the
| warning sections and assuagc the bitterness
of the conflict" returned the Adiutant
cOOlly. But think can use it to bettei
advantage I'd rather give it TO one OF
these poor penniless fellows who have been
fighting us. No; don't think I can lei
you have it."
AS | feared: there is no real heart in
the Yankee protesta tons Of desire for a
re united Nation" murmured the Hon
Polk Ballinger, rs he turned away.
Ito be continuedo