Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-08
CHAPTER XXXV.
A plan Miscarried.


A Plan Miscarried.
I remembered as 1 hurried down the
| back stairway her flushed face. but coulo
| recall no look of indignant pride IN .hose
F.; clear eyes whose pleasant memory haunt
| ed me- She loved me; of this no" leil
doubly assured and the knowledge made
| my heart light, even while l dreaded the
consequences to us both. To nave won
was much, even although hope OF posses
| sion did not accompany the winning
| Neither of US might ever again blot out
those passionate words Of love, nor Tor
get the glad meeting of our lips.
1 stepped out into the kitchen and came
to sudden pause, facing table aden
with such a variety and abundance Of
food as had been strange to me for many
long day. Directly opposite, a napkin
tucked beneath his double chin, his plate
piled high with good things. sat Eoers'
while at either end L beheld Mr.. and Mrs
Bungay similarly situated The astonlsh-
ment Of our meet-g seemed mutual. Inc
sergeant, apparently feeling the neceS-
sity of explanation, wiped his mouth
soberly.
dings like good soldier, captain he SAID
in anxiety.
so perceive" I answered, my own
spirits high. THE long night or fastinS
must nave lett uulte d NtIohSJ'
Il vos like a cistern in mein insides, by
Chiminy.
nc doubt; well, 1 am rather hungry my
self. Mrs. Bungay, in memory OF old tlnes
cannot you spare a plate? If so, L Will
take pleasure in joining your happy com
pany Thank you. l see you have founo
your man." .
She gIared down the table, and the little
fellow visibly shrank.
Il have tibet, sir, she answered grimly,
IAN l reckon as how he's likely ter stay
ct hum arter this"
But you forget he is my guide pro-
tested, not disinclned to test her temper
Surely, Mrs. Bungay, you would not de-
prive the south of his valuable services?"
AN wouldn't l now? An didn't thet lit
tie whiffit promise me long afore ne ever
did you uns? Amt he my natral pertecter?
Whuts lone female a goin ter dew we're
in the mountings wioat no MANI Her
eyes flashed angrily at me. Suah, an IL
it's jist fightin' as he wants so bad 1 reckon
as how he kin sit it at home wild out goin
1 don't give him up. now 1 got
my hand on him agin. fer Their whole
kit an caboodle of ye. He bean't much ter
look ct likely, but he's my man, an l
reckon as how Their Lord Civ him ter me
ter take keer Of"
Really, Mrs. Bungay," I insisted "of
course it will prove exceedingly disagree
able to me, and 1 shall greatly regret be-
ing compelled to do anything of the kind,
but it is undoubtedly my duty to pace Jed
under guard and carry him back to camp
with me-"
Butt suah, an We won't, captain dear?''
she pleaded, entirely changing her tone.
'Whut good is tAet little whiffit ter you
uns? There's never so much as decent
fight in him tibet I've found in twenty
years. Maybe ye think as how I'm jist
bit hard on him. but he's thet gay at times
tibet he drives me fair crazy. Every
lick 1 ever give him fer his own good.
Suah now, an ye never would run off with
my MANI"
Come, Jed what do you say? Are you
tired fighting the battles of the confederacy,
and prefer those of homer
Ellen and l will seek apart.
The refuge of some forest cell.
There like the hunted quarry dwell,
TIL the mountain and the
The stem pursuit be passed and Ger
he quoted humbly Il like ter read all bout
fightin well 'nough, but durn it, cap, it
kinder hurts whin they hits We on Their
head with gun His face lit up sudden
ly. Sides. I sorter wanter hev Marian
git 'quanted with thet thar muel O mine,
Beelzebub.''
I But you've lost him.
Nary a durn loss; ye jist can't lose tibet
muel, he's too blame ornary. He's out
thar now htched ter tree, an a eatin' fit
ter bust his biler-never a durn mark on
his hide fer all he wint through"
We'll l suppose l shall be co.. PEELED to
let you and Beelzebub go, but it will prove
serious loss to the cause of the SOUTH
/ said, my thoughts instantly turned by
mention of the mule to matters of more i'm
portance. q expect there will be lively
times up your way
Eye kin jist bet thar will enthusiastical-
ly. It'll be nip an tuck, l reckon, but L m
mighty hopeful O Marian. Thet derp muel
he needs ter be took down peg"
Ebers was eating all this time with an
ca gerness which plainly exhibited his fear
lest l should call him to halt before he
had entirely filled the aching void in his
interior department. l could not fail to
note the deep anxiety in his eyes as he
watched me furtively.
Sergeant" l said, and he started per-
ceptibly.
Il vos not yet done, captain" he i'm
plored. "Mein Colt. but I vos SO hungry
as never vos
"Oh, eat all you please; I merely wished
to question you little Did you send
out party to bring in our horses and
the SaberS?'
TT vos ali done already; der horses vos
found und der swords. Yaw l see to all
dot; but l vos hongry. und waited here to
fill me op"
How many men have we lost?"
He checked them off on the tines of his
fork occasionally pausing to take a bite
from the meat held in his other hand.
Der vos five kilt, captain; dot vos 1t.
vos hit nit der ear off, und vos hongry
as never vos; Sands is goin' to die, und
maybe Elliott will not get some better;
some odders vos hurried, und der guide vos
took prisoner
Taken prisoner"
DOT is it, captain; by Chiminy, he vos
took by der ear by his woman und led in
der house. Vot you calls dot if he vos
not prisoner hay?'
why, she is his wife"
well, dot may be, too he insisted stout
ly His frau, yaw, dot is it, but by
Chiminy he fights nit her yoost der same,
und vos prisoner; und 1 vos wounded NIT
der ear off, und vos hongry as never vos.''
How many men does that leave fit for
duty?" l asked decisively, pushing back my
plate and rising from the table
He counted them up with painful slow
ness speaking each name deliberately, as
if calling the roll.
"Dere vos twelve captain, nit me, but /
am not fit for duty widout 1 eat some
dings first"
That will do / said, peremptorily.
You can have fifteen minutes more to
complete filing up. In half an hour from
now have the men ready for the road
But captain" he protested, Il would
rattle so nit my insides, by Chiminy, dot
der horse would scare.
DO exactly as I say. and no more
words, sergeant" and 1 turned and left
the room.