Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-16

| grandchild. and make her brave Tor hel
| For 4 while after she started everything
| went we'll But, trudgtng through Millare
| pasture, she got % entertained with her
own thoughts that she forgot al about the
| soldier came running forward with his
| bayonet pointing straight at her.
| Halt! What Is the countersignr
| Rosy stopped short She had never heard
OF a countersign in her life, but she was
| not going to let this soldier know 1t. So
she only drew herself up stif1y. as she had
seen Grandmother Tanner do when she
was very displeased.
I'm taking walk. sir!"
And you've took 1t straight into the
| lions jaws-ben't you afrald?'
Rosy loved the truth, but she was never
going to tell any blue soldier how scared
she was. So she made up a little white lie,
| though her voice trembled when she told it.
"a Tanner, sir, is never 'fraidr'
Wal, tany rate, she's burned plucky,
| whatever else she be-" laughed the man.
| I'm sorry, miss, to stop tibet walk of
| yours, but you'll hev to report with me to
headquarters-them's orders" he whistled
through his fingers, and another soldier
| appeared. Jim, got to take this young
| lady to the colonel. Look sharp till / get
| backr'
| Carefully blindfolding Rosy, so as not to
| hurt her. he took her hand and led her for a
long, long way over rough places. When
the bandage was removed shs-was in tent
with number Of blue soldiers, and one
particularly splendid one, shining with
brass buttons and gold. good to
| sight.
Well Hotchkins?" This shining one
looked up from some sheets of paper.
"A prisoner. colonel arrested inside the
picket lines, the man saluted
This Is the culprit?" pointing to Rosy.
Yes. colonel" The man drew directly
| in front of the officer.
Rosy stood very straight and never
n q Mt ha ~, h
| Ing her little white face. Her grandmother
| was right, the Tanner and Marshall mix
ture had true courage.
sit down. The colonel pulled forward
a camp stool like his own.
She sat down and sInoothed out the folds
| of her short delaine Eock, and pushing off
her dark red hood priully folded her hands
and waited. The other soldiers in the tent
drew their stools nearer and leaned for
ward to hear.
| Rosy had never felt so little and lonely
| in her life
How old are you?" asked the colonel.
Nine-going on ten"
What is your name?
Rose Annabel Marshall Tanner"
go. "Tanner-Tanner?" repeated the officer
| DO you happen to know whether Major
| Robert Daingerfieid Tanner is relative?'
mo. sir.'
Hold on a moment, COLONEL" nice
oldish, gentleman, booted and spurred and
wearing a heavy cloak came out of the
!
by that officer. II don't think the little
| lady caught your meaning. Let me take a
handI'
General, we did not hope for you so
soon! Have this seat, sir How did you
make it?'
Horseback" and with laugh the oldish
gentleman parted his coattails and sat
down on the colonel's seat. He then said
in an undertone: I'VE ought to get some
thing out of thls-she is just old enough to
tell and not to know it. 1t would count to
and the pleasant general turned to the little
girl. Now, tell me-which of all your
uncles do you love the best?'
Il love them all just the same
Dear me, but they are lucky uncles.
How many are there-Uncle Tom. and
Uncle - lex, and Uncle Robert-isn't there
an Uncle Robert?
Rosy did not answer.
your coaxingly. Isn't he a splendid SOL
dier?"
Il think every gentleman in our family
is good soldier. Mister General" Rosy
smiled.
Certainly" The general whsped out a
pocket handkerchief and mopped his face.
Colonel" aside to the officer, II give it
upl l daren't insult a lady-it is conduct
unbecoming an officer. But I'll bet my
turned once more to Rosy, will you believe
it. 1 had pretty near forgotten this was
Christmas day! Think of it! I'll wager
house last night2"
He brought me Robert Lee Stonewall
Jackson Tanner in my stocking!" and she
uncovered that beauty, which she had
against sold In those frail tarletan skirts
The soldiers present exchanged glances.
Perhaps this was clue
Lieutenant, this turn OF affairs Is nearer
your. day than mine-see what you can
make of it,
The other man laughed the youngest
of the group stepped forward at the gen
erals order. and kneeling down beside
Rosie, took Roberta Lee In his hands.
What pretty doll! l always liked black
hair and blue eyes and rosy cheeks, don't
your"
Rosy liked the boy officer so well, for
that, that she let him hold Roberta Lee a
little longer.
(Which Santa Claus brought her to you?'
I'VE haven't any but one in Virginia, and
he lives up the chinbly!"
"Of cOurse-now l remember! But, didn't
Santa Claus send letter on a bit of paper
with the dolly?"
Rosy turned scarlet and kept her eyes
on the ground.
You struck near the truth that time,
lieutenant muttered the general.
How far walk were you taking?' asked
the younger officer, as he returned Roberta
Lee.
oh as far as tea time! And 1 think it
must be tea time now, and my grandmother
expects me- 1t will be rude to keep her
waiting, so if you will excuse me, Mister
General. l should like to go home!"
To the best of her ability Rosy was trying
to behave as she thought her mother would
like to have her.
Rose Tanner" ordered the colonel, be-
fore the general could speak, stand upv'
Rosy stood up If she We're shot. Now,
tell us. If you please, where were you going
when the sentinel caught your"
do you know what happens to naughty
little girls who refuse to answer"
Her eyes opened wide, but not a sound
crossed her lips.
IF you will not answer me. I shall be
forced to confiscate the dolli'
In a fash she saw that beautiful saw
dust body sprinkling the earth. But she
could not beg for mercy for she had pledged
her word never to tell where she was going.
And If Roberta Lee had to die for 1t, she,
Rosy Tanner, must keep that promise! But
she would beg one thing, maybe, that would
not be wrong.
Colonel" her clear little treble did not
tremble, now she was pleading for her be-
loved treasure, lin course, bad girls must
be punished. but Roberta Lee amt a bad
girl-its me! So If you just tookt her and
kept her safe ali the days of her life, and
punished me my own punishment, wouldn't
that be more right?"
For a moment no one spoke.
Would you rather give up Roberta Lee