The National tribune., 1906-03-29

nFSI lduy VINO mas honored us with I
visit, and If you could know how glad /
home
'And IL they knew how much pleas |
Ure | take in being here, they would |
feel that | am not ungrateful. How /
did surprise my brother," And shcI
gave a sweet little laugh which. some !
how, quickened my pulse wonderfully. |
Now. 1 think" she continued. that
he's the best boy in the world. There
are only two of us. but we are each
trying to do our part" Then, with an
anxious look, she added, Il hope hel
won't get hurt
Il am sure he won't" I replied. en-
couragingly. He may get a scratch
or q comfortable flesh wound, which
| will send him to some pleasant hospi-I
| tai to- be waited on by handsome, pa
iriotic young ladies. Besides. I don't
| believe there will be but one more bat
| tie before the war will end"
! Il hope you are right, she said.
! "War IL so terrible
Then, in commonplace conversation,
| L spent n half hour with her, n half
| hour that was exceedingly pleasant,
! though | was by no mear5 free from
embarrassment, and I feared that she
might hear the beatings OF my heart,
for TO me they were very audible.
The colored contraband who carried
! Miss Browney her meals Informed me
confidentially that "she was powerful
hans'm Deed, / never seen her beat
In Ole Virginny. And de minnit l steps
1 inside de do with her vittles She be
! gins TO dash dem black eyes o hcrn
around de room and den at me, until
| feels as if I'd been a stealing some
thin. and 1 hasn't-leastwise nuthin:
u spec, she knows anything about
4 1t was understood all around that
Il on the evening of the second day of
Miss Browney's stay with us she would
witness our dress parade. What
"shining-up' there was, How the gun
barrels glistenedi Paper collars, white
gloves and shoeblacking we've in great
demand. The band played its liveliest
tune while wo marched out to the
parade-ground and formed in line.
Every man did mis- best. II was in
vain, however, that the company ofii-
GERS frequently repeated in low tones,
| Eyes front" for eyes would steal to
the left" in which direction stood
Miss BrOwney and the Sergeant. / am
sure that when the order, First Ser
geants to the front and center" was
! executed on the double-Quick each Ser
geant wondered if he had acquitted
himself commercially. And 1 am
equally sure that when the gallant lit
tie Adjutant, who could handle his
sword as gracefully as If his ancestors
, for ages had been military officers, sa-
! luted the commanding officer and said,
Parade IS formed" he blushed very
! perceptibly.
After parade was dismissed each
company, in returning to its quarters,
marched in company front before Miss
: Browney and her brother. officers sa>
luting, colors dipping, and the men
giving a marching salute. She was de-
I lighted at the novel sight. and some
!. of the boys were sure that through
her smiles they discerned tears. This
/; may not have been so, but it was ac-
, cepted as true as was every good thing
5 that was said of her.
And now that L think of it. / DO not
wonder that such scene should have
stirred the emotions. The regiment
: was composed of officers and men
every one Of whom had faced death in
the terrible shock of battle. Our flags
were in tatters, torn by rebel shot and
! shell. Discipline mad given, even TO
: the youngest men in the line, n look of
: gravity and firmness. And as these
veterans made obeisance to this young
: and beautiful creature, whose very
) strength lay in her innocent weakness,
and who seemed to each of US the rep
resentative OF loved ones at home for
whom we had come to battle, it was
! not strange if her heart was touched
by solemn thoughts that found an out
ward expression in few womanish
tears.
That evening an informal meeting
of the men was held. and 1t was de-
cided that with the consent of the
| Colonel--wiich was readily obtained
| I should wait on Miss Browney, and
express to her the great pleasure which
her presence had given us, and in their
behalf to earnestly request her to re-
main with us for a few weeks. 1 per-
, formed my mission, and explained To
her that the men proposed to build
a fine log house with two rooms, one
for herself and one for her brother.
} l suspect I appeared somewhat embar-
] rassed, for / was naturally diffident,
and / felt, somehow, though l didn't
as fully comprehend it then as l did
afterwards, that l had good deal OF
personal interest in the matter.
She received me with pleasant cour-
, | tesy, and bade me thank the men most
; heartily for their kind thoughtfulness,
; but she must return day after to-mor-
row morning. Friends would meet her
In Washington to accompany her to
New York. She looked very beautiful
as she stood on one side of the fire
which blazed brightly in the mud fire
place. Her delicate, refined features
and elegant attire were in striking
contrast with the rough surroundings.
In my awkward way, 1 tried to per-
suade her, but she said, half patheti-
cally, Don't urge me, L beg you.
wish I could stay and even follow you
into battle that i might be with my
brother If he should-be wounded
she faltered. But she added firmly,
Il must go back to the hospital: it is
my place, and 1 must meet my friends
4 in Washington day after tomorrow"
The next day we had battalion drill,
and the Sergeant's sister was an inter
ested spectator.
IF we could only have her to watch
u.s. said q chronic grumbler in my
company, II wouldn't mind drilling
every day" He expressed the senti-
ment of all the men.
The Washington boat touched at
Belle Plain Landing before daylight,
and it was necessary that Miss
Browney should leave our camp as
early as half-past o'clock in the
morning. On the evening before her
departure an ambulance was directed
to report to her in the morning to
carry her to the landing. and guard
of two men was detailed to act as
| escort. She was very grateful for the
offer of the ambulance, but decidedly
declined the escort.
"All Union soldiers are my friends,
and am friend to them" she proud
ly said. And shall l seek protection
| from them? No. l wish for no es-
cort. But 1 do wish it were possible
for my brother to accompany me-.
This exhibition of grit pleased every
| body, and we were sorrier than ever
to part with her