Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-01-30
MARION'S BRIGADE
BY MAJOR j. H. ROBINSON

accustomed strength Tor lew hours
longer. As you appear to be well ac-
quainted with the localities referred to,
you must be my guide to the spot"
You forget, friend Francis, that my
conscience protests against such proceed
ings," replied Dawson.
Your conscience is wrongly educat-
ed" answered the general, land l must
use my authority"
Verify, thou hast the power, and !
cannot resist thee" returned Job. But
if go up with thee to battle, l can only
look on and see the slaughter go on"
DO as you please about fighting; all
l require is that you conduct me to the
camp of Major Gainey by the shortest
route. When there you shall be at lib
erty to fight, or run away, just which
your conscience may incline to dictate.
| observe that you are not armed, Mr..
Dawson. advise you to wear some
kind of weapon to secure your own
safety"
IF it is thy command, l must even
obey" returned Job.
The general and Job Dawson rode
slowly back toward the encampment.
Suddenly Marion drew up his horse and
asked abruptly:
rs there a woman in this case, Mr..
Dawson"
The young Quaker's calm and hand
some face was instantly suffused with
a deep red.
There is a certain damsel," he an
swered, who is, indeed, somewhat in
terested in these matters"
And you are, doubtless, judging from
your confusion, interested in the dam
sel?'
Il like not thy trade" said Dawson
evasively.
Gen. Marion motioned to Rowan and
he approached.
Il do not wish Mr.. Dawson to leave
the camp" he said. II confde him to
your care until night See that he has
sires one"
you don't strike me as being just the
right kind of chap for these parts"
remarked Ben.
why not, friend Benjamin.? asked
Job, in those peculiarly gentle tones
which We're in such strange contrast
with the excited voices that arose on
every side.
Because there is no fight in your
retorted Rowan, energetically.
'All men are not alike" was the pa
tient reply. Friend Benjamin, your
leader commanded me to wear weapon,
but / would fain be excused"
But you can't be excusedw exclaimed
Ben, glad of this opportunity to do VIC
lence to Dawson's feelings. IF the gen.
eral has said so, you must come to it,
and there's no use in hanging back"
Il cannot use a sword, friend Ben
jamin; but l have 70 power to resist.
Do with me as seemeth good unto thee"
Full of the idea of having a little in
nocent sport at the expense of the unos-
tentatious and honest Job Dawson, Ben
Rowan conducted him to shop not far
from the camp, where two or three stout
men were engaged in fashioning sabers
for the brigade. Swords were at first
wanting, but they stripped all the saw
mills of the neighborhood, and the saws
were converted by rude blacksmiths into
sabers for the men.
You can now select a weapon" said
Rowan, pointing to several rudely made
sabers.
"If must indeed be armed, good Ben
iamin, l will have such an implement of
warfare as shall best suit my fancy.
These are not heavy enough 1 would
have one six inches longer, and several
pounds heavier"
That's rather richr' exclaimed Row
an. Il suppose a common broomstick
would answer just as well for all prac-
teal purpOses|
II dare say thou art right; but l will,
if it please all parties, have the weapon
that those honest men are now shifting
upon the anvil"
Shall we cut off the end, or will you
have it the whole lengthT' asked one of
the workmen. with smile.
Verify, friend Vulcan, will not have
it any shorter. Fashion it according to
thy best skill, and l will wear it, in
obedience to the commands of Francis,
the leader of this warlike people"
The saber was made according to the
instructions of Dawson, and occasioned
no little merriment; for it was of such
weight and length that it seemed to rival
the famous weapon used by Wallace
himself when he led the plaided warriors
to battle. Wherever the Quaker ap-
peared with the ponderous "utensil of
war;" as he quietly styled it, there was
sure to be an outburst of ridiculous re-
marks, for Ben Rowan did not fail to
call attention to his patient and uncom-
planning friend.
But one thing could not be overlooked
by the most facetious and fun-loving of
the Dragons; and that was that the
figure of Job Dawson was a fine model
of manly beauty and strength. Larger
than any man in the brigade, of pleas
ing countenance. and still young, despite
all the disadvantages under which he
labored in other respects, his personal
appearance excited admiration and some
envy. He moved about among the men,
apparently unconscious that he was a
subject of ridicule. When addressed, his
answers were mild, and yet characteriz-
ed by quiet dignity, and his calm voice
never for a moment lost its tones of
strong gentleness. Although the mon
strous weapon hung at his side, no war
like fires cleaned from his eyes; they
were as soft as woman's in their ex-
preston, and a wondrous serenity seem
ed written in the singular repose of ev-
cry feature.