Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-07-18

what disposition to make Of the thou.
sand or more pretty girls Of the con-
federate looms became serious ques.
ton. Gallant old Tecumseh was equal
to the occasion, however He ordered
regiment Of bold sabreurs to the
front and directed that each trooper
and officer should take pretty maid,
upon an improvised pillion, behind
him on his steed. This was done and
the unique cavalcade proceeded from
Roswell to Marietta, the regimental
band playing the air of "The Girl
Left Behind Me-" the refrain to which
he troopers sang with the words:
'!The girl | have behind me"
$50 far from being terror-stricken
the girls were soon in jolly mood,
oung to their cavaliers and were
laughing in great glee as the process.
son entered Marietta, lovely little
city that nestIes on the southwark
slope of historic old Kenesaw noun
tain.
"The girl that rode with her arms
about the waist OF the handsome
young captain was the prettiest one
of the thousand, and they were near
ly all remarkable pretty southern girls
who were periodically working to
clothe the soldiers of the south.
Moreover, she was of a good family
of Georgia and had held some sort
of official position in one of the fac
tories Of Roswell Besides, she had
relatives in Marietta who dwelt in an
imposing mansion amid grove Of
outrageous trees, where rose vinea
clambered about the galleries and over
trellises, here and there, on the gar
dened grounds"
"Of course. Don't you know was
born in Marietta" questioned Lucie
Bell
eyes, know" returned Tom Ian.
| sing. But this was many years be,
fore you were born. That was more
than 40 years ago and you are not half
that"
"Well, l should think not"
"All right. Now please let me fin.
ish this story-or. perhaps that is
enough"
go on, Tom Lansing. I'm wild
with curiosity"
"A young woman who stood at ths
gate to the beautiful grounds I told
YOU of, watching with amused face the
passing regiment OF double riders,
when she saw the toung captain and
| his charge, rushed screaming between
fright and joy, toward them, and then
something happened. The captains
horse, a fractions beast that had been
none too complacent all this time with
his added burden OF girl and dimity
plunged and reared, and the young
officer adroitly lifted the maiden to
the ground and to the arms of her
cousin, the young woman who had
come from the gate. But other of the
horses taking, contagiously. the fright.
plunged against him, and rider and
horse fell among rough-shod hoofs
Quickly the spot was cleared, but
the young captain was taken up, un-
conscious, and by direction of the two
girls was borne to the grand house
among the trees and roses.
"The young captain happened to be
known and loved by Gen. Sherman,
who sent his own staff surgeon to at
tend the injured officer.
"There were days of anxiety for
those about the young captain. He
was long unconscious and then fol-
lowed a fever. The left arm, with
which he had so CALAMITY saved the
girl from among the trampling horses,
was broken and cut, but youth and a
good constitution triumphed at last,
and shortly after Sherman had start
ed on his march to the sea, Capt. Tom
Lansing and Lucie Gill, his bride,
the girl he had brought from Ros-
we'll behind him, and who had nursed
him through his fight with death,
had arrived at Lansing's home, in au-
tumn, on the shady banks of the
river Des PLANES, where often, in SUI
preme happiness they sat by the pools
that were quilted with the gold. and
green, and crimson-hued leaves"
tom Lansing!" Lucie almost
screamed. "Why that's your name
And Lucie Gill-that's my name
Lucie Gill Bell. My father had a
cousin named Lucie Gill whom he
loved so much that he named me for
I her, but he died when was baby
and of course never told me of her
history"
"She was my mother. l am the
only son and youngest Of five chill
dren."
Then you and are kim"
Eyes, but very far removed, I am
thankful"
! II don't see why you are SO exult'
ant about the distance of our relation
ship. I'm just as good as you are,
Tom Lansing"
i "A thousand times better, little girl
But I am glad we are not near Of kin
because want you to be my wife,"
| Lift me up" she said. until | can
kiss the bronze lips of that old In
vader.'
/ Cant do that" he said, ''but l will
be old Tecumseh's proxy for once"