The National tribune., 1906-03-29
wAsNGTos THURsDAY,

"Not a Bit" I replied. "You are the
first lady who has honored us with q
visit. and If you could know how glad
the men are YOU would feel quite at
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 she
gave q sweet little laugh which. some
how, quickened my pulse wonderfully.
Now. l 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, 4 hope he
won't get hurt
Il am sure he won't" I replied en-
couragingly. "He may get scratch
or comfortable flesh wound. which
Will send him to some pleasant hospi-
tai to be waited on by handsome, pa
triotic young ladies. Besides. / 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.
I spent n half hour with her. half
hour that was exceedingly pleasant.
| though 1 was by no means free from
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. 1 never seen her beat
| In Ole Virginny. And de minnit l steps
inside de do with her vittles she be
gins to dash dem black eyes o hern
around de room and den at me, until
feels as IL I'd been stealing some
! thin. and I hasn't-leastwise nuthin'
I spec. she knows anything about"
ND oil
| on the evening Of the second day of
Miss Browney's stay with us she would
witness our dress parade. What a
'shining-up" there was! How the gun
barrels glistened! Paper collars, white
gloves and shoeblacking were in great
| tune while wo marched out to the
parade-ground and formed in line.
| Every man did his best. It was in
vain, however. that the company Off
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 am
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
! Rrowney and her brother. officers sa-
luting, colors dipping, and the men
giving a marching salute. She was de-
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
that was said of her.
| And now that 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 had given, even to
| the youngest men In the line, look Of
| gravity and firmness. And as these
veterans made obeisance to this young
and beautiful creature, whose yer,
| strength lay in her innocent weakness
| and who seemed to each OF us the rep
resentative OF loved ones at home fol-
whom we had come to battle, 1t was
not strange IL 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-which was readily obtained
| 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. I per.
| formed my mission. and explained tG
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.
| raised, for I was naturally diffident
| and I felt. somehow. though I didn',
| as fully comprehend it then as l did
afterwards, that I had q good deal OF
| personal interest in the matter.
She received me with pleasant cour-
| tesy, and babe 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, I tried to per-
suade her, but she said, half patheti-
cally, Don't urge me, I beg you. ]
wish I could stay and even follow you
into battle that l might be with my
brother II he should-be wounded"
she faltered. But she added firmly,
II must 60 back to the hospital: 1t is
my place, and I must meet my friends
in Washington day after tomorrow"
The next day We had battalion drill,
and the Sergeant's sister was an inter-
ested spectator.
we COnl0 only have her tn watch
u.s." said a chronic grumbler in my
company, II wouldn't mind drilling
every day." He expressed the senti-
ment of all the men.