The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-06-22
POLLY cRuxBrErs JAKE.
By +. G. HARBAUGH.

Grim visaged war had at last en-
tered Middletown Valley. A few
eager horsemen in gray, the advance
of Lees army Of invasion, had drawn
rein upon the summit of Catoctin
ridge, and their hungry eyes were
drinking in the magnificent scene that
lay before them. This scene, fair in
the light of the September sun, look
ed like a new Canaan to the "fam-
ished rebel horse" who for months
had been living in devastated re-
gior which for nearly two years had
been the battle and raiding ground
for thousands.
The valley people knew of Lees
coming they knew, too, that Nc
Clellan was pushing after him and
they feared that between the two
armies they would fare badly. The
valley was loyal and when the raiding
rebels reached Frederick, headed as
it seemed for Middletown, there were
hurried consultations, the hiding of
many valuables and CONSERVATION
generally.
The Crumbines lived in the western
part of the valley over against the
mountain in a large old-fashioned
farm house. such as dot that particu-
lar region today. The family con.
sisted of two old people, a daughter
named Polly and son named Reuben.
Polly, with whom my story par
ticularly deals, was a girl of twenty.
She was pretty enough to be the ac-
knowledged belle of the district, and
her red tresses, often unbound for the
sport of the mountain winds, did not
detract from her loveliness, but in
stead added to it.
Of course Polly had lovers. What
Maryland girl has not, and, strange
to say, for there is no accounting for
tastes, her choice was a long, lank
fellow named Grossnickle. Since
Polly liked Jake of course Jake liked
Polly, and the fact that he could carry
off the prize for the asking rendered
him a decidedly happy man. Jake,
however, mad a fear of war.
There wasn't much warrior blood
in his veins and when the first rumors
of Lees advance filtered into the val
ley he told Polly that he guessed he
would "cut dirt and clear OUT for
the present.
"I don't want to be drafted by them
dogoned rebels" he said, as shiver
crept up his spine. II amt no fighter
anyhow as you know, Polly" Polly
knew he wasn't or he wouldn't have
run away from Tom Smeltzer.) "I'm
not ready to be stood up before lot
of cannon and be shot to pieces. 1t
outfits man for everything. He's
of no account afterwards. I like you
powerful we'll Polly, and if you want
a whole husband you'll not object to
my hiding out somewhere"
"Well," said Polly, "the Union
army is after the rebels and when
General Mcclellan comes into the
valley you can show your colors."
eyes, and be clapped into a blue
uniform and have gun placed in my
hands? Polly, it's six O. one to hall
a dozen of the other. I don't see
much difference between General Lee
gobbling up your Jake to Little Mac
taking him in tow. want to be
neutral, non combatant as they say
in the papers. 1 always thought I
would make better non combatant
than a soldier, anyhow. But I'll
come back, Polly, never you fear.
YOU are Jake's loadstone and I could
not keep away from you to save my
life.
''But where will you go, Jake"
'Don't know the old mountain,
Polly? There isn't a fox run that
I'm not as familiar with as I am with
the streets of Middletown. Catch
me? I'd like to see the smartest
rebel smell me out, that / would.
They'll be down here in day or two
but they won't find Jake Grossnickle
on tue PIcmAScS.
After little further discussion il
was decided that Jake should hide out
till all danger was over, and the two
parted with many warm manifesto.
tions of love. There was good deal
of sorrow in Polly's heart that night
that she was going to lose Jake even
for spell, and for day or two after.
ward, filled with a new secret, she
was decidedly in the dumps, from
which not even the good-natured
Reuben could rouse her.
Lee came lover the mountain
WALL" his gray clad cohorts pouring
down into the new Land of Promise,
taking pretty much what tickled Their
appetites and spreading far and wide
in battle array over the valley. Polly
Crumbine, glad that Jake went out ol
the path of the invading legions
stood at the farm gate and fearlessly
watched the dusty ranks sweep by.
"Hello p bawled a big Georgian
as he caught sight of the maid, "I'd
like to have lock of that hair to light
my pipe with, I'm out of matches. y
Polly blushed indignation to the
top of her fair temples, but did moi
reply.
"How many beaux have you got p
asked another rebel, Haven't seer
yer like since I left Texas. What |
you take for a kiss anyway"
"More than your Confederacy il
worth /" retorted Polly, unable t.