Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-07-09

| ANSu dD'AI. SpItdNlH,S cut lHto lli'
| ields. 1t was troublesome to ciiml
he rail fences, so they pushed then
| own.
In a swirl CT sabers that flashed
1retLily in the bright sunlight the
lorses came on. A sharp command
vas spoken and a sheet of flame
eaped from the gray line, haze o.
imOke was slowly dissipated and the
Ills gave back an echo to the crash
Of the rclley-a bugle called shrilly.
IN strange pastures litter of mer
and horses were scattered over the
ground. Farther back, the retreating
cavalrymen bent low on their horses
neckS.
With unconcerned WEAKNESS the
gray ranks fell together and trampet
on down the road. The rear guard Of
the army of Northern Virginia was
used to cavalry rushes.
At the tag end Of the column
long-limbed mountaineer slouched, 6
disconsolate look upon his sunburnt
face. Occasionally he gave vent to q
long and complicated oath.
How much longer is this fool bust
ness to keep up?' he growled saw
agely to a comrade. I'm blamed
tired of running, myself! No Baker
never was a-runnin' befo', / know'
He lapsed into moody silence.
Far back in the white road the dead
men made black dots.
When night came the men simpl.
dropped down on the dusty grass by
the roadside. Far in the rear twinkled
the campfires of another army.
Look at them fires" said jim
Baker, indicating the distant lights
Them fellers air a-bilin' coffee!" He
chewed savagely on a mouthful Of
parched corn meal.
Out of the darkness came the sound
Of galloping horse and the SHARP
Halt! Who goes there?" of the
picket. A muttered word, and the
Pass on, friend" of the sentry.
Soon a whisper passed from man
to man, whisper greeted by some
with tears and by some with curses
a truce was ordered-the army was
to surrender.
When the roll of B company was
called in the chill dawn Jim Baker
failed to answer to his name.
Anybody seen JIM" the sergeant
asked at large.
Seed him last night" a soldkr vol
unteered.
Wouldn't thought 1t of Jim," was
the muttered comment in the ranks;
never would a thought Jim would be
a deserter! Lord. that sho' will Kill
Jim's old paw. He fit with Jackson
in Mexico-told Jim never to come
home eff he had to come with his tai
betwix his laigs."
The color-sergeant raved and swore
Nowhere could he find the tatteret
flag that he had placed beside him the
night before.
When the rolls of the army o.
Northern Virginia were turned ovel
TO the army of the Potomac they bore
after the name Jim Baker" the
single shameful word, Deserted"
Two ex-confederate soldiers climbed
he winding path that led to cabir
perched on the side of the mountain.
"Bill, l jest can't tell him!" thu
.aller of the two exclaimed, as the.
neared the cabin. mo en- like he'll
fill us full of. buckshot fer sayin' So
won't believe hit"
EFF he wasn't sho' ter find ou
sooner er later anyhow, I'd say h.
was killed, but it wouldn't be health.
fer us when he did find out, eff he /
most So"
A white-haired old man came GU
from the cabin and seated himself o.
! a bench. His face was crossed by
| thousand wrinkles and he had plainl
passed his three-score-and-ten, yet hi
step was 1.-the and his eye bright an
quick like a hawks.
The two men approached the cabi
and seated themselves on the 10
step.
"Howdy, boys?" the old man asked
The two each took chew of 'lon
green" and meditated. The shorte
was evidently of the quicker nature
for he soon became aware that h
had been spoken to.
Jest tollerable, thank yer, Nj
Baker. How yo' comm on?" he II
piled.
"Tollerble, thank YER" old ma
Baker responded.
Presently he looked them owe
curiously.
How yo' fellers git ?" he aske,
Didn't have ter git off-ar,s done
VEAL is licked" the taller One sal
heavily.
The bushy brows of the old ma
lowered.
Don't pear to see Jim with yc
alls?" he said.
The shorter man nudged his con
panion and the latter rose.
"Old man, yo' know rs been a FREE
of Jims all my life," he said with
certain rude eloquence. But tie
yo', eff had a knowed in time I woul
a emptied my gun inter him to keI
yer from this: Jim deserted the nigl
afore the surrender" He stoppe
suddenly and looked expectantly |,
the old man.
Boys, ! didn't know yo'-alls We
SIGH blamed fools!" he said, CO..
temptuously. "Jim deserted? I tie
yer boys, / know JIM am the la
one Of the Bakers alive to-day.
sHe rose, and with unsteady steI
walked to the brow of the hill ar
gazed far off into the valley whel
the Chattahoochee made a silver liz
In the hazy distance.
| The two men exchanged glant
and then went quietly away.
| An unbroken river of blue pourt