The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-05-29

tnat time 1t was dark. Ihe poor tel-
low crawled from his hiding place.
Gee, that was Close" he whispered,
as he took another sip of tea. Got
anything to eat? I'm awful hun"
Knock, knock, at the door. Granny
motioned to the hole and walked to-
ward the door. "Whah yo'se bin,
granny, is yer sick?" asked a bow
legged little girl when the door had
been opened. "No, 1 amt sick,
Chloe. Nevah was feelin' bettah. Run
along to yoah nav, now," answered
granny, as she closed the door. The
child's bare feet could be heard clap
ping against the ground as she ran
away.
Cutting and buttering a few slices
of bread and making another pot of
tea, granny handed them to the man,
who still remained in the hole. He
grasped them eagerly. When he had
flushed eating granny persuaded him
to come to the bed, where she dressed
his wounds by candle light. Her
patieut became unconscious during
this time. Granny wrapped him in
blanket, forced him to take some
tea and rubbed his arms until nearly
morning. Thus she worked for two
days and nights, the man remaining
asleep all of this time, except when
awakened for some dainty granny had
prepared.
Three weeks passed. The mans
wounds had healed splendidly. A
bullet remained in his left arm and
gave him some trouble, but he de-
termined to leave for headquarters in
spite of his nurses objections. After
much trouble in getting a horse all
preparations were made TO leave. He
thanked granny again and again for
having saved his life and promised
she should hear from him again. In
answer to her question about himself
he said
"My name is Crawford Floyd. I
am one of party of six who were
sent out by Grant into the Confed's S
country to learn what they could for
the use of the northern army. Three
of us were captured in skirmish at
Pond Fork and taken to the tempo
rary prison at Apple Valley, where
two of my comrades were shot for at
tempting to escape. I Jared better,
however, and got away after being
shot in the arm. The men knew !
was spy and sent detachment out
to hunt me down. I was nearly caught.
One night I slept in the little house
over the hill. Nobody lived there,
because the place is supposed to be
haunted, as you told me. l was in
great danger of being recaptured and
knew that meant death, so deter
mined to tunnel underground for
few days in order to get the beasts off
my track. In my sack had quarter
rations for week and a-half. The
second night began my work, dig
ging with the dagger you have seen.
1t was slow, hard work, and I often
suffered for air and drink, but after
nearly giving up in despair, I hap
pened to break through the floor of
your house, my good angel. Tell.
nobody what has happened until you
hear from me again, which will not
be long, I hope. The war'll soon be
over now. God bless you and good
bye"
The soldier rode off in haste. Gran
ny stood watching him until he was
out of sight. "Whew.w. A no'the'n
spy. Bet this hyah niggah gifts
ketched yit," she said to herself as
she hobbled into her shanty.
ooh, Granny, Granny -y-y!
Don yer know this hyah day am
Decahrashun Dayf" Early one May
morning Granny was awakened by
little urchin who cried thus in shrill
voice. The old woman rose and
dressed slowly. Presently she threw
open her door and, squirting her eyes
in the bright sunlight, said, repro
vingly: Dissertation Day Wat
yo' mean by sech a thing, boy? I
nevah heerd O. the lake"
"Lookie (! Locke, Granny" the
boy went on 'yondah comes man
on hoahsback." Shading her eyes
with her hands, Granny looked where
the child pointed and saw man, COW
cred with dust, riding black horse,
whose sides were f1ecked with foam.
The man sprang from his saddle
and, leaving his horse in the road,
ran up the short path to where the
old negress and the boy stood. Fright
ened, the pickaninny ran away, but
Granny waited for the man to speak.
"Miss Granny?" he asked, lifting
his hat.
"Evalene Harriet Browns ma
whole name, sab, but roun' hyah rs
called Granny" came the answer as
Granny placed her arms akimbo and
looked searchingly at the new ar
rival.
."Oh ! beg your pardon, Miss
Brown" said the man, making a
low courtesy. "I am from Major
Crawford Floyd, to whom you rem
dered service some time ago. He
has charged me to deliver this trihe
as little token of the high esteem
he has for you." So saying, he
handed Granny, who was thoroughly
surprised, neat little package, which
she took without answering.
The words were scarcely spoken
before the man had mounted and was
riding away. The old negress look
ed at the package with a smile.
"Wondah W. ats in thah?" she said,
as the package was laid on the table
and slowly united. The sight which
met her eyes made ber jump. Before
her lay circular piece of gold, the
first she had ever touched. Taking
it to the door, Granny turned it over
and over, chuckling to herself. Slow
ly and tediously she spelled out the
inscription on the back, which read,
"Twenty Dollars"
That night the piece was placed
with extreme care in an old cup and
Al 49,