The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-11-13

inn with his guest who said as they reached the steps
Jimmy, we will sit here for while, and then / will
go over to the stable and see about my horse"
AS they sat down the old hound cautiously down
the steps, wheeling out husky greeting.
She is too old to hurt anyone" said Jimmy.
" Is she yours?"
No, sir. Tips mine Listen he exclaimed, as the
sharp yelp of dog again broke the stiffness. That's
Tip He goes off and runs rabbits all by himself"
Perhaps he is after fox"
No. sir; Tip won't run fox"
Jimmy, can you tell from dogs cry whether he is
running fox or rabbit"
No sir"
well if he is trailing rabbit he does not bark con-
tnually but if he is after fox he does; you
always tell if you listen carefully"
Never heard about that before" replied Jimmy, with
a smile
After this there followed long pause during which
the stranger looked about inqurngly, then said
Jimmy how long have you been living here?"
Not very long. We refugeed over in North Caro-
lima the hrst part OF the war Then we came back to
we just here after the s'render. You remember
when Lee Just had to srender?" he asked looking up
into the strangers face
The boys mouth as usual quivered as he uttered the
word s'render, but the did not appear to see
peak After pause he replied, Yes, remember, as
he arose and started toward the stable.
Ill show you the way" said Jimmy.
Thank you, sir" he answered gravely.
When they entered the stable the big gray horse
greeted his master with some soft little chickering's.
"Oh, he knows you without even looking exclaimed
Jimmy in tones expressing delight and surprise.
Yes, he knows pretty wel' the man replied as
he looked with anxious sympathy at a sadde-galIed
place on the horses back
Jimmy had climbed up on the side Of the stall and
was also looking with much interest Suddenly he e-
claimed know what's good for that Some stuff
down in the bottom of the chalybeate spring
He pronounced each syllable Of the word chaybeate
very clearly, for it newly learned word, and he
was proud of his ability to use it.
Why yes; the iron in it ought to be healing How
far is the spring
COT, ;,,nt iS441o ,v.... sT, -
jumping to the ground and quickly opening the stable
door. " Let me lead him." he added
Hadn't you rather ride him, Jimmy?"
Yes, SIR he replied in rather shy but pleased tones
low up on the horse TheTel Sit farther back, SO you
will not hurt that CALLED place Now ll.lead him, and
you tell me in which direction to 60"
Down the road there, just the other side OF the
iee-pond9 said Jimmy, pointing in that direction
The boy happy as he cupped his bare legs close
around the body of the horse and watched the square
shoulders of the who walked slowly ahead He
thought him exceedingly nice and kind and his feelings
in regard to the spurs nearly intense The
desire to ask if they real silver though strong
but he felt that perhaps would not be polite SO he said
nothing
After they had gone some distance Jimmy exclaimed
There's the springi" Then he slid quickly to the
ing ARM dipped out of the bottom of the spring
handful of rus-coored fakes.
That is what you put his back" he said 81 Just
lay il right 1t doesn't hurt it just feels cool"
The directions quietly obeyed and the horse
made no movement, save Slight CULVER of the skin,
as if to shake off fly
"Uncle Jake says that doctors can't make anv finer
medicine than this, he said he scooped up another
handful.
"We, Jimmy am very much obliged to you. and
I'm sure that my horse is ALSO" said the stranger as
they started on back to the stable.
In the meantime the saddle left by Uncle Jake near
the horseback had attracted the attention of Young
as he came through the front gate After looking
at for few minutes, idle curiosity prompted him to
it with his foot and he did so three bright
IL E l."--Qreeted i'm He oIred
sharply at them at first then his eyes dated and little
prickly thrill through him. wonder if it can be
he said. Suddenly convincing feeling seemed to
fill his mind and then he almost to the house On
reaching the steps, he sprang up them two at time
AND inssFe bg ss @ m Stopped cv
"Wel?s she asked, smiling at his hesitation What
is it, Charley2"
"Ah, do you know, Mrs. C1averly, think that Gem
eral Lee here" His voice was husky with excitement
General Leei Where?" But without waiting for a
reply she stepped quickly to the door of the old-fas
Toned paror and exclaimed in SOFT suppressed
group OF women sitting there:
They think that General Lee is herel"
@What makes them think so?" asked thin prav-
haired woman as she hastily arose
Why" replied the young man, his tones now quite
positive, his saddle with R. E. l. on it is out there
by the gate"
There he comes now said one of the group eaperlv
"at least, suppose that it is he"
Let see" said Mrs Clavery going rapidly to the
window saw him once at the Greenber White and
am sure that would know him. Yes, it is he! She
exclaimed, as she looked at the coming slowly
across the laWn takg earnestly 10 the barefoot boy
his side His thoughts completely occupied bv
what he saying that not until he quite near the
inn did he see the group the porch and his face
flushed slightly he realized that they were there to
greet him. Lifting his hat he assembled the steps with
barred head. Mrs Claverly walked quickly forward
and extended her slim white hand.
General Lee, believer"
Eyes, madam" he replied gravely as he bowed low
over her hand
At the sound of Lees name Jimnys eyes grew round
and filled with establishment For one brief moment he
stood gazing up at the stately old soldier whom every
one was greeting then he backed slowly away until he
reached the door. There he stood another moment
seeing nothing but his hero.
Suddenly he turned and darted down the long hall
up the stairway, and into his mothers room.
Mother" he exclaimed in breathless wonderment
"motherl General Lee is downstairs and ne Is inst
splendid, and-er-mother, he's Just exactly like any
body elsc"*
This story is based the personal experience 81
one who related it to the author