The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-02-18
THE BoR AR GUS.

= Ea = e
sinpi for about ten minutes.''
The head porter turned quickly on
his assI:tants and drove them away,
shouting 1t the top of his voice: slE
q Get about yo' wuk- How dare yo'
tntehfere wild friend OF de senator's?
LII teach so'- to be putting yoh nose in
where 1t amt got no business"
The old man, astonished ut the turn
Of events. came forward hesitatinsly
to Langdon.
I'm very much obliged to you, sir"
he said. I'm Colonel Stoneman, an
old soldier" s.rl
The Mississippian stretched forth his
hand.
''My name is Langdon, sir-senator
Langdon of Mississippi. l am an old
soldier too"
Delighted. senator" exclaimed the
seedy looking old man, taking the Of
fered hand gratefully.
LanSdon's easy method of mixing
friends was well Illustrated as he
clapped his new companion on the
back. Everybody he met was the Mis-
sissippian's friend until he had proved
himself the contrary. That had been
his rule through life.
Come right over, colonel: have
cigar. sir" Then. as they lighted
their cigars. lie inquired. ''What army
corps were you with. colonel?" 5--f
Il was under Grant along the Ten
nessee.'' replied the old G.. A. r. man.
Familiarity with a senator was
something new for him, and already
he was Strengthening up and becom-
ing more Of man every moment.
Langdon was thoroughly interested
~ was along the Tennessee under
Beauregard," he said. s4s " ,st
Great generals, sir! Great gener-
als!" exclaimed Colonel Stoneman.
'.And great fighting, I reckonw ech-
oed the Confederate. you remember
the battle OF Ora wford svflle p
The old Federal smiled with joyous
recollection 81 l. r. SIT
.'Do 1? Well, should say 1 did!
Were you there, senator?"
"Was there? Why, remember
every shot that was fired. was I'M
der Kirby, who turned your left wing
The attitude of the northern soldier
| changed instantly. He drew: himself
up with cold dignity. Plainly he felt
that he had the honor Of his army to
sustain.
Our left wing was never turned,
sir!' he exclaimed with dignity.
Lnngdon stared at him With amaze
| ment. This was point of view the
Confederate, had never heard before.
"Never turned!'. he gasped., Don't
tell me that! I was there, and, besides,
| I've fought this battle on an average
Of twice a week ever since '65 down in
| Mississippi. and in all these years l
| never! heard such a foolish statement
'What rank were you, sir?" asked
the Union soldier haughtily.
II was q captain that morning." con-
fessed the southerner.
His old enemy smiled with superb
GRITTY e.
= "As a colonel I'VE probably got more
! accurate information,'' he said.
II was a colonel that evening"" came
the dry retort.
"But In an inferior army. We licked
you. sir!" cried Stoneman hotly.
The Mississippian drew himself IN
with all the dignity common to the old
Confederate soldier explaining the
war. I'D ~.
"The south was never whipped, sir.
We honorably surrendered, SIR, We
surrendered to save the country. sir,
but we were never whipped
"Did you not run at Kenyon Hill ~
tainted Stonernan. g.
Langdon brought down his fist In
| the palm of the other hand violently
( Yes, sir; we ran at you. ought to
! remember. l got my wound there.
You remember that long lane"- He
pulled Off his hat and threw it on the
! floor. indicating 1t with one hand
Here was the Second Alabama"
The hat of the old Federal dropped
| '..a on the floor op-