The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-04-13
helped to carry him to the rear.
He

n0ipeu 70 carry MIN 70 Lno ToAI. n0
knew mo-"
The man from Georgia stopped sud-
denly and turned his face away. He
seemed to have grown old Suddenly.
1T was forty-six years ago." he
murmured, "and yet the scene comes
right back to me as vividly as IL 1t
were yesterday" He put his hand to
his eyes. He knew me-" he softly
murmured, he knew me-"
The major stirred uneaslly.
"Stonewall was good fighter all
right" he said
The colonel looked around suddenly.
There was steely glare in the blue
eyes.
HE was great general" he slowly
said.
HE was a good fighter" repeated
the major.
He was great general" said the
colonel, and his face seemed To grow
cold and hard.
The major hesitated moment.
"He was a great general" he quick
ly said, and turned and strobe away.
He listened for the sound of Dixie"
as he tramped along, but the colonel's
whistle was stilled.
The next morning the major crossed
the meadow as before and again the
colonel was there at the fence await
ing him.
"Howdy" the Georgia man cried
while the major was still afar off.
"Mornin';" the major responded.
Major" cried the colonel Il want
to make a personal explanation to
you, sir. l spoke harshly yesterday l
was much wrought up at the moment.
forgot myself, sir. | hope youll over
look it."
The major nodded.
That's all right, colonel" lie said.
Il guess may be | know how you felt.
These old recallings are pretty hard
on man. An I'm willing to admit
that what you said bout Chancellors-
vile worked me up a good deal, too.
Yes, sir. 1t seemed to me like re-
Election on the bravery of the union
men, sir. 1t really did. Yes, sir, I'm
sensitive about that. I'll admit we ran
away, but it was because dazed-not
because we were towards. It was the
surprise, the treachery-the sudden
ness of 1t all. l don't want you to say
we were towards, colonel"
The colonel waved his hand depre-
catingly.
MY no'thern friend" he said, II
have thrown no aspersion on your
personal courage"
The major stubbornly came back at
him.
There was an insinuation in your
allusion to the federal disaster that
reflected on the courage of my COM
rades in arms" he said with much
dignity.
He had thought this speech out as
he crossed the meadow. He was glad
to notice that it seemed to impress
the colonel.
III there was in my words anything
offensive, sir, l will withdraw it," he
courteously remarked.
But the major shook his head. The
major was a stubborn man.
You may withdraw it," he said,
"but the courage of my fellow soldiers
remains clouded. The cloud must be
removed"
The colonel looked at him mildly.
'An' how do you propose to remove
it, sir?"
can how do you propose to remove
it, sir?'
The major beckoned to the colonel
and pointed to something that was ly-
ing on the ground in the fence corner.
when | was on tn Gettysburg bat
tlefield two years ago. | found that
she'll" he said. 1T looks like an old
hand grenade and guess likely it was
of home manufacture. Your people
got pretty hard up for ammunition
about that time an there's no doubt
that it came from your side. Do you
recognize it7'
The colonel craned his neck.
NO don't" he said.
The major frowned.
well, sir, | toted that shell home
from Gettysburg and toted it over
here yesterday afternoon"
The colonel stared hard at the black
ball.
ut looks mighty harmless lyin'
thar" he said.
"Mebby tain't so harmless as it
looks" remarked the major grimly.
THAT shell still holds its original
load, sir. have taken out the old fuse
and put in a new one" He stared
hard at the colonel.
go on" said the man from Georg-
la.
The majors wrinkled face took on
an unusually solemn expression.
II am going to prove the courage of
the old boys in blue, sir, by lighting
that fuse"
The colonel opened his blue eyes
little wider.