The Cairo bulletin., 1911-07-04
THE MASTER
or The HOUSE
Why the Red Headed Girl
Married a Soldier.


Halt. there" cried Avian.
I'm goin' down the road thar, MT
Soierman, an I'd like to see you uns
stop me. | tole Mag I'd see her this
mornln' an help her trim her hat"
You can't pass here, said Alyan
why not?"
"'Gainst orders"
! "rm goin anyway" And she step
| ped forward Alvan planted himself
In the road before her The girl. see
| ing that he was determined, turned
and disappeared among the trees.
About o'clock in the afternoon Al
van saw figure coming up the road.
and when II drew near who should II
be but the rebellious girl Of the morn
Ing.
| "How did you get through he ask,
ed. surprised.
| The girl puckered up her mouth at
him. the only reply she deigned to
make.
You can 60 In, he told her.
tWho axed You to go in?" she snap
ped. making face at him as she
tripped by. Then be noticed how
homely she was. She was treeksed,
her hair was the same color as the
freckies and was worn In a pigtall
down her back; her nose was pug
her teeth were her only attractive fea
tire. being white and regular: her eyes
were steel blue and might have been
we'll enough had 1t not been for the
spitefuness In them.
Alvan Hart marched southwark as
far as the Tennessee river. then march
ed back TO Louisville. After that be
marched to the sea and when the war
was ended marched home. Ten years
later he was business man whose In
terests lay largely In the south. Hav-
ing decided to open branch in Attain
la. he went there to establish 1t him
self. During his stay be made the ac-
quaintance of very attractive young
woman with Titan hair and expressive
blue eyes. He fell desperately in love
with her and married her. The day aft
er the wedding Mrs. Hart was telling
Of wartime incidents and recounted the
very scene between the red headed chit
of fifteen and the young soldier who
had stopped her while he was on picket
duty, the red headed chit being herself
Hart was astonished. Could it be that
be had married that little vixen? He
concluded to conceal his own identity.
"How did you go out through the
lines2p be asked
There was a shallow g1lly near by
got down on my hands and knees and
crawled through it.
what made you treat the soldier so
scornfully?'
Natural depravity. l reckon. re.
solved that II | should ever meet him
| would punish him for standing in my
way in the road with his musket point
ed at me. He ought to have been
ashamed of himself" Her eyes flashed
md her color rose at the remembrance
Mrs. Hart gradually took command
of her husband. He struggled to b.
master OF the house; but. do what be
would, his wife always came OUT
ahead. There was certain persistence
about her that wore him out How
ever. she made him very good wife
and he felt disposed to grin and bear II
He feared to let her know that be was
the soldier who bad stopped her In the
road lest she should reduce him still,
further to subsection. However. one
evening when they were both feeling
especially happy The husband went up
10 the garnet. got his soldier boy uni
form out Of trunk, put it on. Fixed bis
belt and cartridge box about his waist.
not forgetting bis canteen, took up his
musket and, going downstairs. stood
In the door Of the sitting room with
determined look on bis face and his
musket pointed at his wife.
"H'mF'
Mrs. Hart looked up. There was no
surprise on her face. She seemed
merely amused.
Don't you recognize me. my dearT"
Recognize your Yes; you are my
own dear husband
Nothing more?"
"a very obedient husband"
Fart began to vince. He almost re
grefted that he had determined to at
tempt to surprise her. However. he
was in for 1t and must so on.
DO I look anything like the fellow
who stopped you in the road when you
were a grip
mot much You're ten years older"
my DEAR" he said, lowering his
musket, I'm the very man"
Mrs. Hart went on sewing without
reply.
Don't YOU believe me2"
"Belleve your or course do. rec.
ognlzed you the moment met You"
"And married mef'
Mrs. Hart rose from her chair and
going to her husband. put her arms
around his neck How could nun.
ish you better than by marrying your"
My love" replied the subdued hus
band. Il have learned by bitter expert
ence never to contradict you"
You have borne your punishment
beautifully. and hencefarth win do
my best to make you happy"
Mrs. Hart kept her word. Soon after
q little stranger came and made a new
pond OF union between husband and
Wife. The episode that was the cause