The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-01-11

with sudden intensity, looking up from
the piano an instant, then dropping
back mechanically to his one fingered
Turkey In de Straw"
That was all he ever said on the sub
ject. and 1t was not until long after
ward through other sources that the
detailed story came, out of how he
had encountered the vindictive Thorn
ton and after desperate hand to hand
combat had slain him with his own
weapons.
And twas afther Colonel West he
was a-lookin', too, I'll go ball. put in
Barket, who was waiting upon Cen
erdI Buckthorn at the moment. '"That
Thornton was a pizen divil.''
Mention of the military prisons re-
minds me-" said General Haverill,
that I have a letter written shortly
after Cedar Creek by a Captain Cox
of Kentucky regiment. Captain Cox
was in Libby with-with Lieutenant
Bedloe. He himself escaped from
there some time later with the consid-
cradle number OF Union officers who
crawled out through Captain Roses
tunnel from the cellar. He mentions
another comrade-Captain Hunt, as
when dying of consumption and lived
just long enough to reach home.''
The conversation now turned to Ker-
chiVal West and the last engagement
in which he had participated, in the
Shenandoah valley. As Sergeant Bar
ket admittedly knew more about this
than any other man alive, including
Colonel West himself, the company
now unanimously decided to give him
the floor. Barlzet was in his element,
especially when he observed that old
Margery, the cook, had fingered in the
background among his attentive audi
ence. He had half a dozen teacups
and sherry glass or two arranged on
the hearth rug to represent the Union
and Confederate lines. while he illus
trated the cavalry charges and artil-
lery fire with hourishes of General
Buckthorn's walking stick.
"Just In the hottest of this battle of
Sayder Greek, whin Colonel West and
rode to the front to rally the rigd-
ment and turn upon the victorious in
imy-it was at this pint, foreninst the
brow of the bill, We moind-sure, the
colonel he sailed out ahead widout any
coat OF hat and wild only a shtick in
his hand, and yells out: Charge, b'yesi
Gfneral Sheridan's come backY They
gave wan big cheer and we swept
clane over the secesh ba ttery.''
'Hoo-rooY cried Margery as Bar
ket's stick smashed line of teacup ar
dllery.
THE attack on our left flank was
checked. But whin we shtopped to take
breath, where was brave Colonel West?
Heaven only knows. After the foizht
was over Miss Gertrude and the other
gals searches for him on the field, and
thin, of suddint, Miss Gertrude rides
off all by herself and disappears behind
the schoolhouse''--
mo, Barket; it was the church. And
the colonel and were married there!"
Gertrude herself, on the arm of Ker-
chiva1 West in a brand new uniform,
suddenly appeared upon the scene, hav-
ing been ushered in by the maid at the
front door unobserved while the battle
of Cedar Greek was raging. Nor did
they come alone. Close in their rear
followed a Quiet civilian, who on sec
ond glance proved to be Bob Ellingham
and where Bob was Madeline West
could not be far away.
Welcome, Colonel Dillingham; roar
ed General Buckthorn. 1--WE had long
fight to keep you out of Washington,
but we're delighted to see you within
the lines now
81 see that flag has just been raised
again over Fort Sumter, on the fourth
anniversary of the day in Charleston
which we all remember SO WE'LL" said
General HavertlI, in tone of thankful
ness that had no ring of triumph.
81 think" replied Bob, "that Virginia
will be about right for us-Madeline
and myself. The Old Dominion is di-
lapidated, fenceless and war trodden.
something inspiring in it still. Made
line says she loves Belle Bosquet. She
would hardly recognize the old place
now, but I hope her presence there will
bring it back to life again"
1.-THE schoolhouse and the church,
which somebody was speaking of a
minute ago." said General Buckthorn
in what sounded like an aggrieved tone,
must be our national headquarters
from now on
mot forgetting the hospitals added
General Havertll, with a fond glance
at his wife and Edith. 'SThey are still
in full commission. It is for US, as inn
mortal Lincoln said, to strive on to I'm
ish the work we are in; to bind up the
nations wounds; to care for him who
shall have borne the battle, and for his
widow and for his orphan; to do all
which may achieve and cherish a just
and lasting peace among ourselves and
with all nattons.''
THE END.