The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-29
IGIRL WITH The Gag.
sT0.2A $500 1883
syMRs eEH:eEoReE E. PICKETT.

ny
The long lines Of infantry had
swept up through the green valleys
OF southern Pennsylvania and were
weariedly marching northward to a
battlefield somewhere, no ma OF them
could have told where. They only
knew that they were tired and foot
sore and hungry, and the rich r-een.
fields they had passed had brought
no comfort:
a young soldier took on his ragged
cap, wiped the preparation from his
face and Looked over at a little cot
tage with It's encircltng vines. 1t
made him think Of another little cot
tage across the lines, where the vines
had embowered his childhood.
As the head Of the column came
opposite the house a girl ran out from
the open doorway to the front of
the porttco. She had a United States,
Gag tied around her as an apron and
she stepped upon a chair that the
whole army might see it and waved it
defiantly at the approaching troops.
The leader looked around appre-
hensively. Some of his men had come
from the most frightfully devastated
part of the South. How you'd they
take the sudden defiant presentation
Of the banner under which that ruin
had been wrought? With a swift,
graceful movement he wheeled his
black battle horse out of line, lifted
his cap, bowed to the warlike maid
and saluted the flag she bore. He
turned to the advancing men, waved
his hand, and every tattered cap was
lifted and each man as he passed
saluted the enemy's colors. The
leader rode forward to his place and
the long line moved on.
she is a little fighter" thought
the boy who had waved his cap to
her. II should like to have her for a
sister. Only II she were my sister
she would wave but one flag"
He sighed remembering the lonely.
cottage under the magnolias.
I'm lode again, by Jove," said the
older soldier who marched beside
him. Hi, boys! What do you think?
shivers is in love with the little
Pennsylvania amazon"
"shivers is always In love" said an
other. Hes the victim Of chronic
affection. Do you remember how he
fell in love with the guerrilla's
daughter and came near being shot
for a spy? Some day Shiyers will
have a fatal attack of love and Gener-
al Lee will. quit lying awake nights
trying to keep at the head of the
army, in the light of shiver's increas-
ing military fame"
Military fame, indeed" growled
q rugged veteran. "AIl thSaNme Jack
shivers will ever get will she for
writing verses and singing love songs
with guitar accomplishments
All the while they were mat3iing
on-they who dreamed Of home and
love, they who p~rofessed a lofty cor
tor sentimentalitfes, and they who
went silently to the field whereon a
cause was to die.
On the morning of the third poor
Jack Shivers was one OF those who
lay behind the low, long hill and
looked eastward into the space, be-
tween two ranges of fre-crowned
peaks. A man was crouched down
beside him with his hand resting on
his shoulder. Neither spoke, but
there was a comradeship in the touch
that told of a love greater than men
put into words.
Beyond the crest they waited as
the slow hours went by-waited till
the order came, and they went down
ms the valley OF death. What they
did on that fatal field Of Gettysburg
is inscribed on the page Of history.
In the beginning of the retreat
Jack Shivers was wounded. The over
whelming force of the enemy were
closing in from every point.
HE is dead" thought the man. He
scarce noticed the shower of balls
that fell about him nor marveled over
the apparent miracle that not n
of them touched him as he bore the
unconscious boy to a spot Of greater
security. Under the grove Of trees
not quite IN Ll6 44u6 VI HS AS AoaA
his friend on the smooth grass that
had been untouched by the storm OF
war. With his u%ntutored skill he
dressed the wound and sat looking
at the still face and trying to tug with
the fingers OF hope against the weight
of despair that filed his heart.
The boy moved restlessly and
opened his eyes.
care we dead?"
NO; unfortunately-we are lone
somely alive. We'd have more COM
pany If we were dead"
"Did we win the battlet"
"Did we win? Boy, I am too heart
weary and dazed. to know anything
but pain, unless 1T be t~hanktulness
that you are alive"
"But tell me sonething-where are
we and where are the others? O.,
I see; I am wounded and can't go
on-but you-you must leave me or
you will be taken prisoner or killed"