The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-03

erful clear ON it myself. But one thing
We do know, them Yankee armies Ii
comm down here an burn our houses.
an take what little we got left, an
mistreat our womenfolk, II we don't
stop EN-. An we got to have men to
shoot guns to stop 'em with"
The captain spoke earnestly.
Let 'em come! We amt got nothin'
for 'em to take. The Confedrit gov
eminent has beat 'em to our corn
cribs an stock pens. Let 'em comet"
ma, I'm goin'!" the voice cut In,
clear and decisive.
The woman dropped her head In her
hands, and tears crept between her
fingers and FLASHED silently on the
floor. The captain shuflled his feet
awkwardly.
The boy. gaxed out Of the door. but
he was seeing the clash and reel OF
battalions on the fields Of Virginia. He
seemed taller. and . new dignity sat
upon his brow.
Presently the officer spoke.
II reckon we'd better be goin'. nam,
II we expect to make 1t to the settle
ment by dark"
The woman wiped the tears from
her eyes. Resignation had placed its
seal upon her.
Go get old Betsy. son, and put the
saddle on her. I'll go as far as the
settlement, an maybe find someone to
stay with there. l can't stay here"
Swiftly the woman packed bundle
of homespun clothes for the boy, and
another for herself. She placed them
out on the porch, and pulled the door
to, and fastened 1t.
In silence they mounted, the captain
taking Henry up behind him. They
filed down the weed-grown lane into
| the big red road, and climbed to the
crest Of the hill, where the woman
paused for q last look at the little
| cabin.
At the foot of the hill, on the other
side, the captain met an unkempt tat
terdemalion. with long hair and tan
gled beard, half-bare feet, and wearing
Tapping remnants of a Confederate
uniform.
where you been, comrade?" In.
quired the captain, refining up.
He might be deserter. The west
ern sun shone directly in the mans
eyes, which were weak and sore, and
he WINGED with pain as he pulled the
brim of the greasy wool hat low to
shade them.
II been in a Yankee prison ship
That's whar I been. They turned us
loose five days ago, an loaded freight
train 18th we-uns. an shipped us fer al
Knoxville. ! been wallsin' two days.
The old mule could not travel a!
fast as the captains horse, and thu
boys mother had not caught up will
the captain and his recruit.
"Where you goin'?" inquired tn
captain authoritatively. why didn'
you report back to the front for duty
You en- tote a gun yet"
Didn't report, because don't hav'
ter. that's why"
"Well, I'll just conscript you. Yo'
oughter be ashamed Of yerself. Yo'
oughter be back there fightin'."
Jaw. you go to thunder" advise
the animated scarecrow with spirit. e
, done fit all I'm agwineter fight, an yo
ner no other durn man Is goin' ter col
; script mel"
|, "Td like to know why l won't!
, snarled the captain, deftly drawing hi
revolver and cooking 1t, all with tn
l same motion.
l.. The boy slid to the ground an
picked up stone with which to assit
y in enforcing the captains orders.
You won't, because Ginerul RobeI
, Lee surrendered six days ago, an tn
8 wars over, an I'm goin home. That
9 Why"
The mule limped up in time for tn
:. woman to hear the news.
"Oh. my dear God, thank thee ths
:, my boy is spared to me little while!
she cried in exaltation, her arms LITE
. to high heaven.
:, The man in the road lifted the fla
ping hatbrim, and peered at he
= through watery, burning eyes.
"Sallie! Don't you know me. gal
I've come back. Sallie. I've come bac
to you!"
With leap from the mule. the wor
an had him folded to her withere
bosom, and crooned her happinei
Il with the Joy that greets one as rise
i from the dead.