The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-05

We do know, them Yankee armies u
comm down here an. burn our houses.
an take what little we got left, an
mistreat our womenfolk, II we don't
stop 'em. 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 C0nfedrit gov.
eminent has beat EN- 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 shufled 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 oficef spoke.
II reckon we'd better be goin', mann,
! 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 60 as far as the
settlemint, an maybe ind someone to
stay with there. 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 rcd road, and climbed to the
crest Of the hill. where the woman
paused for a last look at the little
cabin.
j 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 Confederate
uniform.
where you been, comrade?" in
quired the captain, refining up.
, He might be a deserter. The west
, ern sun shone directly in the man.
eyes, which we're weak and sore, ant
, he WINGED with pain as he pulled thu
, brim of the greasy wool hat low t.
shade them.
, Il been in a Yankee prison ship
That's whar I been. They turned VI
, loose Ave days ago. an loaded freigh
train 18th we-uns, an shipped MS fer a
Knoxville. I been walkin' two days"
! The old mule could not travel q
! fast as the captains horse. and tn
. 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. 70
oughter be ashamed Of yerself. Yo
70 oughter be back there fightin'."
Jaw, you go to thunder!" advise
the animated scarecrow with spirit.
done fit all I'm agwineter fight, an 20
ner no other durn man is goin' ter col
= script mel"
:. I'D like to know why won't!
snarled the captain, deftly drawing hi
. revolver and cooking 1t, all with tn
u same motion.
:, The boy slid to the ground an
q picked up a stone with which to asst
v in enforcing the captains orders.
=. you won't, because Ginerul Robel
Lee surrendered six days ago. an tn
wars over, an I'm goin' home. That
n why!"
Is The mule limped up in time for tn
8 woman to hear the news.
y "Oh, my dear God, thank thee ths
a my boy is spared to me little while!
o she cried in exaltation, her arms LITE
a to high heaven.
q The man in the road lifted the fla
le ping hatbrim, and peered at hi
a through watery, burning eyes.
g "Sallie! Don't you know me, ga
70 I've come back, Sallie. I've come bac
to you!"
%. With leap from the mule, the wor
n an had him folded to her withere
D. bosom, and crooned her happine'
Is with the Joy that greets one as rise
n from the dead.