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About The Sioux County journal. (Harrison, Nebraska) 1888-1899 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 24, 1896)
e . -it " 'Jt-lr ;". f. . iy-, CHAPTLH V.Conf limed. He commenced Iiy steadily ignoring her. From t lit first lie made ll In Ik clearly understood tluit lie considered Mis Buy quite iiinrt from all bn-iirKs relations with her family. Yet fur nil hi complete dinrcgurd of her ns n ICny there was something ulniut his niiiiiiier to her a a woman thai Jenifer liked. For one thing, he took it for granted tlmt Hhe ; Koiii;, to In- irL'e:nely the mime Jeijifer Itiiy hhe IihiI be'n iilways. thmiKh fale ami her fulher lmd cant her from opu leueo into poverty. lie never eeineil to be anxious to proffer her either pily or ailvice, but jimt atonilneil that dhe vriu no able as ever to look to hentt-lf, and ni juBt that elf to all the rouch-hewn plaee into which it minht be forced. 5ut he thoiiKht about her niiieh, and frequently painted vivid mind-pieturen for himwlf of the way In which he would probably deport herself uuder widely dif fering circumataneea. Mrs. JerroiHC, iu luqulriiiK about him, had asked if he wait "old and a fogy," and Mm. Kay, the younger, had replied that he "wai neither that, nor young and beguiling, btit worne." And it la a fact that he wan a difficult man to deirribe. There wan about him neither heroic beauty nor profeaalonal navity, uor aocinl veuecring of any kind, lie had panned into middle age; he did not tower to any remarkable height, he rather (tout, and more than rather bald. The beat things that he ever ut tered were nnid to one or two of hi cho aen aasoclatea at hi own dinner table. Yet other men found that women' at tention flagged toward them when Hol dero came on the scene, and women found that other men disregarded their fascina tion in favor of a talk with Boldero. Perhaps, after nil, the real secret of the away he exerciaed wn to be found in the conviction, that forced Itself uioii every one with whom he came in contact, of hi profound, unswerving bonorableness and integrity. Essentially It was felt, above all, that he was to be trusted. And trust ed he was by many a man and woman, who would not have revealed that which they confided to him to any other human being. , It was this Instinct about him which had led Mr. Hay to make Koldero one of the witnesses to the contents of the sealed letter, aw! its keeper during the three years which were to elapse before it was to be read to Hubert Kay. There was nm; other signature as wit ness to tiiis document that of an Ad miral Ulivcr Tullamore, a friend of Mr. Ilay's of thirty years' standing. Hut as he resided on his own demesuc of Kil dene, in Kerry, the curious around Moor Hoynl gained no insight into the real state of the case from Admiral Tullu more's knowledge of it. Mr, Holdero's house on the borders of Kxeter was built, in one of those miture favored siiots that abound in Devonshire. It stood iu a sheltered hollow ut the base of a well-wooded, gentle slope. He was occupying a chair in hi favorite room about ten n'cloc: on, the morning of the day following that on whifli old Mrs. Ray had joined her children at the dinner table for the lirst time since their fntlier's death, when Mrs. Williams, who had Iiilii cook at Moor Hoyal for many years before she got the promotion of coming as bniit-e keeper to Koldero, entered. - "What Is it?" he asked, looking nn, Hi miiiiiiiig read was very precious to him, but he wus not a man to belrny Impa tience to a powerless inferior. "Kxense Ihi' lila rly, sir you be sure to know 'more about it than any one but they iVi s."J' that old Mr. Cowley have given up the none farm." "At. Moor Ifoyal?" "Yes, sir, at Moor Hoynl ; a farm I lie Cowley have held as long as the' Hays have held Moor Itoyal. Mr. Hubert will get himself iil-wislied if he goes on like this. Then yuu didn't know It, sir'" she added, clieerfi.lly, for it whs delightful to Lcr to give novel Intelligence to any one, "No, I had mt heard of It." He did not add: "And I am orry to hear it now," but he thought this, and though his eyes ought the page, flguin at the passage at which lie hail lieen interrupted he read fiction no mora that day. It was half-past ten, and at twelve he hud an appointment with a client In his oflice at Kxcter. llefore starting bo had to aeo to the well-being of hi four fine horses, of hi conservatories and hotbed, ud, indeed, of hi little dominion. He bad got on hi coat, and had picked up hi hat and gloves, when a ring at the ball door bell, followed by the tonnd of ringing voice that he knew and liked well, but that bt bad never heard In hi kraae before, made a bright light come jnto the clear, iteady, brave-looking gray 7ea and a warmer ton of color ntoant to Ut brow. J 1 I 1 xTRrjRK r e 514 Vf' "NTa 111 tf 1 VTP 5 In another moment Jenifer Hay was ushered into the room. She came in bringing a rush of keen, sweet nir with her, her youth, and health, and beamy triumphant over the anxiety that w as in her heart. She looked grace ful, strong ami determined in her well tilting black habit and plain round felt hat; but he saw that she was nervous and trembling a little, in spite of her erect bearing and brave front. "I have come to sjn-ak alsiut something iuipo.-tant so important to us and you are just going out and have no time for me." Even to detain her la hi house for a precl.m minute or two he would not tell a polite lie and gay "time was no object to him." He told her: "1 was just starting for my daily round of my premises; will you come with me, Miss Hay, or shall I give the time to you in here'i I will give it delightedly. I needn't lie in Kxeter till twelve." "I will go with you," she said, tnrnlng to the door again, and together they went out in the garden. She opened her mission at once. "I know how much my father thought of your judgment, Mr. Holdero; I know he would have consulted you in such a strait a we are In now; and so, even against my mother's wish, and unknown to my brothers, I have come to ask for your opinion and aid." "In what matter?" "In a matter that may bring ruin upon Jack if he is not advised against It, and made to give it up. My brother Hubert ha put old Mr. Cowley out of the home farm, and has offered to let It to Jack; and Jack ha accepted the offer, and I can't word my fears to you about him, but they are many." She looked at him so appcallngly, and withal seemed o confident of his assist ance, that it pained him horribly to be comi'lled to say: "Mis Ray, I am unable I am bound not to interfere by word or net." "Hound not to advise and aid my fath er' children," she said, Incredulously. "I thought tint possibly you might not like to seem adverse to the wishes of my brother llulaTt; but I did think tlmt you would have opposed even Huliert where Jack's welfare is concerned." "Miss Hay, whatever my own wishes limy be with rcseet to the course of con duet either of your brothers may pursue, 1 am bound not to-express them." They had crossed the little bridge Into the leafless orchard, and were standing under the interlacing bare boughs looking out over the low boundary hedge of holly on to the road that led into Exeter as he said this; lie looked down very kindly and gravely into her upturned face, she trying to tear the whole of the reason why he soke and acted thus out of him with her beseeching eyes. "Mr. Holdcro, I will tell you more than I came Intending to tellhoping that I may melt you even now. It Is not Hu bert' act, this pushing poor Jack Into the home farm. It's the doing of his wife and her sister, Mrs. Jervoise. For some reason or other they want to keep Jack down here, where he'll lead n life of com parative idleness. Mr. I'.oldero, what can that reason be?" ."I don't know," he answered curtly, for her eyes were beginning to torment him. "But you guess, perhaps, and won't toll me. Xor will you say why you think I am so anxious to get Jack away info n new groove, where he will have plenty of work, and wliere he will be free from some old associates who are not good for him." "Your last words have told me your reason; but I will make no comment on It. Miss Kay, I dare not I cannot make any comment to you or to any one else nlioitt your brothers or their conduct. I am bound not to do 11." 'Will you hold yourself 'bound' still, even when I tell you that Jack has taken to spending his evenings away from home, mid lb-it he is oftener at Thurtle's house than at Moor Hoyal?" "Thurtle was your father' gamekeep er, I believe?" "He was, and is Huliert'." "May it not be that Jack ha to consuft him frequently about sport? I hope that it may be so, for your sake." He ald these last three words with a tender, thrilling Intonation, for which he blamed himself instantly. Hut it was too late. They had touched Jenifer' heart. Bending forward Jjer head in one last at tempt to win him to her ends, she caught him by both hands and cried: "Than, for my sake, get Jack to give up the home farm and go to London. Thur tle baa a very pretty daughter. Or, Mr. Boldero, help me to save , my brother JackP A pony carriage had come along the road unobserved by either of tbem as she was speaking. And now, as she pa need, still keeping bis hands in bers. two clear ringing, nierry voice eried out: "Vby, di.ln't you wait for us? It's ratlM-r a shame not to have given lis the chance of invading Mr. Boldero's famous fortress;" and they looked up, to see Mr. Hay and Mrs. Jervoise euvelojied in seal fkio, radiant with merriment, snd evi dently delighted at the discomfiture of the pair in the orchard. CHAITKIt VI. Startled, vexed, almost frightened at the possibility of the object of her mis sion la-lug MisjM-cted, not at the fact of being fouuo alone with Mr. Boldero iu his orchard, Jenifer tave but a cold response to the hilarious greeting of Mrs. Jervoise and Eiiie. Mr. BoMero rained bis lint to the two ladies oil the other side of tile hedge, and held his band out cordially to Jenifer. "You 1.: ve dappointed lae," siie said, impulsively. "I k-imv t, I grieve about it, but I can't help it," be .i.f!, in a low tone, which battled tw() p i.i i of eager eves. Tlic-u he went nw v.', no: even telling Jtiirer tluit one day ;!,! Ik bound to forgive him for Y ning lukcwaru.iic.vs about her loot. .or Ja,-k, though lie lunged with Sliolig 1 ngini; In ln so. J' liiler pre-eetly, uioiinted on her mare AYilehcraft, came out into the road and into pisiiioii I,- the side of the pony car ria'e. "Well, Jenifer, for a bold action that in a Ixiii lon girl would be called mi pardonable ard.ieity. conimeiid me to the model village ioiet! What private Iiiim- ness could yon have had with this rn and rather no'Clant man of law, that could justify Mich a step as coniiiig by yourself to call upon hiiaV" said Mrs. Unj. "My bnsiiM-.-s unite justified the step, Elfie," Jenifer said, carelessly. It was a relief to her that her sister-in-law should rather imput lightness of conduct to her than that she should suspect the deep anxiety, the well-grounded fears which had brought her over to consult h father's trusted friend, who had refused to be Consulted. "Failed failed in the quarter where I looked for certain help," the girl said to herself as she went along. "(Ml, Jack poor boy, what can I do for you now? Hubert has drunk in bis wife's opinions till they have intoxicated him; mother can't, or rather shan't, if I can help it know what makes me want to get Jack away from Hillingsmoor; and Jack him self is only too ready to stay where he can hunt and shoot and fish and idle, and Poor Jack!'' The ladii-.t had quite a vivacious little party that night at Moor Hoyal. For Mr. Hay and Juek were dining with Mr. Boldero, and Mr. Jervoise slept so peace fully that he was not counted or consul ered at all. Christinas was close upon them now, and Mrs. Hay and her sister were busy devising various schemes for combining philanthropy with pleasure. They had got the vicar' consent to traiu a chosen few of the village girl to act in a pretty little operetta for the good of the choir- fund. And they had arranged a number of tableaux vlvant, In which they and Huliert were to take part only. Jenifer had not been asked to aid them. They thought her too pretty for their purpose, and pretended to think that her grief for her father was too new for her to do more than to watch their bright doings, like any other guest Old Mrs. Hay and Jenifer listened with sympathetic Interest to all the bright, clever suggestions which the enterprising sisters made to one another. They car ried their audience with them invariably, this pair, whether they were acting in public or in private only. And to-night Jenifer found herself helping to run up aesthetic calico dresses for the girls who were to take part In the operetta with all her heart. Presently Mrs. Jervoise said: "Elfie, we colorless, yellow-haired wom en can't do everything. I want a Nell (Jwynn to pose with Captain Edgecumb's Charles the Second. Find a bonny bru netfe for me," Devonsinre women are lovely, a a rule," old Mrs. Hay put in. "I am think lug of a good, sensible girl a very good girl, I'm sure, and she'll not suffer her head to ne turned by flattery. It's Minnie Thurtle, our gamekeeper's daughter, whom 1 meant " "Oh, mother," Jenifer Interrupted, hastily, with ill-concealed vexation, "don't suggest taking a girl like Minnie so ut terly out of her place." , "Why not? We could put her back in her place easily enough when we had done with her,'' Mrs. Jervoise said, laugh ing, and the two sisters went on planning how they woulu set about securing old Thurtle' consent to his daughter's act ing with the gentry- "If she forgets how to behave I'll very quickly freshen up her memory; but I'm not a bit afraid," spoke Eflie. "From what you say she has the very face for Nell (iwynn. We'll go and see her to morrow, Flora." Jenifer got up and walked over lo the piano. Sue had not been playing at all since the death of her father and the honic-enmiiig of the bride, and both Eflie and Mrs. Jervoise looked at her with as much astonishment us admiration, when she hml played a few bars in a masterly manner. "Why, Jenifer, you play deliriously," Eflie cried, frankly; "if I could play like that I'd give lessons and Is1 quite inde pendent of every one; wouldn't you, Flora?" ' "Iiathcr!" Mrs. Jervoise promptly re sponded. "Why, Miss Hay, if you were to go to I,ondoii, wliere you are so anxious to send your brother Jack, you would soon make a fortune by playing nt con certs nnd that sort of thing." Jenifer bit her lips anil constrained her self to speak. It wa coming, then the attempt that she had foreseen would be made to oust her out of her old home. But though she kept silence and the peace, her mother was not able to follow her example. "It would break my heart to think that my daughter had to go out Into the cold world to work for her daily bread," old Mrs. Hay said, with unwise, heartfelt, passionate feeling. "Calling the world coid is a mere phrase, Mr. Hay," Eflie said, incisively. "I al ways think it such nonsense to call the world names such a 'cold' and 'hard' and 'cruel' if one doesn't hnppeu to be a well off as one wishes to be. I never found the world anything but very pleas ant; did you, Flora?" "It Is quite good enough for me," Mrs. Jervoise said, walking up to the fire, her bands sparkling with diamonds, clasped over her golden head. "Ton bare been two very fortunate young ladles," old lire. Ray said, with gentle bitterness, "Oh, Z oWt know about that," Bffle , sM. judiciously, "only we slwsys make the best of things, and get as much as we can out of everything; don't we, Flora? Why, some girls, coming down as I did straight away from all the balls and the atricals and hunting that I'd been having at Flora's country place, would have moped themselves to death." At this moment Mr. Jervoise woke him self up with a start. He looked at hts wife curiously for a few moments, us she stood iu all the glory of her rich hn-e and jewels full in the blaze of lamp and fire light. Then he said peevishly: "tji wear too much jewelry, Flora; thoie's no rest for the eye in looking at yuu: you're too bright, my dear, too bright; you shine too much, you lack re pose; you wear too many di-mous you hl'k ptfe you " His words ceased to flow, his head fell on one side, and his mouth remained o-u. Flora tiew to ttie bell, which she rang I.ls r.illy, but without excited violence. "Send for the Itest doctur in Exeter at once.-' she said, collectedly, "and tell the messenger to say that Mr. Jervoise lias a str uke of paralysis, and that it las lx-en exjiecti-1 for some time. The doctor will have t to think of treatment as he ciiinef over, if he knows a few facts bi forehand." "How wonderfully you keep your bead. Flora," E!i.. sai l, admiringly. And Mrs. .'ervoise lifted her shoulders lightly iu acknowledgment of a compliment which she felt t i 1 e well deserved. Then I. -i ween them they superintended thereni' .'. lof the stricken r.nn to his own chamber, over the arrangements of w hich Mrs. Jervoise presided indefntlgably for several ila.vs. Sle ft Iiy was unwearied in her atten tion to iier hu.ibai.d, nnd only allowed herself a little relief from the depressing atmosp' e-e and influence of the sick room, when her sister could take her place. But at the time sl e showed no sign of anxie ty; nervousness and fatigue apiieanil to be unknown, and never a cloud dimmed the bright ness of her fair face, nor a thrill of alarm for the sufferer rendered the clear, metallic voice tremulous. "Ho you still mean to have your dra matic entertainment, Eflie?" Jenifer nsk ed several days later. "Yes, Jenifer; the invitations are out. nnd we mean to make it a great success. Mr. Jervoise wid be able to sit np and be moved into his dressing room by that time, so that there will be nothing in Flora's leaving him for a few hours in the evening, l'ou know he can always amuse himself with sleeping in the even ing." "Have you spoken to Thurtle about his daughter acting yet?" Jenifer asked, eagerly, "Oh, yes, nnd had her here two or three times, and drilled her into doing her part very fairly,'' EHie cried, triumphantly. It was with difficulty that Jenifer re pressed an exclamation of pain and dread. (To be continued.) Division or Africa. Great Britain claims about 2,000,000 square miles of Central Africa, with a total yearly trade of about nine millions and a half aterling, says the Manufacturer. The French possessions come next In extent, with an area of about 1,(KK),(KK) square miles and with a yearly trade of about 2,500,000. The Congo Free State has alxmt the same area, but itt general trade may be set down as not more than 700,000 In all, The area of German Central Africa Is about 900,000 square miles, or, exclud ing German fiouthwent Africa, on which only a small part lies to the north of the line of the Zambesi, about 550,MK) square miles, with a trade val ue of about l,riOO,(Hi Portugal claims an area of some 750,000 square miles, almost all of which Is In tropical Af rica, and its trade may be set down as about 2,2r0,000. The total trade of Kalian Africa Is reckoned some what doubtfully as about "(X),000, and that of Liberia at about the same. It appears, therefore, that In Central Af rica Great Britain takes the lead In every way In extent of possessions, In their total trade value and In the amount of trade per square mile of territory, which may be roughly stated at 4 10s., ns against 3 per square mile of German and of Portuguese Africa, and the 2 10s. per square mile of French Africa. What Is the Golilon Ilosn. The Golden Hose of Virtue, which the Pope occasionally presents to those who work for the church, was originally a single, simple flower of wrought gold, stained or tinted with red, iu Imitation of the? natural color. Afterwards the golden jM'tnls were iidoi neil with rubles nnd other koihh, and linnlly the form nliik'd was that of n thorny branch with several flowers, and leaves nnd one chief flower nt the top, all of pure gold, with Hie exception of the precious stones with which the principal parts lire etiils'lllsheil. This decoration Is not often conferred, and It Is considered of such consequence that it Is either pre sented by the Pope In person or for ward. ! by a deputy of the highest eceli'siiistiriil standing;. Mcanrlri Wind by Sound. The means by which wind may be measured by Its sound is a novelty In modern scientific research to which (he attention of the National Academy of Sciences lias been drawn by Professor trtts. He asserts that the whistling of the wind as It crosses a wire varies wltb tlio velocity, and that this can he computed from the pitch of the note observed In case of a given diame ter of wlro and for a Riven air tem perature, A special micrometer at tachment can be made to convey tho sound, Isolated from other noises, to the observer at a distance. Thus, every gust nnd variation of the wind can bo studied In this way and an Idea of the actual direction of the gust can be had by means of the sounds obtain ed from three wires placed at right angles to one another. As Good as an Irish Dull. Sir Francis Scott, the British com mander of the Ashantee expedition, In a speech which he made to bis troops when he 'reviewed them the other day In England, said that they wore, no doubt, disappointed because they had not a chance to flgnt, "bat If there had been any flghtliaf," he added, "the would hare been many ab at face her to-day." SOLDIERS AT U0A1E. THEY TELL SOME INTERESTING ANECDOTES OF THE WAR. flow the Boys of Both Armies Whiled Ajwajr Life in ttmp-Vorsgisg Ex periences, Tiresome Marches Thril ling recoct on the Battlefield. "Milsippi Bill." "Did you ever bear the story of Mis sissippi Bill?" I had not heard it, eo the old man proceeded to tell It. "William H. Young was a native of Mississippi, but bis parents removed to Ixmisiana when he was a baby. His father was a whig; had been a soldier in the Mexican war; his gnuidfuthi-r was a soldier in the war of 112; ami his jiivat-grandfather fought under Washington. As soo:i as tin; boy was old eiiou-,'h to unK'rst.1;:d the pr.troiic whi lost no opportunity to Impress upon bis mind the vnkie of government. Once, whci he had told of Washington's struggles he : id to the lad; ':.ly boy, whatever tt-fn.;. you. never raise your haiid or voice against the Government.' "liir;n,' the year 1SC0 the i:,i's fal'i er. moiiier. one brother and a sister died, and iie went lo live with a cousin. When the war cni.ie ;'ie r.sin entered the Confederate iii'my. Oilier relatives soon followed him. The lessons of his' father were i:i;i"l:My stamped upon the boy's bean and lie refused all in vitations to enlist. Once, when a younx fellow accused him of lacking courage. William demonstrated, by thrashing hlni, that it was not a lack of courage that "kept bhn out of the army. "Wiillam heard that (lit re were Uni n troops at Baton Kouge. One Sunday eveniiiK at dusk he rode nwny from his Louisiana home. The second night found him at the home pf one of his father's friends, who warned him, the next morning, to be careful, as the country was dally scoured by rough riders. "While quietly trotting along twelve mihs from Baton Houe he suddenly came upon a Confederate picket. He rode up (dose to the man in grny, who was armed with a carbine, saber and revolver. 'Who are you and wliere are you gol tig?' was the brusque inquiry. Whipping out his revolver he pointed It at the head of the Confederate and sa'd: T am going past you, sir. Move a muscle and I will drop you from your horse.' The Confederate was paralyzed. When two or three yards beyond him the Confederate wheeled his horse and rode away, to get help, probably. Young called upon his blooded mare for her best speed. She went like the wind. Half an hour later he ran upon the Union picket line. More questions were asked. These are some of them: 'What do you want, Johnny?' 'Coming In on a spying tour?' 'What will you take for the mare?' Bill was ready with answers, and when the bantering ceased he told his story; the Union boys believed him. He was taken to the captain of the 'Oconto River Drivers.' 'What do you want?' asked the captain. T want to enlist In the Union army.' 'Where do you come from?' 'Louisiana, but I was born In Mississippi.' 'And you want to fight against the South? T don't know that I want to light against the South, sir, but I do want to fight for the Government my ancestors fought for. I want to fight for the flag that was very dear to my father.' "Then they took him to the colonel, who had him sworn in as a member of the 'Hiver Drivers,' and the boys gave him the name of '.Mississippi Bill.' "You ask what kind of a soldier 'Missisippi Bill' made. That is easily answered. He took to the cavalry serv ice ut once, and within a month was as gallant a rough rider as the command possessed. He noticed that they kept close watch of Ii I m. He asked thein why. A sergeant said, 'Well, to tell you the truth, 'Mississippi Bill,' we are not quite certain that you are not here to spy out the land and by and by go back to tile Johnnies and give them a heap of valuable information.' " 'If you knew my heart you would not have given that answer. What can I do to prove that I am what I claim to be, a Union boy, willing to risk my life, to even give It on the field of battle, to show my lore for our flag, my dead father's government, my government?' "After that they stopped watching him. " 'How Is your Johnny recruit getting along?' nskod the colonel of the captain of the 'Hlver Drivers.' " 'One or the best men in the com pany, colonel.' "Good fighter?' "'A regular daredevil.' " 'Does his duty uncomplainingly?' "'Always.' " 'Why don't you give him a little pro motion, captain?' " 'I'll do It. to-day.' "That evening on dress parade the adjutant read off the name of Private William II. Young, 'promoted to cor IKirnl, and lie will be obeyed and re spected accordingly.' The boy's chin went down to meet his breastbone; but It came up when the parade was dis missed nnd the company gathered around him, slnsik his hands, chirred nnd congratulated him. All 'Mississippi Bill' had to say was, 'Boys, I dldit ex pect this. Do you think I've earned itr " 'Yes,' a dozen men sang out. " 'Then I will earn some more promo tions, for I haven't done my best yet.' And ho did do better. "And he kept bis word. A few months later be was a sergeant and was wounded at Port Hudson. Upon his recovery be waa trusted on several oc casions to go out with scouting parties, and his bravery was so conspicuous that the captain made him first Ser jeant, an office which calls for more Ingenuity, demands more bard work and means more responsibility, except in the matter of dolsyf, than that of an other office In the company. Mls- siMtippi Bill was equal to every emer gency. The boys all liked him; his officers had confidence In him; be was a general favorite. They made him first lieutenant, but before that he bad com manded the company In several charges. No man in the company was ever more heartily congratulated by officers and men than Lieutenant 'Mis sissippi Bill' when his commission came. "Mr. Young located at Oconto thirty years ago; is now one of its foremost buslnrt-'s men, has been mayor five or six times, and has served In the As sembly. I saw him last week at the State convention. The bo-s of his regi ment still call him 'Mississippi Bill' and he enters no protest." Mayor Young Is tall, handsome, a ii:odel citizen, and says he knows that when lie joins his father on the other shore he will commend him for having been a defender of the flag in the na tion's dark hour. J. A. Watrous, in Chicago Times-Herald. Hero Under Fire. An old soldier, who had seen service for mt ny a year in the Crimea, India, ( hiiii, Africa and Egypt, was asked one day in a London club whether be reiiie iilaied lht lii'bt time he was un der fire. "Certainly," he replied. "No soldier forireis that esjx rleiice." "Did you feel like a hero at the time?" "No, indeed. It was in one of the great bank's of the Crimea. I was a young officer who had run out of the military school ahead of time to fill a vacancy. I had hardly been in camp a week before the regiment was order ed to charge a Russian battery, which was posted in a commanding position. We went forward on the gallop through a dense cloud of smoke, swooped down on the battery, sabered the artillerymen and captured the guns. Y'ct there was at least one hussar who acknowledged himself to be a coward from beginning to end." "Then you were terribly frightened by your first buttle?" "Yes; that is the truth. I went ahead with others, but I was trembling with fear and excitement. I shut my eyes and made no attempt to guide my horse. I thought of my good mother at home and wondered how I had ever been so foolish as to think of the army, when there were comfortable profes sions, like the ministry and the law, which I .night have followed. "The chargs occupied only a few minutes, but It seemed an endless time before we were behind those murder ous guns and had the cannoneers at our mercy. I was among the first to be with them and I swaggered with my saber, while the horse rode down and killed a gunner. But my heart was like a ball of Ice. A greater cow ard never scrambled over an lntrench ment. All the time I was repeating texts from the Bible and sentences from the Lord's prayer, and wishing myself thousands of miles away." The veteran laughed heartily over the reminiscences of the first battle. "Tho funniest part of it," he added, "was that they considered it a great exploit, and insisted upon giving me a medal for my heroic and courageous conduct, when I was a white-faced, mean-spirited coward from first to last, and my horse did all the fighting for me, tramping the gunner under foot." Probably tho veteran exaggerated his boyish trepidation and panic. He could have afforded to do so, for he was a seasoned soldier whose courage and even recklessness were well known; but he was 'not far from the truth when bo declared that no sol dier ever felt like n hero when he was first under firo.-Youth's Companion. T'odidnic the Gunboats. After the evacuation of Corinth, Gen eral Farsons, with about a thousand men from Missouri, was ordered to re port to General Hindman on tht' west side of the Mississippi. Federal gun boats patroled the river, and we bad scarcely arrived on the east bank, gone Into camp and started our fires when Gen. Tarsons rode up and said: "Boys, pack up and get out of here in five minutes or you will be shelled out!" Immediately the mules were harness ed, the wagons loaded and we started down the levee. About half a mile lower dowu we went Into camp behind a narrow strip of timber, which hid us from the river. In a few minutes a string of gunboats puffed lazily past us, going north. That night we took our wagons apart and loaded them with our battery on flat boats. The next morning at daybreak we started across the river and landed In a slough about seven miles down on the other side, out of sight of passing gunboats. It was several days before we were again in marching order. Footed 'Em That Time. Mr. James Tllghman, of Queen Ann's County, Md., says the Baltimore News, was a brave and Intrepid officer In Gen. J. E, B. Stuart's command, and Is now a prominent member of the Maryland Confederate societies. Because of his reckless daring and chivalrous dash he was dubbed "Headlong Jim Tllghman" during the war, and the name has clung to him ever since. "One of the most laughable incidents I ever witnessed while under fire," he continued, "was the conduct of a long, lank North Caro linian at the Wilderness. His log had been shot off early In the war and he was supplied wltb a wooden one, wltb which, strange to say, he got about wltb remarkable facility. One day he wai charging with his company and was climbing over a fence when, spat! a mlnle ball burled Itself In his wooden leg-. Ejecting an Immense stream of tobacco Juice, 'Darn ye, I fooled ye that time,' he yelled triumphantly, and rush ed on with his comrades." It Is better to fife than to recelTo advice.
