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flj .A Tale of the Blue and the Gray, m
W. CopyriRht. IBM, by Robert Honnnr'ii Sons. JU
CHAPTER I.
A Soldlqr.'s Honor.
Tho rays of tho noonday aim wore
beating down with tho scorching plow
known only to tho South. In tho hot,
lilverlng air every object seemed
Bteeped In radiant light, and even tho
forest afforded no coolness, for It, too,
was pervaded by tho sultry ntmos
phero, and beneath the huge trees tho
burning breath of noon was still folt.
Under ono of theso trees, whoao
branches, heavy with foliage, extend
ed a long distance, two young men had
flung themselves on tho ground, appa
rently for a short rest.
Both woro tho uniform of tho Union
nrmy, ono being a lieutenant and tho
other a surgeon. Tho latter, who had
a slender flguro somewhat below tho
mtddlo height, expresslvo features and
dark hair, lay In a comfortablo attl
tudo on tho turf, listening calmly to
his companion, who had started up and
waB paring hurriedly to and fro. Tho
poworfM form, thick, fair hair and bluo
eyes unmistakably revealed German
ancestry: but a cloud shadowed tho
frank, youthful face, and tho volco
trembled with passionate emotion.
"I must go, cost what It mayl SInco
I know that Harrison and his daughter
wero on tho plantation, I have had no
rest Say what you please, John, I am
going!"
"My dear William, you aro on tho
evo of doing a very foolish thing," said
tho surgeon, without chnnglng his com
fortablo position. "I ndvlso. you, as a
friend, to drop It; tho affair may bo
your death."
"What do I caro for that! Certainty
I will havo at any cost. A brisk rldo
will bring mo thero In two hours, and
I can return beforo sunset. I'll vonturo
It at any peril."
"And risk a bullet through your
"WILL YOU ACO
brain. You havo probably forgotten
that we aro engagod In a war and that
It Is desertion for an officer to be ab
sent from his regiment without leave.
Court-martials aro sometimes disagree
able in such cases, and It would bo un
fortunate If Lieutenant Roland should
go out of tho world by lynch-law."
Tho sarcasm of theso words succeed
ed In producing an Impression whero
sonslblo arguments might havo failed.
William Roland started and answered
more quietly:
"What fancy havo you taken Into
your head? Of course, I don't mean to
go without leavo. Tho colonel will not
refuso It; wo aro doing nothing here.
I must sco and speak to Florence onco
more, even though I hazard my llfo to
do It!"
"You lovers aro always ready to risk
your lives," said the young surgeon,
carelessly. "Your feelings aro foroyer
at tho boiling point A strango con
dition of affairs. Lot mo feel your
pulse!"
"Ceaso this Jesting!" cried William,
furiously. "Can't you curb your spirit
of mockery oven hero? Dut how could
I expect sympathy or appreciation
from yon where affairs of tho heart
aro concerned!"
"From tho heartless American!" re
torted John. "Of course, heart and
feeling are tho prerogatives of tho Ger
man. You have taken out a patent on
them, and consider yourselves actually
Insulted If other people claim a little
of tho artlclo, too. Hero we are back
again at tho old point of dispute, over
which wo wrangled sufficiently as boys
tho honor of bur different nationali
ties." "In which you usually came off
worst."
"Yes; you had an abominable way of
cudgeling German supremacy Into mo;
and as you wero tho strongor, I gen
erally yielded to your palpable argu
ments. Dut when there was anything
which required brains and reflection,
John Maxwell was summoned. Then
you submitted to my authority, and, at
itho utmost, appeared on tho sceno
when thero was a drubbing to bo glvon.
.Don't look so gloomy, Will; let us dis
cuss the matter sensibly. What do
you roally expect to accomplish by this
np urnMnp &
. . . a
s va 'a : : -
wild rldo Into tho enemy's country?
You don't oven know whother Miss
Hnrrlson wishes to sco you whether
sho did not ngreo when her father dis
missed you so unceremoniously."
"No, no!" William Impetuously re
torted. "Florence has been deceived
forced; sho has not received any of my
letters, as I havo not had a slnglo lino
from her. Her father waB always op
posed to our engagement; we fairly
extorted his consent. Ho gavo It re
luctantly, and promptly availed him
self of tho oxcuso afforded by tho war
to recall bis promise."
John Maxwell shrugged his shoul
ders. "Well, you can hardly blamo him!
He, a secessionist and slave-baron, and
you with your humanistic Ideas! You
harmonize like Are and water, and you
wero alwayB a thorn In tho flesh of his
nephow, tho charming Edward. You
Btolo from under his very eyes iho
wlfo on whom ho had set his heart.
Ho'll never forgive you. Conditions
wero Imposed at tho outbreak of tho
war?"
"Yea shameful ones! I wns to deny
my convictions, desert and betray tho
causo I servo and fight In tho ranks of
tho enemy against our army. I reject
ed tho dtsuonorablo demand ns It do
served." "With tho most reckless bluntness to
tho mllllonairo and futuro fathor-ln-law.
Tho Harrisons really aro not so
very much to blamo. You would bo
an extremely troublesome aon-ln-law.
I should have considered tho matter a
little. Whcro a brldo and a fortuno
aro at stako "
"You would havo practiced treason?
John, don't make yourself worse than
you are. Even you would havo been
lncnpablo of It."
"Who talks of treason! You merely
OMPANY ME?"
needed to havo remained passive and
not fought at all, either for or against
tho Union; that would havo been tho
wisest course"
"And a cowardly, pitiful ono Into
the bargain! Am I alone to log bo
hind, when every ono springs to arms?
Let us drop tho subject. Our vIowb
on this point aro very widely mm
dered." "They aro on nil points," said Max
well, dryly. "I stick to It this visit
to tho plantation is as usoleas as It Is
dangerous, but I don't flatter myself
In tho least with tho hopo of detaining
you. You'll havo your own way under
all circumstances."
"Of courao, I shnll. I'm going to ho
colonel at onco to ask for leave of
absence. Will you accompany mo?"
Tho young surgeon sighed. Ho wns
probably loath to resign his comfort
able resting placo, yet ho roso slowly.
"I wish Colonel Burney would put
you undor arrest for three days, In
stead of giving you leave of absence,"
ho eald, emphatically. "Dut unfortu
nately, you aro a favorlto, and besides,
it's an established fact that, If a man
wants to commit a folloy, everybody
hastens to help him. So let us go!"
Tho regiment to which tho young
men belonged was stationed In tho
next village. Aftor sevore battles and
arduous marches a short respite had
been granted, but the men wero to
move In a fow days. Constant bustle
pervaded the usually quiet hamlet and
was specially noticeable around tho
colonel's quarters. When Roland aod
Maxwell entered, they found several
officers there. The commander him
self, a man advanced In years, with a
gravo but kindly face, stood among a
group of his subordinates, apparently
discussing something with them.
"I am glad you have come, doctor!"
ho said to tho surgeon. "I was Just
going to send for you. Lleutonanl
Davis has reported that two of his men
aro ill, and tho symptoms appear very
grave; he fears fever, and begs to have
medical assistance us soon as possible
You will rldo over to tho outposts."
"I'll go at onco," replied Maxwell.
"I hope It will prove a false alarm, as
has happened several times, but we'll
soon ascertain."
"Certainly. I rnn especially anxloni
to havo rollablo Information concern
ing the nntu ro of tho disoaso. Tho
outbreak of an eptdomlc would bo ex
tremely Inconvenient Just now. Whoa
do you expect to bo back?"
"In threo hours, If necessary. Dut I
had Intended to ask leavo of nbsonco
until evening on account of another
matter, which I should llko to attend
to at tho same tlmo."
"Of course, If you wish." said Bur
ney, absently. "Only send mo soma
good news."
"Tho best In my power. At nny rate,
thero Is no tlmo to loso. I will gu at
onco." ,
Tho colonol nodded assent, and tho
other omccrs now Joined In tho con
versation. The subject was discussed
In all Its bearings. It theso cases wero
really tho first in an Impending epi
demic, tho matter was very serious.
At last Maxwell took his leave; but,
In tho net of going, approached his
friend, who wns standing silently at
tho window.
"Do you still persist In your ro
solvo?" ho asked, undor IiIb breath.
"Certainly. As soon ns I get my
leavo I shall rldo over."
"And perhaps bo shot on the way
Good luck to you!"
"Thanks for tho kind wish," said
William, angrily. "Perhaps It will Lo
fulfilled."
"Hardly. Men who, llko you, nro
forever butting their heads against n
wall, generally havo uncommonly good
fortuno. Whero tho rest of us crack
our skulls, they push tho stone apart.
Farewell, Will!"
Ho left tho room. Doctor Maxwell
did not Bpoll his frlond by pretty
speeches; thnt was ovldcnt Ho took
leavo of tho young officer who might
"pcrhnps bo shot on tho way" as care
lessly tin If thero was nothing in pros
pect save an ordinary ride. William
scarcely heeded It; his mind was filled
with other thoughts, and ho availed
htmBolf of tho first pause in tho con
versation to approach the colonel and
request a brief prlvato Interview.
Burney opened tho door of a small
room adjoining, and tho two men en
tered. "Well, Lieutenant Roland, havo yow
anything Important to ask?" said tho
colonel, when they wero nlono.
"I merely wished to request a short
leavo of absonce," replied tho young
man, with apparent calmness. "Thero
la a family matter to bo arranged
which is of tho utmost Importance to
me."
"And which you can arrange whlio
on tlr march?"
"At least I hopo so. I Intend to visit
relatives who live on a plantation only
a fow miles from hero. I havo Just
learned that I was in their Immedlato
neighborhood."
Tho request was not singular, and
was easily granted, yet something In
tho young man's faco attracted tho
colonel's attention, nnd ho Inquired:
"What Is tho namo of tho plantation
you desire to visit?"
William hesitated a moment, then
slowly nuBwercd:
"Springfield."
Burney started.
"Springfield? That Is boyond our
outposts. Aro you not aware that It Is
In tho enemy's country?"
"I know It,"
"And yet you wish to go thero? It
won't do. I cannot permit It."
"I took a similar and far moro dan
gerous rldo a week ago on staff duty,"
replied William.
"That was in tho service; duty re
quired it: but this Is a prlvato affair,
and I cannot permit ono of my officers
to risk lils llfo for such a matter. No,
Lieutenant Roland."
(To bo continued.)
WHEN MEN MISS SUCCESS.
Iilleneu and Incompetency Keep the
liiMlnens Novice Down.
Walter P. Phillips, tho founder of
tho national nowsgathcrlng corpora
tion known ns tho United Press, and
tho Inventor of Phillips' tolcgraphlc
code, a typical, energetic American,
who" has put many young men in tho
newsgathering business, believes that
tho causo of falluro ovcrywhoro nmong
young business (beglnnors lies in in
competence. Nlno.-tenths of the young
men who aro struggling for a name
and placo In tho world ure unfitted
for tho callings they have picked out
for themselves. Besides an unlimited
supply of energy and whole-bearted-nesa
In tho work beforo him, tho suc
cessful roan of tho futuro munt know
his business from A to Z. Tho next
greatest drawback to success is idle
ness. Nothing worth whlio Is accom
plished without work, and plenty of
It. Things do not happen without a
cause, and behind ovcry great llfo
thero are years of concentrated energy
and tireless Industry. Idleness will
mako any man a falluro; Intelligent
work will land any man among the
successful. It Is all so simple and so
trlto that one hesitates to put tho fact
down in cold blood, and yet how few
men rccognlzo or, recognizing, live uu
to the axiom, that labor conquers all
things! Idleness and tho conscious
ness of Incompetency should make any
man ashamed of hlmsolf and drive
him to do something that Is worth tho
doing. It is within tho grasp of ovcry
ono to learn somo ono thing that will
yield both pleasuro and profit. Suc
cess comes only to those who seok It.
Tho young man who Is really in
earnest will not havo to be advlsod
how to succeed. Ho may learn much
by studying the failures of others,
however, and ho will always And, after
a survey of tho great legion of tho un
successful, that two causes have
brought them to their present misery
Idleness and Incompetency. Satur-
l day Evening Post.
I ' llnimttllltlltU1111kttltUtVltllHltllltlltMtltttttltlttHttttkMl
i
It A Brand New Christmas ii
&&& d
(For tho Children.)
Tho Barnes children couldn't havo
any Christmas this year. They llvo
In tho country, and there wero trees
enough, to bo sure. But there was
nothing to put on ono fo make It look
"sparkly," as a treo ought to look, and
thoro was not a penny to Bpcnd for
treo trimmings.
The Barnes children, however, had
r Jollier tlmo than they had evor had
with a tree. Joe said so, and Goorgo
said bo, too; and Graco and Winnie
agreed with them. This Is how it
was done. A delightful young nuntlo
lives with them. They call hor tho
Ijuly with a Bright Idea. She always
has a now bright Idea Just In the nick
of time, but this year It did hocui as It
the Idea was brighter than over. It
fairly shone.
"Wo'll give tho presents In a funny
way," she Bald to tho chlldron. "Yen,
we'll give them In two or three funny
ways. You'll see!"
There was a very mysterious feeling
In the air Christmas morning. Every
body loktd at everybody clso, and then
they all smiled. Something good was
going to happen. Whon tho breakfast
THEN OFF THE CHILDREN RAN.
plates wero lifted, thero wero little
envelopes tied with gay ribbons. Such
a tlmo ub tho children had untying
thorn! In each was a card, and on
each card was a verso) signed, "The
Christmas Postman."
Joe shouted as ho read his aloud:
"When you get this, doar Joo,
You must straight away go
And look under your bed,
Dut pray don't bump your hoad."
Joo Jumped up, but auntie called,
"Hero, you must wait until tho rest
have read their notes, and all start at
onco."
Tho verses were all short. George
read his next:
"Look behind your closet door,
For a great big packago on tho floor."
Graco read:
"In tho northeast chamber, out of
sight,
Under tho coverlet, snowy whlto,
You'll find a gift If you search Just
right."
LaBt camo Wlnnlo's:
"A present lies on tho garret stair;
I think that Santa Claus dropped it
thfre."
Then oT tho children ran to search
for their presents. Such a stamping
and scuffling and shouting as tho
hR
KEEP OLD SANTA CLAUS.
SANTA CLAUS
If all the llttlo flctloua, fairy tales
and fancies dear to children woro to bo
given up, what would becomo of the
imaginations of the coming genera
tion? Wo have been called a practi
cal people. So we aro. It anything,
too practical. As we grow older tho
realities of life crowd thick and fast
upon us. Why then seek to destroy
one of tho most beautiful Ideals of
child llfo?
Let tho little ones hang- up Weir
stockings on Christmas eve. Let them
believe In the dear old white-bearded
roan who is one of their happiest Il
lusions, and, abovo all, let thom be
real children while they may, not min
iature men and women, tired of tho
Ideal sldo of llfo beforo thoy leavo tho
nursery for tho schoolroom.
Yes, wo. bellovo that the best and
truest mother can with perfect Jus
tice to both her children and herself
conscientiously decldo to keep Santa
Claus In the especial nlcho In which
grown peoplo heard 1 Pretty soon thoy
camo rushing in, ono after tho othor.
Then such an untying of strings and
tearing off of wrapping papers as thero
wasl
"Auntie! Aunllol" thoy shouted.
"Theso aro your presents! You are
the Christmas popttnan!"
Auntlo's glftH wero not to bo mis
taken. Sho made them nearly always,
Joe's was au envelope nllium for
scraps. Joo liked to cut all Boris of
things out of newspapers and maga
zines. Tho Bcrap-albuin was mado of
twonty-alx big brown envelopes, tied
together by cords, In a pastoboard
cover. They could bo taken out when
filled and new ones put In.
George's "great big packago" was a
wooden box mado Into a nice llttlo
atoro. It had Hholvca and counters,
and n set of scales besides,
draco's gift was a fancy work bag,
with pockets holding embroidery sllka.
It had somo crochet needles and n pair
of embroidery hoops, and some pretty
dollies ready to begin work on.
Wlnnlo's gift waB an nfghan, pillow
and strap for hor doll carriage Tho
afghan was mado out of pink nnd
white worsted knitted In strlpca, Tho
pillow was of pink Bilk, over which
was a cover of Swiss with a lnco ruf
fle. Tho atrap was a pleoo of whlto
ribbon with llttlo pink llowera painted
on It.
As tho children woro exclaiming
over theso gifts, they were stnrtled by
a loud noise at tho door that led Into
tho dining room from tho hall. Dang!
Bang! The hoys ran to open tho door.
Thero Btood their fathor. Ho had
slipped away whlio they wero upstairs,
and they had not missed him. Ho
had a trunk, covered with cotton anil
trimmed with evergreen, on his shoul
der. "Express from Santa Claus," hu
cried,
"Ho. ho! Express from Santa Claim!"
tho children shouted, dancing around
the r M) in.
It wau a regular Christmas trunk,
wlien opened. "Merry Chrlatmas."
waB printed In green lottcrs on a whlto
ground Insldo tho lid, nnd everything
In tho trunk wna done up In whlto
paper, tied with green cord. In each
wns stuck a sprig of overgrcon. In
tho trunk woro nil tho presents from
papa nnd mamma to the chlldron, nnd
from tho threo grown folks to each
othor. Most of tho gifts wero homo
mndo, nnd not costly, but nil woro re
ceived with delight. Thoro novor was
such a Jolly Christmas trunk!
"Why, wo haven't glvon our preaonts
to each other!" cried Wlnnlo at last.
Each of the four children always had
somo trifling gift for tho othor throo.
"I'll tell you a nlco way to glvo
thorn!" exclaimed auntlo. "All mark
your presents with tho first names of
thoso thoy aro for, and bring them to
me. Then wo'll go to tho sitting
room and play 'hunt tho thlmblo" with
each bundle The one whoso namo la
on It must go out whlio wo hldo It."
And off they trooped to colloct their
bundles and to spend a merry morning
hunting for thorn. Annlo Willis Mc
Cu! lough in Youth's Companion.
Conformity to the teachings of
Christ will restoro tho prestlgo of tho
church. Freedom to worship God Is
inalienable. Rov. W. II. Tubb.
AS WE KNOW HIM.
ho has sat enthroned for ages past
Glvo us Santa Claus! Throw the
good old saint out into tho snow? Put
away those delicious Christmas eve
dreams, when every stir in the house
hold after dusk meant the stamp of a
reindeer? Bring up a child without
the belief in the chimney and its ca
pacity to stretch on Christmas eve?
No; n thousand times no!
There's too little poetry In life now.
Let the children have all of It thoy can
get. Says a recent writer: "I wish
there was a grown-up Santa Claus.
I'd lovo to b61Iovo In him, and I would
not thank nnyono who told me ho
wasn't true. I'd listen to his sleigh
bells with something very much like
rapture, I'm afraid. It wouldn't bo for
tho prosonts, either. That Isn't why
tho chlldron love Santa Claus, Thoy
love him because he means thnt some
where there's a great-hearted croaturo,
who is thinking of thom and planning
all tho year through- to delight thom."
WHY SANTA CLAUS IS CUPID.
Santa Claus, tho dear old stupid,
Paid a call last night to Cupid.
Brought him posies, gay old glvorl
Silver arrows and a quiver.
Then the wakeful boy, upstarting,
Saw tho saint In haato departing
Solzed an arrow, thankleus Cupid,
Winged It straight at "dear Old
Stupid."
This tho way, and that tho rcaaon,
Merry mnlds, this Christmas season,
Find his bounty overflowing
Rovt In Us rich bestowing.
This Is why, tho country over,
Morning mulled on lass nnd lover.
This Is why tho dear old stupid
Claims tonight thnt he Is Cupid.
Goldilocks and I wero walking back
of Mohb valley and happened to atop,
together, upon tho Enclinntod Flying
Phantom Field. In a moment wo woro
(lying through the air, and In leas tlmo
than you can count six plainly wo woro
onco moro In Fairyland, undor Tnm
nlpals mountnln.
And then what do you think wo
saw 7
Santa Claus picking plum puddings
from trees! Real plum puddings from
real treosl
This was In tho plum pudding- or
chard which tho fairies plantod, long
ago, for Santa CIiuib. Ho was whist
ling and chuckling and laughing, "Ho!
ho! ho!" nnd sometimes slyly winking
ono eyo na ho vlowed tho many grow
ing henps of puddings ns ha'latd them
under tho trees, and thought what Jol
lity thero would bo Chrlatmas day
when they were eaten and whnt turn
myaches afterwardal
Goldilocks thought tho plum pud
ding orchard wonderful. It was wa
tered by Hpnrkllng rills and wna sur
rounded by hedges upon which cnndlcs
and nuts nnd oranges were growing.
Theso hedges wero mndo all of Chrlst
nuin trees, tho burning llttlo candles
on which furnish Santa Claus light at
night to work by. Ho will havo only
tho cnndlcs to work by because thoy
scorn to bring htm nearer to his mil-
PICKING PLUM PUDDINGS,
lions of door children, nnd a secrot
Santa Claus Is In as much of a hurry
for Christmas evo as you nro.
Tho plum pudding orchard had hun
dreds and thousands of trees In It. Tho
way tho trees camo to bear plum pud
dings wns thlu: They woro grafted.
Tho bread-fruit trees furnished grafts
for plum pudding dough, and grafts
from rasln grapo vines, citron trees
nnd current bushes supplied othor
"fixings." Tho birds brought oak and,
holly leaves and Chrlatmas borrles for
decorations. Tho sun browned the
puddings Just right and tho leaves on
tho plum pudding trees turned snowy
whlto Just In tlmo to furnish plum pud
ding bags ono for every pudding and.
not ono to spate Tho stems grow into
pudding bag strings. Tho trees bent
low with their weight of puddings. The
air smelted ns sweet as a thousand
Christmas dinners all In ono!
When Santa Claus had pulled all tho
puddings from the trees now ones
sprouted for birthdays and noxt
Thanksgiving.
Jlnglo, Jlnglo, tinkle, tlnltlo! Santa
Claus' reindeer stamped their llttlo feet
until all tho bolls on their harnesses
Jingled and tlnklod again, whlio wait
ing for Santa Claus and the thousaii I
fairies who helped him to load the
puddings Into his sleigh to carry them
to tho Boy Proof Pantry of Ton Thou
sand Shelves. Some fairies, when tho
first sleigh load was on Its way to tho
pantry, gathered the small piles oft
puddings Into one great heap. Thom
along camo tho bad boy fairy, tied two
dozen puddings togethor by tho pud
ding bag strings and fastened them to
his kite, which drew tho long string of
puddings away up Into the sky.
Ono fairy, leaning backward to watch
tho kite, lost his balance and fell
against tho small mountain of pud
dings. Thoy began to roll and roll'
and chased each othor and chased ua,i
but thoy were not hurt one bit Santai
Claus laughed louder than ever wheat
he came back and saw the fun and h
winked ono oye at tho bad boy fairy
and shook ono finger at him, as hej
saw the boy stick In his thumb and
pull out a plum.
When Goldilocks and I stopped run
ning wo woro outsldo of Fairyland, but
vn rmilil iiHIt hnnr ttiA niirlrlln vnll.i
ing softly about and Santa ClaufctLi'i'
Inughlng whlio still upward flew tKR'Vff
l,ll 1... 1 ...HV I . ..ij,. ''
tall iSatLJ-
No word Is 111 spoken It It be n
taken. Proverb.
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