10 TUB OMAHA DAILY EJ5 : 'SUNDAY , NOVBM IJ.BB 21. 18SI7.
Marion's
The Story of nil
Exciting
Thanksgiving Hny.
Promise
y. . . .
t. n. CtilttcnJe.ll.
( Copyright , US7 , liy H. H. McClure , I.'t'd. )
' I.
Marlon and her father were shooting a
natch out under the trees. The old man
carefully sighted , with his rifle over n rest ,
then he pulled the trigger , and the edge of
tlio braes tack fastened In a tree , about thirty
icct away , disappeared.
Ho grumbled a Itttlo as h's daughter ran
forward and then called out , "Good for you ,
daddy ; that's hard to beat. "
"Humph ! Any ono can do that well with
n rest. You will beat It without ono. The
old man bag to take a back scat , " he added
with a sigh , for he had been a famous shot
In his days , anil It was a sore trial to have
used the rest.
Marlon bad her rlflo at her shoulder.
"Ping. " and the tack's glittering head was
gene entirely.
'Bravo ' , bravo ! " cried the veteran , aglow
with pride. "I'd like to sco anybody beat
that , rest or no rest. "
"Listen , " said Marlon , then. "What's
that ? "
"Ablram , Mary Ann , " piped n thin voice ,
hrllly , frpm the cdgo of llio woods. "Where
ye ? I beard your heathenish gun firing
I ain't dared to stir a peg nlghcr for
fear you'd shoot me. "
"It's Aunt Perkins , " said Marlon , laugh-
Ing."Yen.
"Yen. confound It. " muttered her father
under his breath following slowly. "I wish
sno'd let us alone , " he added.
Already Marlon was getting supper when
ho reached the bridge cottage , BO called from
the drawbridge that spanned the river just
In front of the cottage , that had deep woods
at Its back , and the town half a mile away.
The soldierly-looking man , Marlon's father ,
was the keeper of the drawbridge , and
Marlon , his only child , was his housekeeper
and comrade. They were most happy , when
Aunt Perkins let them alone , but she had
been a frequent visitor of late.
Whllo Marlon stepped lightly around gct-
tln supper , Aunt Perkins sat on the extreme
cdgo of the hardest chair she could find In
the best room , eyeing the corners sharply for
dust , and once sbo went over to tbo little
round table and drew her hand across Its
shining surface , carefully wiping It afterward
with her pocket handkerchief , although ehe
know there was no dual there.
> "There's ono thing J come over to see
nbout today , " Aunt Perkins began , as Ablram
limped In , his face shining from Its long
drawn out polishing on the roller towel.
Ablram had lost a foot lighting for his
country , but the cheery old philosopher made
the best of his aflllctlon.
t "They're 'welcome 'to ' my old .foot . If they
want It , " ho would say ; "use to give me a
lot of misery with corns , anyway ; hut I'm
' bilged to 'cm for leaving imy two hands to
work for iMarlon , my little gell , " he would
a Oil tenderly.
* The 'two sat down , to .Marlon's dainty sup
per , with ibut little appetite , and a sense of
coming trouble.
\ Aunt Perkins was the only person before
\Yhom Ablram's heart quailed. Her thin , acid
tones milled his placid disposition , and It
Was thoroughly exasperating to sec her sit
ting on the edge of her chair ca'tlng ' Marlon's
delicious ibiscult as ttocugh they were poi
soned , and his gcntlo heart seemed to tun : ,
to hot Iron within him.
The -worst cf It was that he knew shi >
would have her own way , no , with his heart
growing heavier every minute , 'ho ' _ listened
to tho'plaii-which * tbo thln.voltn rapidly un
folded.
Aunt Perkins proposed to take 'Marlon '
homo with her she lived In the village some
flvo unlles away and have lier 'apprenticed
to iMlss Abby Perkins , her husband's slstcj ,
and the village dressmaker , to learn to sow.
"Fur ihow long ? " asked Ablram huskily ,
trying In vain to lianlsh the vision of his
lonely hours without bis comrade daughter.
"Jedgln * from her lack of ability It'll take
her considerable time to master the 'funda '
mental prlncMes , " replied Aunt Perltlcn
dryly.
It was little use to kick against ' ! lie pricks
and they both knew the matter wto is good
as settled when Aunt Perkins proposed it ,
and they listened In EfleTice while she un
folded the details.
"Sho ain't 'to ' be a comln' 'back ' and forth ,
Ablram , I want It understood. " she went on
"She'll help me nights and mornings for her
ktop , and I expect thc'll do her doaty. "
" 1 ain't a saying the plan you're a pro
posing , uYbby 1'crklns , ain't a good one , for
It's-only right that women should know lieu
to sew.Her mother would a wanted her to
learn , I know , but you needn't to think that
Flic won't do her dooty like a soldlcr'a daugli'
tcr , as she Is . " His voice trailed off Into a
cough , that was half a fob and was hushed
In Marlon's arms.
"Daddy , dear , don't _ ! " she cried , ner tears
falling on his head. "I will go and do my
best , but I'll count tha hours until Thanks
giving , when I'll surely como homo , ard then
"AUNT P1IIKINS , " SAID'MAIUON ' , SWAL
LOWING IIAHD. "I PROMISED DADDY
I'D COME. "
we'll Iwvu the best time , daddy ; and wo can
lilan for It while we're apart. "
II.
The day before Thanksgiving was cold and
elcoty. Marlon had worked hard this week ,
lier lingers doing double duty that she mlgiit
tparo Aunt Perkins any extra work while
the was home ,
She had learned to cut out and put to
gether garments with wonderful dexterity ,
but Marlon did not love It , or , at lout , her
bomealck heart Iraped sorely as she thought
of itbo homo where the was queen and the
prldu of the dim old eyes that she loved BO
well.
well.Aunt
Aunt Perkins had been suspiciously reti
cent OD tbo subject of her going home , but
( Marlon bad no fears on < ho subject. "For
I've promised to bo there , " she thought ,
"and I'm going. "
"I hope Uncle Kben will bo all harnessed
up for me when I get tiiere , " aho thought
as sue almost ran to the bend In the road
4h > it should bring the email frame bouse Into
view. Out no horse and buggy were visible ,
When she entered the kitchen , easy-going
XJnclo Kben also was nowhere visible , and
lAunt Abble sat bolt upright with lier kultHng
in ber band and bur mouth a ( bin line of
of decision.
"WJiero's Undo Eben ! " asked iMarlon. "Is
Jto harnessing up ! " I
"No , bo ain't , " replied Aunt Abby , wUU a
Blanco at tbo woodshed door , that was creakIng -
Ing a little. . "No , be cln't , " she repeated , In
' TouUer voice , "and be ain't a-going to har
ness up < bla afternoon. I've thought i ( all
over. Mary Ann , " continue * Aunt Perkliu.
who always Mid Wary Aon when tt was Id
A
now ; 'sides , I've heard that the Perkinses
over to IJrtdgcton his folks and a whole
raft and pacsel of 'em they Is , too Is a-
comln' over to dinner tomorrow , and I feel
sure I'll have a slnkln' spell cf I have all the
work to do , ao I want you to stay on * help. "
Marlon stood rooted to the floor , and the
woodshed door rattled harder than ever , as
a faint volco said : "Sho sent fur 'cm this
afternoon. Marlon , Jcat to splto you. "
Aunt Perkins arose with wruth on every
feature and bolted the shed door on the
kitchen side , thus making its occupant a
prisoner.
"Aunt Perkins , " naid 'Marlon , swallowing'
hard , "I promised that I'd come. "
"I sent him word today , " replied Aunt
Perkins.
"Iltit the pies are all mado. the turkey
Is sturTed and everything Is ready. I got up
at 4 o'clock this morning on purpose. O
Vunt Perkins , ' 1 must go "
"ttf jou go you'll walk , " replied her aunt ,
elttlng dowr. again close 'by ' the stove and
carefully pulling up her dreas skirt away
from the heat.
"Very well , then , " replied Marlon , her
head very erect , as though sighting for the
bull's-eye. "I will walk , and I will stay , "
and without another ward she walked out of
the room , leaving Aunt Aibby 'Perkins ' for
once dumb with rage , fur this was the flrat
time any one had over disputed her will.
It was only after the front door had
clanged decidedly that the spirit of action
roused within Aunt Perkins' breast , and
f col Ing from the very way that the door
was shut Chat remonstrance In that quarter
was useless , or. ] feeling It positively noceo-
sary to relieve her feelings In some way , she
shot the bolt back .and . 'liberated the shiver
ing Ebon from the woodshed that she might
have something alive 'to ' scold.
III.
In the little -bridge o < ttago that night sat
an old man with liowcd bead. For many
weeks he had looked forward to Marlon's
return with a hungry Icnglng. The house
was delightfully clean , "for Gold Dust. " he
young girl still covering the cowering bru'e ' ,
whllo htr Mther leaned , faint and sick ,
against the rail find told the story.
The Tlv.nksglvlng feast the next day was
crowned with a telegram trotn the president
of the road appointing Marlon assistant bridge
keeper at a modest salary.
It was whllo Marlon was relieving her
feelings by dancing around the room , with
Gold Dust , a most willing , If awkward , partner -
ner , that Undo Elcn shuffled meekly In and
told them Abby had sent him for Marlon ,
They wrote n nuiry letter to Aunt Abby
Perkins , signed with their full names and
titles , declining her cqucst with thanks.
Then they fed placid Undo Kben with > i leas'
of good things , until ho could rat no more ,
and Marlon decorated h's ' horse and bug J
with green stuff , until he looked like a mov
Ing Christmas tree.
They were si happy and care-free that
when Aunt Perkins herself came they teased
and laughed her Into a certain grim sense of
catlsfled duly , that gave Undo Kben a pesco
ful season of repose for at least a week.
Atid she slid on all occasions that "that
gel I and Ablram Is a txilr of ptUm Minnie. ' ,
and act llko a passcl of pumps , but they
ain't no denying the f > : ct that It was luck ;
Marion learned to shoot as well as to new. "
HIS FIHST IACI.I.KSSO.V. .
Sot n 1,1-NNou lii Ml ( ] > , but One tlml
, \ViiK Vntiinlilv Nitvertlit'li'KN.
' '
"Tho''nriit lesson I got ati dancing stfliool , "
said Mr. Graytop , "waa n great surprise to
me , and It was not o-lcsson In dancing , cither.
I didn't go to dancing school at all until I
had como to be a man of some years ; then
I went to the school of a teacher who wftB
well and widely known , and who In the course
of a long experience had taugCit the art ot
dancing to many thcusanjs of pupils , boys
and girls und men and women. It was a big
school and at night , when I attended * there
were always present , among others , younger ,
othera as old as mjself and sometimes men
oven older. i
"In the large hall In which class ICES DIM
wcro given In this school there was down
each side , with Its back , against the wall , u
continuous feat. Upon these long tide scats
stretching Hie length of the hall ( which was
high and well lighted ) the pupils used to sit
before the school began In the evening , anl
between the lessons , and when the dancing
master was explaining and personally Illus
trating some step , i
"On the night that I took my first dancing
lesson I sat before the opcn'ng ' of the sciiool
on ono of these long side seata , one of many
sitting along on the yiino side. The dancing
A CIIITICAL. MOMENT.
explained to ttcir doj ; , so namol from his
brilliant color. 'Sve < lon't wan't ' the darling
to come home anl work her ipretty fingers
to tbo bane first thing. Indeed we don't. "
Then he , accompanied by the faithful Gold
Dust , courted rheumatism ard went Into the
woods , 'bringing ' back quantities green
etuff , which 'he hung everywhere , and wltX
his stiff old fingers ie laborloiuly fashioned
the word "Welcome" out of arbor vitae , and
hung It over the mantel shelf.
Tiicro was a small turkey hen In the collar ,
plump and tender. There were good things
of all sorts In the pantry , 'Tor I allow ,
nold Dust , that we'll have a proper feeling
for a dln.ner . this Thanksgiving , eh , old fol
low ? "
GoU Dust licked his chops and wagged hit
tall solemnly , for If 'Chore ' was ever a dog
that loved a good dinner It was the one ad
dressed
Hut now It was all over. The brief , un
satisfactory mccnge from' Aunt I'crkltiahad
arrived , stating that Marlon had concluded
' ! o stay over Thanksgiving with them.
' "She promised , Gold Dust , she promised , "
said the old man , "and she ain't never broke
her word yet. I think It's the old cat'a
work , " he added , disrespectfully cf h\a \
martial slster-ln-lnw. "lit Marlon had made
up her own mln < l that she'd stay , she'd a
writ us with her own hand full of lovln' ,
ooaxln' words , eueh as nllus gets around her
old dad , ibut It don't make no matter , she
won't be here now , no how , whosevers the
Fault , " and the old gray head again wcui
forward on the table.
At 8 o'clock the ferry was due , for the
river was not yet frozen over , and the ferry
joat was still running. When the first
wh'stlo ' for the bridge sounded , the old man
arose and lit his lantern and went out to
open the bridge.
Two weeks before the porter of the red
express had been discharged fur dishonest ;
and Impertinence at Drldgcitou , and the big
burly fellow liung around the town , doing
odd Jobs and plotting vengeance against the
conductor and crew of the red express , nnd
tonight , wlthi the aid of bad whisky , he had
matured his plans.
Ho was hidden In a dark corner of the
draw , as U swung open , and Ablram stood a
moment looking down , In > the river after the
ferry had steamed through. Then , &a he
turned to close the draw for the red express ,
duo In fifteen mimics , ho was seized from
behind and thrown down.
Half stunned , the old fiolJIcr struggled t ?
arise , but the negro held him fast and bound
111 in tightly with a long rope , gagging htm
to prevent any outcry.
It was five minutes past 8 when Marlon
softly opened the door of the bridge hounc
and called , "Daddy , darling. " No one
answered 'but Gold Dust , who was left In
charge , Ho jumped all over her , and was
demonstrative enough for four dogs , * but
Marlon wondered at her father's ahaencj.
"He ought to bo home now , Dusty , " she
eald , and 'the dog locked toward the open
door. Marlon stood on a chair to reach lier
rille , which was loaded , and hanging , slung
up by uer father's , over the word "Wel
come , " which she kissed with happy tears In
her eyes.
Tint something waa wrong she at once
saw when she reached > the bridge for tha
draw was still open , and she rould hear tha
red express at Drldgeton ,
Quickly the got Into her father's iboat ,
moored at'thoehore , and , rowing with superb
Htrvke , was quickly at the 'bottom of the
stone pier , on which revolved the draw.
Then she stepped out on the metal rounds
of the workman's ladder , that hung on the
pier , and swiftly climbed up with her rifle
slung across her shoulders.
She came up with cat-like stillness and the
negro , who waa leaning out on tbo opposite
side , listening for the train , had uot heard
her. Softly she bwuug herself up and cov
ered the man with her rifle ; then ho , hearing
the click , turned with an imprecation and
looked Into tbo abiding barrel.
The minutes were few now , as the train
bad left Urldgeton. and teen the whistle
would ask It the draw was all right ! theu
If the lights which the negro had placed
were right , and there was no answer from the
bridge , they would come on to destruction.
"Cut that rope ! " cried Marlon , In ringing
tones ; then wheti the old soldier wag free ,
"Give him his ane. " and her father sprang
to ( bo itRnal lights and tore them down.
Then the whistle of danger rent the air
n < J the red express . toVMl. Juit ou tbe
i edge of lee bridge , whllo [ he men ran ( or
I ward with their lanterns , waiting until tb
LA.U * MUB inu niic * . h a th r found ib
maste/ , entering from an ante-room , came
down the vacant center of the /jail / , ready
to begin the work of the evening. He looked
at the young gentlemen sitting along , and
when ho came opposite to where I was ho
turned In that direction and prese.itly I knew
that ho was apprcachlng me , asd I felt It an
honor i'hat ho should seek me out thus pub
licly to address me on the occasion of my
first night In the school. I
Approaching , with an air ot perfect good
humor , to which \\cs added , when he came
very close to me. a friendly and at the same
tlmo curious little smile which I did not at
the moment understand , ho raised his band
and quietly but firmly removed from between
my lips the tooiftpiek that I had there , and
tobsed H carelessly under the scat ; and then
with the same friendly llttlo smile he turrod
away. H had all been done so quickly and
at llio same time so smoothly and quietly
Ih'it ' I doubt If even the two young men sit
ting on either tide of me realized what had
happened , anof a moment later he was walkIng -
Ing calmly on down the center of the hall ,
completing his preliminary Inspection of i ie
school.
"So my first lesson at dancing school waa
a lesson In munncrs , and It was one that I
have never ceased to be grateful for. "
rilATTl.K OK TII13 YOPNGSTISHS.
A mother noticed that her llttlo boy had
shut tad fastened the door en a very wet
day , and nca compell'cg his llttlo sister to
stay out in the rain , says the Cambridge
Tribune. "Why , Leslie , " said she , "open
the door , and let Dolly In out of the rain. "
"I can't , mamma , " was the answer. "We're
playing Noah's ark , and Dolly Is the sin
ner. "
It requires several years to determine the
worth of a marsh for producing cranberries
and the slowness of returns , together with
the amount of capital required , have brought
the 380th anniversary of Luther's posting his
celebrated theses on the door of the church
at Wittenberg. Upon bis return , wys the
Journal , hla father asked him If he knew
what the services were about.
"Yes , sir ; " he replied. "They were cele
brating tbo man that Invented the Protestant
church , "
A Sioux City father was going c.way . on a
short business trip , and as he klrued hia 7-
year-old son goodJby ho said to him :
"Now , Charles , take good care of mamma
whllo I'm gone. "
Tbo responsibility thus Intrusted to the
young man evidently weighed heavier on his
mind than one would naturally expect , says
the Journal , for ono evening 'a short time
nftemvard , as he lay 'on the floor with Jialf-
losed eyes , bo rather startled his another
f Inquiring :
"Mamma , doesn't God take care of you ? "
"Why , yea , my dear , " replied the wonder-
UK mother , "Why do you ask ? " <
The little guardian heaved a sigh of relief
r.d answered :
"Oh , ibecauso I'm tired , "
Mrs. N , has a little daughter named Nancy ,
ays the Cincinnati 'Commercial-Tribune ' ,
jast summer they had a cottage for a few
veokB at tbe camp meeting grounds near
Lovuland. Upon ono occasion three or four
of the most iiromlnent preachers were guests
at breakfast , at which corn cakes constituted
ho leading feature of the 1)111 of fare.
Nancy couldn't get enough. Partly as an
epology for lier ravenous appetite and partly
o compliment the cook she said with the
utmost earnestness :
'My God , mamma , ain't thorn corn cakes
fc-ood ? "
You may think silence reigned , but It
didn't , for the 'preachers ' enjoyed the situa
tion and Joked with the another In a semi-
serlous vein about the way the child was
being raised.
On another occasion Nancy came to lier
mother and said : "Mamma , do you llko
stories ? "
"Yes " said her "If ' '
, mamma , 'they're true
stories. "
"Thin ono la. Do you get mad -when people
ple tell you nice , true stories ? "
"Wby , never. It Isn't good manners to
get made when a person tells you a nice
story. "
"All right , " said Nancy , "On.e upon a
time tbero was a little girl and she got Into
the pantry and ate almost all the Jelly In a
clou. That's a true story , mamma , and me
was the lltUe girl. "
Subgrlbe ( or The Sunday Bee and rent
Antboby Hope's great storjt "Simon Dal * . '
Suitable ahd seasonable goods in enormous variety and at these remarkable low prices-
Beautiful 100 piece "Ridgeway" din The season is well advanced those
ner set finest English semi-porcelain
decorated in natural colors and who have not yet purchased can
It a 1 depends upon you to make it so. handsome border pattern very pretty take advantage of these bargains
shape and ths finest of ware worth
With a little assistance from us you anywhere e'se about $16
here this week Base Burners
can fill up that little vacancy here and
Undlant Peninsular the highest Rr.iilo bnpo
' lieatliiK stove1 made guaranteed to heat 3
there without any' financial < inconvcm- ' rooniH all winter on two toim of coal nrlcu
taafi'gas&aS
& tills week 23.75
ench $2"i.0i ) Homo Coral Haso Uurncr
to yourself on pale at 13.50
? 14.t 0 lU'il Louiw , this wcok 8-45
$10.00 Tiipostry CotiL-h , this week 3-90
S10.R ) Child's Folding Iti-d , tills wool : . . 5.90
Beautiful in de- ? 4.r.U . Kitchen Safe , this woi-lc 2-65
siqn well constructed and ! ? I5.X ( ) Oak Combination Ilnokcnsa niul The finest vott coul s : eve made Rimrnntccil
Writing 1'esk ' , this wwi.r 8-9O und proven by nctualtest to hold fire 47
very highly polshtd ! finished In antique nnil * ' - hours with one charKc of soft coul rlco O "IG
very miifslve worth regularly * CO this QQ ftfl . L' . r Oak Center Table , this week J.65 this week / > fw
weick J O'5JW ? 1 ll.no Wardrobe , this week 6-75
$ li .0 ( ) Antiiine lledroom Stilt , this week (4.90 (
$7.nt ) White lOnamel Iron Jlt-d. this wui'k 3 45
In solid oak $ l-J.no ! Koldlnc Hod , this week 13.5O
$ .P > 0.X ( ) Oak Parlor Suit , this week 24-50 We nro solo agents for the "Stnr Estate"
- Steel Hango It must bo seen to be appre
something that will o nicely $ l.i ( } 0 White Knamel Dresser , this week 9.75 ciated worth K'O.CO on sale at 29.50
with ndvcirtlE-ed extension tnb'.e well J1.40 made this $10.00 Oak Hookcase , this week . . . . 4.95 J14..W Cook Stovc- 9.85
and has cano sent regular price 79c tbls week .
\\tck ? S..riO Tapestry Hoeker , this week 3 SO J33W Store Heating1 Stove-
? ( ; . . - ( ) Lthrary Tables , this week 2.90 tills week 17.50
.fl.t'o Canvas Cots , this week 7ac
U."e Hat Kaks , this week 7C
A solid oalc sideboard ) ? 'JO.OO lAiatlier Coiu-lies , this week . . . . 9 8S
$12.no Onyx Table , this wei'k Q'QQ Carpets
very neat in design $5.00 Heed Hooker , this \ vk 2-48
i has bevel platemlrrorono drawer velvet Jl.SO Axmlnstcr
! lined for silverware nnd just the thing to this week 98c
hnvo In your dining room til * ThnnksslvliiB . _ _ _ . "
Jl 0 Uody Brussels
day-worth regularly about * 22.00-our ptlco gJQ KQ ENORMOUS SELECTION this week 98c
thia week
$1.2- . Vclvets-
of CHRISTMAS PRESENTS thls week 78c
UOo Tapestry
49c
this ' . \cek
Made of quarter TOo All Wool IiiRraln- 39c
thls week
sawed oak piano pol sh rgains Pop Mailing 12ic
and very rich In design-regular price on STf Ef | Sofn Pillows , worth $ ' _ > . ( ) ( ) , tills week . . . this week
this Is } 30.CO-on sale this week I1W ti-iuiuml Pillows , pin1 iialr , worth $ : > . ( ) < > , Me this Oil week Cloth
this week . 1.25
Itlankols , worth ? ( ! . . " ( . this wt'ok . 2-98
i © § Made of the best Wool lilnnkets. worth tf-l.no , Ihls wouk. . | .Q8
Cotton lllankots , worth $ l."i . tlilh wi-ok 75c
steel fine stag handle Comforts , worth $1.00 , tills week . ( .75
Comforts , worth ifli.0. this weeK . . . . 98c .
peed ih Iseuk size worth regularly Jl.DO § 3.95 Hc-tl Spreads , worth ? l.oO , this wook. . . 75c $1 this 2o week I.aoc Curtains- 6Sc
$2Tfl 1-aco Curtalns- 1.25
thls week .
fS.BO Irish Point Curtains 248
this week
JSOO Urussels Net Curtains 4-25
this week -
.1 u an H UIBKKINW u ar * ffi.SO Tn pea try Curtains 2.65
this week .
\ We adjust' the $ "i.rx ) Hope 1'ortlores 2.25
this week .
! terms to suit your $7M this Chenille week Curtains 340
Window Shades
convenience. this week i5c
A TftANK.5GIVING
ff OF THE WAR
. mfat } ' ! Si S ! S &
. .
BY MAJOR ALFRED R. CALHOUN.
"I could stay back , of course , 'but '
Osterhaus' division never wer.t Into action ,
olnco I was on ithe staff , that I haven't tried
to keep up with Ithe head of the procession. "
As Allen "Gordon srild this he grasped my
hand , shook It In his Ijoyleh , hearty way , and
threw 'himself Into the saddle. "Tomorrow , "
ho added , as ihe waved his right hand toward
Lookout mountain , "if wo finish our Job in
good shape fcofore daylight you fellows -will
carry 'Miss-Ion ' ridge. Hope > wo'll have our
usual luck and bo ready for roll-call 'When '
the llg'ht ' Is over. Tomorrow will 'be ' Thinks-
Klvlng home , but much as iwo want to see
the folks , I reckon we'd rather Tie hero and
help "
A shell from the enemy's battery near
the rocky crest of Lookout 'burst ' over our
heads , as wo stooJ .there on 'Moccasin ' point ,
and Allen Gordon's borao tbo animal bad
been sent down from northern Kentucky a
few weeks before by the young soldier's
father took fright and dathed down the
river , In the direction of Osterhaus' division ,
Allen Gordon and mjsclf bad been school
mates. Wo were born on adjoining planta
tions , and had alwaj.s been friends , though
when wo wcro both 1C two years before the
ar I Imagined I 'disliked him for a time ,
ocauso the pretty daughter cf a neighbor
bought him better looking than myself , and
o preferred Ills attentions.
This > was the tlilrdi Thanksgiving wo wcro
o spend at the fron.i. . _ On former occasion * )
ur friends remembered us , and for days bo-
ore 'the northern trains were packed with
uikejs and other good { hings from the dear
nothers at hcme. J3ulwo were to have no
urkey on tbo morrowi All the transporta-
Ion had 'been ' takoir up In carrying troops
nd supplies to Chattanooga , and 'then ' , as
ho day drew near. It became generally
ndcrstood that we sltouhl have more stirring
work on 'hand ' than teas Ing.
I had command of a. body of scouts and we
vero awaiting orders oh the slope , back of
Moccasin point. Our horses were lean and
Bwo-necked , for during tbo slcgu of Chatta-
iooga that followed otir defeat at Cbtcka-
nauga wo bad beeniln the saddle night and
lay , watching Wheeler's ubiquitous cavalry
nd guarding the mountain trains from Me-
.ilnnvlllo. Our uniforms were ragged and
mud-stained. The smooth-faced boys of two
rears before were bearded and bronzed , so
apldly does youth age on tbe long marches
during the sleepless nights , and In the fur
nace heat of battle ,
TUB NIGHT DEFOHE.
I lud never seen so lovely a Thanksgiving
eve. Tbe Indian summer's golden haze hung
over mountain and river and valley. On the
epurs of tbe Cumberland range the chest
nuts and oak still retalded their leaves of
russet gold. Up tbo slopes of Lookout , which
rose a mountain queen from her rocky throne
beside the winding Tennessee , hung the sea-
son's haze. Ilut through It we could see tbe
brown rifts of tbe earthworks , the moving
figures In gray , and ( he flaming maples , that
looked like great splotches of blood. High
over all tbo banner ot tha confederacy
waved , aod Just below \l \ Oheatbam'g elunal
pigs flatbed to Br jg , on Missionary rldg (
to the cast , the movements of the gathering
corps In MUD on the plains.
"Geary , of Hooker's command , will attack
Train the south and west. Osterhaus , with
Ills KentucklaiiB and Ohloans , will attack
from the north and cast. "
This la what CO.OOO waiting men said one
o the other , as from river and plain they
turned their eyes toward Lookout , after the
inn had passed the zenith and was bidden \ > c-
ilnd black cloud banks. The men were right.
From our position wo could see the western
men assigned to the assault moving toward
ho mountain , under the tattered battle Hags
that , a few months before , had waved In the
van of our assaults on Vicksburg. From the
far distance \ve could bear Hooker's bugles
sounding the advance. A few minutes and
.ho mountain became a thundering volcano ,
'roin which burst fountains of flame and
geysers of dense white smoke.
The battle was on. Wo could heart defiant
yclla and lioarao cheers as the opposing
forces came nearer , and although I kenw It
was fancy , I felt s 're ' I could distinguish AI-
cn Gordon's voice , for something In the
waves of sound thrilled mo , as I was thrilled
when wo rushed elde by aide upon the guns
at Slilloh ,
Uluck clouds rolled In from the west and
shaped about Lookout , as If to veil the scene
cf strife from tbo sight of heaven , Still tiie
rattle of musketry came to the plain , whllo
the mountain sce-med to rock and sway under
the thunder of the cannon. As I listened ,
thought of the children of Israel watching
: ho flamlnt ; clouds hinging over Sinai , while
the lender of the people talked to tha Law
giver of all.
Night came down and 'Dragg's ' campflrcs
In a half circle that seemed lifted Into the
sky flashed alon the embattled crest of MIs-
nlon Hldge , while here and there dancing col.
orcd lights could bo seen and wo know tbo
confederate signal corps were anxious and
busy , There was but llttlo sleeping either
camp that nig1 ] ! . One hundred and twenty
thousand men , friend und foe , were watching
Lookout. The encircling cloud seemed to
throb to the blazing und booming of the guns ,
whllo llko flights of giant lire flics the flash-
Ins of the rifles cut through tbe Intense dark
ness , Higher and higher the sound of the
flgUtlng rose. The .cheers and yclla could no
longer bo heard and the roar of the guns be
came muffled , like the sound of giant funeral
drums bolting far up In the heavens. About
midnight the battle echoes coated to comedown
down from the mountain and an awful still
ness fell upon the plain. The men , who had
boon talking In low tones , became silent. Wo
could hear , not only thd beating of our own
hearts , but tbo painful throbbing ot the tem
ples ,
Tbo droiry black hours crept by. The mcji
wcro at liberty to lie. down und sleep , but
they sat In groups and smoked In silence , all
wondering how It had gone with our comradc.i
of Geary's and Osterhaus' divisions.
WHAT THK DAWN HEVBALBD ,
At length , after what seemed llko n
eternity -walling , a light that did not came
from the dying catcpflres of the enemy
strained from the east and raised the dim
outline of M'.cslon ' rldgo Into a billowy
mirage that filled half the visible sky.
The Increasing light seemed but to lengthen
the minutes. Through the misty veil the
campflres glowed In a weird way , end the
soldiers , drinking their coffee , loomed ut
like giant silhouettes. My own men , will
tbo forethought ot veterans who did not knox
when they might have a chance to cat again
wore making heavy Inroads Into the two
( .ays' rations that had been served the day
before.
"Thanksgiving bro-kfast , boys ! " shouted
one , as ho drained his black cuy > through his
teeth.
"And the last breakfast of some of us ! "
laughed Harry Stanton of Corlngton , who , be
fore the noonday sun looked down on Sher
man's left , was to lie dead beside his horse ,
amid the wreck of a confederate battery.
I was gloomily eating my own brokfast ,
when a young horseman , with a dispatch bag
banging from his shoulder , reined In bcaldo
the fire and taking a slip of paper from
between his teeth called out my name. The
paper was from Captain Thompson and had
on it these penciled words :
"De'-r Al I write at Allen's request. He
lies far up the mountain. No use to take the
poor boy down. Good luck to you today.
"DICK I. "
Tlio rider dashed to with dispatches for
General Grant , but he said not a word about
the night battle. I reasoned wo bad been
driven back and that Allen Gordon was
I wounded mid In the enemy's hands. My > .p-
j petite left me and there was a luir.f ) In my
throat as I gave the order to caddie up , for 11
knew the time for rough riding and hard
fighting bad come.
The clouds overhead glowed llko giant
opals. The shadow of Mission Illdge grew
shorter , but still the cloud cloak covered
I Lookout mountain. Then the sun Hashed ui
lines of steel grouped along the ridge > iml
(
smoke pillars marked the sites of the enemy's
1 campflrcs. Tlio men stood by their horses ,
all faces turned to Lookout. The cloud
drapery , like a mighty stage "curtain , began
: o roll up. Higher and thinner , higher and
thinner , and still , an It rcsc , wo cauld see
: ho gleam of bayonets and tbe dark blue of
cdcral uniforms showing strongly ogalnst tlic
lull red of the works occupied by the enemy
of the day before.
THE ) CURJTAIN OF MIST.
How our hearts throbbed and how the
fierce battle light glowed In the eyes of the
men watching the mountain. Higher end
higher rolled tbe cloud curtain , and. still
gleaming bayonets and men In blue In the
enemy's worfc ? ! Higher , still higher , and
ever the same thrilling revelation. Then
the cloud mist gathered Into a heap , swept
away from the crest of the mountain , and ,
catching the rays of tbe rising sun , melted
and was gene ! Lookout stood revealed In Its
every outline. Ilut we gave no heeJ to Its
grand setting aga'mst the cold blue of that
perfect November sky. From the crest ,
where , when the loiit sun vanl&hed , the cress
of the confederacy waved , wo saw , heating
llko an ucgel s wing against the blue of
leaven , the stars and stripes of the republic.
At the sight the men tot up a wild cheer.
It lang along the river. U swelled Into a-
mighty roar when Hooker's men on tUo right
saw the flag , und 60,000 men men of the
armies of the Cumberland , of the Tennessee
and of the Mlwlrnlppl tossed their hats on
heir bayonets and sabers and shook out the
'c-lda of their tattered flaps rod cheered , a&
men never cheered since war made widows ,
"Report , as quick as > our homes can carry
you , to Sherman on ( he left ! "
That Is what Dayton , the handsomest man
on Sherman's ft a ft , or on any staff , eald tome
mo as be reined In for a momrcit , then
spurred his * black horse for the new pontoon
to the north ,
Of course I obeyed , hut a wo urged our
lean hontos to the north , where the ground
rose , my thoughts were with Allen Gordon ,
dying on tbo crest of the mountain ; ho had
dene so much to win.
Thank God , ho aw' It all. With a bullet
through his spine , ju.it below the neck , and
sofhuttlng off the avenues ot pain , and leav
ing hU brain clear , be from the crest ot
Lookout saw such a panorama as never
before paesed before the sight of mortal
man.
man.Allen Gordon , with a dozen confederate
flags under his head , placed thenby Thomp
son of Kentucky and Itarnum of New York ,
looked clow.n on the brown plain , ktrctcblng
from the Tennessee to Mltslon Ridge , As
the cvn rose ho taw tbo gallant men In gray ,
standing below the ridge , or groupe.1 about
the endtei-s guns along the slope. Ho saw
70,000 men In blue , and he heard their thrill-
| DK cheers , an under Hooker , Thomas and
Bberman they advanced , as If on parade ,
against the batteries crowning tbo ridge.
WHAT A DYING MAN SAW.
Allen Gordon''was a patriot and a poet.
Hu SAW , anay ibelow Mm , at ) bin "life-blood
ebbed away. " the men who had forced the
; , 'Mississippi from Cairo to the gulf. He saw
i the IKtluhorsemen of the west men who had
> | learned to ihpot on the buffalo' * ( rail , or If.
i band to hand'conflict with tbo noroad Indians
rj of the plains , illo saw tba ucn , on the right ,
1 woo hai } held the right at Gettysburg , lie
DIW the men In 'the ' center , who , though
botten , saved ithe army from ruin at Snod-
grass hill. He aw away to the left Sheridan
arl Sherman. Allen Gordon saw the blue
waves , steel-crested , dashing against .Mission
ridge. He saw the thinning llnra , but ho
? aw no retreat. From his deathbed under
the crowning rock of Lookout ho saw , as
1 see the words I write , the I < Vuitccnth carps ,
with Wood In the advance , sweeping up the
heights , and tossing the corpa flag over
Dragg's headquarters. 'Ho ' saw the Hag
above his 'head ' , repeated In a hundred forma
slong the ridge. He heard itho cheers. Ho
tuw the flying focmcn , and over ihls head
he fet ! the shadow of Lookout.
Allen wus carried down to Chattanooga
that night. His eyes were closed an un-
uaual thing with the battle dead. > My tears
fell on Ms glorified face as 1 ibenit to kUs
Mm. The tmllet that killed him had cut
througti 'Mollle ' 15'Ishop's ' heart , ns the 'picture '
showed , 'but ' there 'was u blood-stained line
visible : "Dear Allen a happy Thanksgiv
ing , my love. "
CoiiHimiiitloii I'OMltivcljCured. .
Mr. H. B. G'eeve , merchant of Chllhowle ,
Vs. , certifies that he had consumption , was
given up to die , sought all medical treatment
that money could procure , tried all cough
remedies he could hear of , but got no relief ;
spent many nights sitting up In n chair ; waa
Induced to try Dr. King's New Discovery ,
nnd was cured bv use of two bottles. For
past three years has been attending to busi
ness and says Dr. King's Now Discovery Is
the grandest remedy ever made , as it has
done so much for him and also for othera
In his community. Dr. King's New Discov
ery Is guaranteed for CoUghs , Colds and Con
sumption. It don't fall. Trial bottles frea
at Kubn & Co.'s drug store.
TinOlijritton > Sluice Coni'lirw.
In 17C2 there were , strange as It seems ,
only six stage coaches running In all Knaland ,
and of cou'HO these were only public vehicles
for travelers. Even these were a novelty ,
and a person named John Crossel ( bought
they wcro biich a dangerous Innovation that
ho wrote a pamphlet against them. "These
coaches , " he wrote "make gentlemen como
to London upon every small occasion , which
othcrwlbo they would not do except upon
urgent necessity. Nay , the convonloncy of
the passage makes their wives com ? often
up , who rather than como ouch long Journeys
on horseback would stay at home , Then
when they come to town they must bo In the
wadogot flno clothes , go to plays and treats ,
and by these means got such a habit of Idle
ness and love of pleasure that they aio un-
c-Esy aftor. " Even people who corne to ths
city on steam cars nro sometimes similarly
affected by tlio vlult , oven unto this day.
The expression , "I Imvo my own troubles , "
lias become BO general nnd truthful that even
the children have become need to It. The
other day , says tne I'lltsburg Chronicle-Tele.
Kraph , " a busy mother had been Interrupted
several times by her 4-ycar-cld son , who kept
asking her to come out Into the yard and
"Willie , " nald the mother , "If you wcro a
coed boy you would want to lu-lp your
mother Instead of worn Ing her. when she
has so many other trouble * to worry her "
"Well , momirn , " said tbo child , "I ha\e
my own troubles. , " and ho walked out Into
the yard and played by himself.
Host torturing and dlnflyurliif ; "f Itching ,
buriiloi ; , bcaly skin and scalp bunion U In
stantly reilmrd t > y a warm bath wllh Ci'Tl-
c tui A Soxr , a single application of ( 'DTK I'liA
( ointment ) , tbo great iblu cure , and a full dote
of CirnouiiA HKMILVENT , greuteit of liluud
[ mrlfjers and huiaor cures , wlieu all clio tails.
( uticura
Co r. , I'topt , gilon.
FALLING
