Powerful compliment to you, Miss Susie," added the politic
cobbler, feeling his way, "that you could draw a man straight from
his duty like one of these 'ere stump-extractors."
"No compliment to me at all!" cried the girl, indignantly. "He
little understands me who seeks my favor by coming home at a time
like this. The Connecticut women are up in arms at the way our men
are coming home. No offence to you, Mr. Stokes. You're sick, and
should come; but I'd like to go myself to show some of the strong
young fellows what we think of them."
"Coming home was worse than rheumatism to me, and I'm going back
soon's I kin walk without a cane. Wouldn't 'a' come as 'tis, if
that Zeb Jarvis hadn't jes' packed me off. By Jocks! I thought you
and he was acquainted, but you don't seem to ask arter him."
"I felt sure he would try--I heard he was doing his duty," she
replied with averted face.
"Zeke Watkins says he's no soldier at all--nothing but a dirt-
digger."
For a moment, as the cobbler had hoped, Susie forgot her blushes
and secret in her indignation.
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