CHAPTER XV.
THE DESERTER.
Another had taken George’s place in Company R, and both the Widow Simms and Susan Simms shed tears of natural pride when they read that John was the favored one, and bore the title of Lieutenant. It more than half atoned for his long absence to the young wife, who, greatly to her mother-in-law’s disgust, was made the happy possessor of a set of furs bought with a part of the new lieutenant’s increased wages.
“Better lay by for a wet day; but easy come, easy go. They will never be worth a cent. Tain’t like them Ruggleses to save, and to think of the silly critter’s comin’ round in the storm just to show ’em, late on Saturday night; I’m glad I wan’t to hum,” was the widow’s muttered comment, as on the Sunday following the receipt of the furs she pinned around her
