Page:War; or, What happens when one loves one's enemy, John Luther Long, 1913.djvu/84

WAR of nobility that would appeal to Ben. But I says:

"Oh, of course! She s a little bit rebel. Ben's a good bit secessionist—when there are no soldiers in blue uniforms about. That accounts for it."

"I expect they sit together on the top rail of the fence, like a couple of crows," says Dave, "and talk large talk about the war—fix it all up their way—"

"Till the soldiers come," laughs I, "then they take to the woods. Well, Davy," I goes on, like I was distressed, "she's here, the second-hand by-marriage female cousin, I can not tell a lie, and, therefore and henceforth and moreover, I can't keep you. There's no room. Back you go to Dixie," and I turns him around like I was aiming him south.

"Ain't the second-hand female cousin by marriage a rebel?" asks Dave. "You—"

"A-yes," says I.

"Under this Union roof! Phew! What?"

"Just a female one," snickers I. 68