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Show HE COULD KEEP A SECRET. A Yarn About Stonavrnll Jnckaoo and an IiiqulsltlTe CnloiiuL An old soldier at the capital yesterday told this story of Stonewall Jackson: It was during his valley campaign, and a battle was expected within ft day or two, 1 hnnjjh Jackson's plans wero so carefully Kinrdi'd that not even his adjutant could Hiiess them intelligently. This self reliance was characteristic of Jackson, and his aversion aver-sion to telling his plans was well known amonot his olllcers and men. In fact, it was his policy to surprise his own men no less than to surprise the enemy. Geu. Jackson was one of a group of officers, and another of the group was a Georgia colonel who is still living. Conversation was limbing. Jackson was thoughtful and had httle to sny, and tho elTect was dampening. Finally, just to revive the conversation, the Georgia colonel asked abruptly: "General, will we have a light to-morrow." Everybody knew in an instant that the blunder was Irreparable and nobody realized this more than the colonel. Jackson turned quickly and stared full in the speaker's fucc. Tlicn he slowly surveyed tlie colonel from head to foot, and back again. Tlie silence was painful. "Colonel," said the general slowly, but not in an unkind toue, "can you keep a secret!" "Yes, general," was Ihe warm, if embar-rnssed, embar-rnssed, assurance, "I know I can, general. "Are you quite certain, colonel I" "I tun quits certain, general." "Well, colonel," in the samo quiet, even tone, "so can I, sir." Tho colonel's face flushed crimson, and there wns a deathly silence for a half minut or more. ".Vow, colonel," said Jackson, with some feeling, "that rudeness of mine hurt me os much ns it, did you, but I trust that it has ttiujzht you a valuable lesson. If we do have u Ilirht to-morrow, colonel, your regiment shall have a chance." Atlanta Constitution. |