The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-10-01
THE DESERTER.

| ScuC uOuG UuL the hUOu was lull duu
poured its white stream of radiance right
down on the face of the man who had
spoken to me.
"What is it you want 7" asked.
sI don't like to be alone. I feel rather
strangely"
"You are excited; what is the matter?"
The thin, keen features of the man
wore On eager, restless expression; his
black eyes shone 6ercely.
"I'm a deserter, you know. This
wound troubles me little You don't
think I deserted from cupidity, do you? ?"
"Really, know nothing about it. You
are not we'll to night; | shall give you
something quieting so thatyou may sleep?
"No, no, just stay here moment
Don't leave me-"
He looked so eager that I sat down on
his cot, felt his pulse again, re-arranged
his bandages, and placed his pillow more
comfortably.
"Your touch is gentle as a woman's," !"
he said, gratefully, sighing as he spoke.
| sat still little while, then rose to order
his medicine, but he grasped me by the
hand and drew me down again by him.
"This moonlight reminds me of the
night I came near losing my sword arm.
I was Lieutenant in Louisiana regiment.
We had a pretty hard brush with your
fellows, and | found myself face to face
with the toughest subject you ever saw.
Twice / thought myself gone: our cart
ridges were out; with a great shout of
"Liberty and Union p the Yankee came
at me with sabre, cutting a cash in my
arm that laid me low. Fortunately they
had to fly just then, or [ should have
been in the other world. When | came
to my senses, | was all alone with just
such a glare of moonlight in my eyes as
shines tonight. | was very weak and
consuming with thirst, and not especially
thankful to my brave comrades for leav-
ing me thus. You must know that |
joined the army without spark of love
for secession not jot of principle in the
matter-purely from the love of adven,
ture: and with my French blood tipg!iDg
at the thought OF 'la-glorie.' [ have had
different teachings since; SO yon Deed not
be hasty in thinking me very contemp-
tible Glory has been the dream of ny
! life"
Pale and wasted as he was, the young
LieutcDants face had strange fascina.
ton on it. Now his eyes cleaned again,
his proud mouth was tremulous with
feeling, that of course, was yet lncom-
prehensble to me. I tried to make him
be silent; but so intense was his desire
to speak that | found it best to listen
calmly-best for more reasons than one :,
life was low in the chalice, perhaps my
listening might sweeten its last few drops
eyes, Glory has been bright dream
ever since | could listen to old stories of
my ancestors in other lands, where our
name was proud one, name | have
tried to keep with honor. Well, [ woke
in the moonlight with dim sense of con-
cern for my generous friends who had
left me to my fate, ard a very urgent
desire to get water; so [ managed to
crawl through the woods, sometimes ris-
ing to my feet only to fall again, though
l had tied my handkerchief round my
arm to stop the bleeding. [ recollected
passing farmhouse before the fray, and
as well as could, made my way for it.
I was fortunate; though alarmed, the
occupants were accustomed to danger,
and kindly took me in. For some time
| was very i'll; during my illness our reg
iment was ordered off; indeed the Fed
erals had gained possession of that part
Of the country. No one moles:ed me, for
the family was poor Union one, who had
been robbed of nearly all their valuables,
but who, Notwithstanding their ill-treat-
ment, did not make known my refuge.
J. need not tell you how kind they were,
hsw patient and careful; there was only
an elderly woman, boy of fourteen, and
young woman in the family. From the
time that [ first opened my eyes after the
dellrium of fever, until-no matter for
time-but kindness and tenderest care
from both, but principally the younger
woman, greeted me. l can see her great,
dark, sad eyes, looking now at me. Dieu =!
how beautiful, how tender, how full of
love. Love, did say? alteration! What
a life was hers Poor Nina, poor Nina
She was the daughter of one of the most
influential, proudest merchants in New
Orleans~-her mother a quadroon slave.
The father died one day of apoplexy
without adjusting his property leaving
Nina slave. Too proud, too good, too
beautiful. She fed, for her master had
already named the price-three thousand
dollars. gnashed my teeth at the ac-
cursed institution-she taught me what
| was fighting to perpetuate. She, poor
Nina, not even then safe from pursuers.
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