Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-01-29
asli5cellanrnu1.
From the American Iaion.
The Female Decoy:
Oh
Tho Captains Stratezem.
Ey SE1TOS STASwIN.
CHATTER l..
GY sEAToS STANwIN

Has Lieutenant frarkl,u made his
appearance yet, orderly =
/" No, captain
Strau re-vc4y strange :" said Capt.
Stanwood ir troubled tone and with
rerplcxci expression OR his face. "N hen
did he disappear =
Four days ago -
a Did he leave no message with either
Of the officers concerning the matter
which Induced him to abscnt himsclt"
Not a word
"Orderly." said the captain after few
~1cmeats reelection, "do you think that he
h,s de-. But. no | viii not wrong
Lieutenant frsnklin, by sech question
DOT even by the ihou5ht. For know
ne IS brave. honorable man, Incapable
OF proving rccrelnt to his oAth-his dn-
~"
Capt ,in, said the order :, and tear
moistcned his eyes as he spoke, permit
Inc to thank you, in the name OF Lieut..
Eraptlis and Of tnc whole company, for
Sour generous words. I would pIeige my
life that he is not absent from his post
without the strongest and most absolute
reasons: and so would every man Ia the
companv, for all love the Lieutenant, aud
vou ia die for him if thereby they could
save his life or, what they we'll understand
is still dearer TO him. his honor ~
But what possible motive could he
have in thus abruptly leaving the camp,
and without asking permission OF his su-
pcrior officer? Have you visited his
quarters ~
Yes, captain"
." And what did you observe there ?
ANYTHING that would denote contenpla-
ted journey-l mean that he had made
prenarations to leave the camp, perhaps
under orders of an officer at headquarters,
ON some secret service. or seme,kiag OF
that kind ~
IL should conclude, captain, from the
appearance of things at his headquarters,
that the lieutenant went out with the IN
tention of returning in short time. He
wo~e. 1t is true, his dress-coat, which Is
rather unusual with him, but his things
were scattered in confusion oTcr the room
A half written letter to his lady love lay
ON his opea writing desk with her picture
beside it. and his revolver lay on the ta-
tle; his sword it seems, he wore. ln-
decd, everything betokened su abrupt
leave aud the eIpecta:iea OF an immedl-
ate return
.uow singular should have made
inquiries regarding his absence day or
two ago, but | thought it probable that
he had become weary Of this dull, mo-
uotonous life and slipped of to some
neighborine camp for days recreation
though / could scarcely reconcile such
a course with his previous characteristic
regard Tor the minutest details OF sol
dier's duty. Has any search been made
for him 81
"None Of Importance.
"Well, YOU will Immediately detail
twelve men to search along the bank oil
the river, and at the foot OF the high
bluff wonder, to see if they can d'scoyc:
any trace Of him. lie may have been
drowned while bathing, aud in that case
his clothes would be found where he had
taken them OF or he might have accl-
dentally fallen over the cliff"
"With your permission, captain will
lead the party"
Certainly. Let your search be a
thorough one. Have there been any signs
of guerrillas recently ?"
Not for above a month.
Very well. YOU may 90.