Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-07-23


fretting and funning because you can't be tount
anywhere
"Yes, corporal, this is me, belieye-I won
swear it," answered Giles. You've come at rathe
bad time, though, corporal; three minutes late
would have suited me a sight better; but jus
stand out of the way until I get this job off hand
it won't take me long and then we can talk: Stane
aside, corporal"
"Why, what's the matter, Giles are you fight
ing with men on post?' asked corporal Sweeny
whats the fuss about?''
THAT young cub, has been treating me as if
was yankee" retorted Giles eagerly.
''Captain Carbery said he was yankee, ano
ordered us to keep him under guard until day
light" answered Prescott.
"It's all confounded mistake" said Sweeny.
cts no mistake of n,ine, replied Prescott, who
had lowered his arm, and stood looking very much
surprised. Captain Carbery looked at him well
and said he was an imposter; and that Giles Shor
ter was asleep at the station. Captain CarberrJ
ought to know the men of his own company.
II think he ought to know one who has fout BY
him as often as I have" answered Giles, who nc
longer stood in pugilistc attitude, "but the cap
tain disowns me, and disown him forever and
everlastingly, amen"
Corporal" said Victor, coming forward, "it
strikes me as very strange thing, that captain
should not know the old members of his company
This man ipssted that he was Giles Shorter, o1
Captain Carbery's company; and the captain de-
clared him an imposter and spy. What expla'
nation can you give of the matter. :"
'Iook here, boys; how did the captain act wher
he was here, asked Corporal Sweeny, with mys
terious air.
''Durn him, he acted like Judas Iscariot or o
Benedict Arnold" exclaimed Giles, wrathfully
''That's how he acted. He denied the best friend
he had on the face of the earth"
"Look here Giles said Corporal Sweeny, "you
are too hard on the captain if the captain had
known what he was doing, it would be quite anoth'
er matter but the fact is the captain is fretting
about your absence, now He thought | would
find you with some of the pickets on guard and
ordered me to hunt you up and bring you along to
the station He has norccollection of having seen
you tonight. The fact is, boys-but mind, the
the thing mustn't be talked about-the captain was
walking in his sleep tonight. Now YOU under.
stand the drift of my question-how did the cap
tain act when he was here, tonight? p
"Wen, if my say is worth anything" respond
ed Giles, whose injury was uppermost III bis mind,
II would say he didn't altogether act the gentle
man by me" =,
"Yes, but didh act like man who was awake,
returned the corporal, appealing to Victor and
Prescott.
she gave us very minute directions as to what
we shouldd do" answered Victor II thought hin
wide awake, and I think so, still; but | do moi
conceive how he could fail, under the circumstan
stances, to recognize an old coulrade."
"Yes, Corporal" interposed Giles, that's the
question; I've been by the captain now, nigh on tt
two years, and think asleep or awake, he ough
to know me-"
"The captain feels mortified about lis conduct
boys" continued Corporal Sweeny, land he tole
me not to let it be known. He is ashamed o
walking in his sleep, and beg you will not speal
of it. He never got wide awake until he wen
back to the station and got by the fire; and bles
you, we found instead of his pantaloons, he hae
put his legs into his jacket sleeves and had it but
toned around him. Think of that, boys, fat mai
like the captain, with his legs slowed away it tn
sleeves of his fatigue jacket"
1T is strange thing, and I cannot understand
it." said Victor. II have seen sleep walkers, bu
none who seemed so clear headed as Captain Gar
berry, He gave us strict orders to hold the prison
er until morning. However, we turn him over II
you, Corporal, and the whole responsibility rest
with you"
'Well, that looks ike the captain was coming t.
his senses, again." interposed Giles somewha
molliied. II thought he had a kind of stare ou
Of his eyes but still, gentlemen, must say this
that even if the captain was under the influence o
chloroform, when I speak he eought to have no sor
of difficulty in knowing who it is. He made tn
cards pretty tight for me, tonight that's fact
and only hope, when he goes to enquire into al
alarm again-if am concerned-he will wash hi
face in cold water, and take something inwardy t
rouse him up and get him wide awake, before b
gives any orders
eyes, even before he tries to put his legs int
) his breeches," suggested Corporal Sweeny, whic
, remark brought grim smile to the face Of Giles
and dissipatcd the rest of his ill-humor In ODE
dience to the command of the captain, the corpo
raj then obtained full report of all that had oc
Cured at the post where the firing had given tn
alarm, and turning over the spades to the youths
to dig grave for the corpse he took Giles Short
under his care and set out to return to the pick
ct station We may remark, in passing, that tn
interview between Giles and his captain took plac
in private, but two or three chosen spirits bein
present and that the amiable and credulous Giles
, having ceased to VOW bloody revenge so soon a
' he heard the statement of Corporal Sweeny, bega
at last, to commsserate the misfortune of his car
tain, and even before he was introduced into tn
t chamber where Captain Carberry-wily old hypc
crite-sat yelling his merriment under the saddles
; and most sober of visages, every trace ofilhumo
;, had flown, and Giles entertained no other sent
, ments for his captain than feelings of genuine an
hearty good will, Joined with emotions Of pity IN
compassion on account of the infrmity by whic
b he was possessed. The visage Of his captain,
= fat, hale, rosy man, of about forty6ve seated VI
on his couch of blankets, every feature CAREFUL
s composed to express sadness, regret and despair
s was too much for the forgiving spirit of Gle
He rushed forward, with sob and threw himse
- upon his commanders neck, and wept hysterica!
The captain acted his part admirably. Giles con
rades, forever AFTER bantered him as mercilessy
d they burst, upon being caught in the snare whic
Il he had laid for raw recruits but no suspicion ev'
entered into the old soldiers mind that his capta
had Intentionally contributed to aid in turning tt