Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-01-24
Love in the Libby;
OR, THE DISGUISED SENTINEL
BY J. MARSHAL HANNA.
CHAPTERbI

more repulsive when the war went on,
and it was crowded with prisoners: :
when it was a great human cage, al
ways full, but never overhowing
One would suppose that love could
not live there, but, like delicate flow
er, would have all its perfume trod-
den out beneath the feet of heartless
men, who cared not for leve-only for
life and liberty. 1t was dreary win
ter too, that of 1864, and the Libby
pile, long and low, looked more lone.
some and repulsive than ever, covered
with an outer pail of snow, and the
leaden current of the James making
down in the background. OH, those
lead muffled sounds OF winter-that
last winter through which the infant
Confederacy was destined to pass
The armies that had borne the banner
of the giant Child beyond the Poto
mac, forced back were lying in the
snow, coiled about Richmond, in lines
that thinner and weaker grew, melt
ing away.
The hopes of the people were sink
ing by degrees, lower and lower, and
the face and form of the Child grew
gaunt and spectre-like-dying of hun.
ger and cold. Christmas eve. came
but brought no preparations for the
Christmas feast. There was gloom in
the hall, gloom in the chamber, and
gloom in the howell There was glad
ness only where there was treachery
in the hearts and homes of the few
Union men and women. Without the
snow fell silently, steadily, save wher
the wind awoke, and rising in angereC
gusts, swept aloft the drifts and cast
them in clouds upon the air, or sem
the fakes beating into the faces OF the
sentinels who paced their rounds
about the Libby post.
From within the prison came the
sound of feet; of men doomed to per
| pCIudi LlOtIOu-Oi IIC ulOl dICduCO
alternative. freezing to death. 1t was
a low, monotonous shuffling, at be
came at last the spirit of unrest, per
vading and filling the place. There
was stir towards the Office that an
nounced a fresh arrival of prisoners
and the sentinel on the Office pos
shouted: Corporal of the guard
post No. L." The corporal appeared
a jaunty fello w, who had nevor sho WI
himself to the presence of the Yam
kee until the latter was a prisoner
when he was bold indeed.
Bring in the prisoners" said tn,
valiant corporal, and they were march
ed in and ranged before the registe
clerk, who began:
What is your name ?" addressing
the only commissioned officer of th,
party, whose uniform and insignia of
rank was that of a major.
"My name? Edward Glover, MAJ
or-Illinois cavalry"
"Glover, Glover" mused tbe clerk
turning back the pages of the grea
register, "Have you not been pris
Oner here before ?"
have BEEN"
"And exchanged ?"
No; escaped"
with whom did you escape an
how-will you be so good as to tell ?
"I will. escaped with Colone
, Streight and his party. How We e:
capped you well know; but by whor
, we were aided you shall neve
know"
! zone question more," said tn
! clerk. How long did you remain i
/ Richmond after your escape ?"
! q remained behind one week m
t comrades stopped not until they ha
! put the bayonets Of their friends b,
tween this hated prison and then
selves. | was sick, and tainted o
making the passage of the tunnel bu
| was cared for"
By whom, may | ask ?" question
a ed the clerk, who hoped to unrav,
the mystery of that memorable e
cape which had reflected so seriousl
upon the integrity of the prison guar'
and brought the commandant himsel
! under suspicion.
! Il know, and my comrades know
4 replied Major Glover proudly, "an
! my country knows, and She"
: The Major stopped his speech
f His anger at being questioned had b
;. trayed him into unguarded utteranct
and he turned pale under the scare
ing glances of the clerk, who, at Jh
n mention of the feminine pronou
v "she, seemed to grasp the key to tt
whole secret, locked in the bosom Q
q the Yankee Major.
"Wh-e-w!' he muttered, "then
. was 'she' that was at the bottom {
! the business. This must be exami
;, ed into little further. | think v
- shall find woman at the other end c
) this thread" -gT
% The clerk was apt in his business
he was quick, too, to discover plo
in the prisoners. Once he had 'sni
IS ped in the bud" revolt by the age
t. cy of spies in the prison wards, plac,
i. there in the guise of prisoners Of wa
Now he was sure he had struck at {
lie source of the frequent and mysterio
10 escapes, and he resolved that the col
st mandant should profit by the unwa
rs information SO opportunely dropp
,e by the Major.
,e Dismissing the Corporal with t
,p remaining prisoners to their quartz
s he told the Major to follow him, al
~ r,aSSed into an inner ana rt mont wha