National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-05-07
Almost Captured.

! q
i'll the spring of 1862, and was. upo,,
the day to which my story relates,
out with q foraglng party ofmy own
| men. = f.tA.F tLtta W.
am West VirGinian by birth.
and was consequently pretty. much
athOine Oh the ground over which
we were travelling. Our column
was advancing, and Irarely allowed
it to get out or sight. We did nor
do our ioiAgiug on the plan OF sciz-
ing everything on which we could
lay our hands, whether it belonged
ia '.:~-.a - ia, and apprOpriating
it by force OF AIMS; but we out with
Il sIZable roll OF greenDacks, and
paid asking prices for every bit OF
proNender we brought back to ca mp.
Many times on these occasions |
was tempted to renew some OF my
friendships OF years gone by, and
drop Ill upon the waySide mansions
rather as Il guest than IL buyer of
pigs and poultry; but resisted the
inclination, for the reason that it
WAS hard to tell where might find
friends, and where foes, though
they might be only passive ones, who
had it i'll their power t) make my
call very unpleasant one.
! had been specially attentive to
my errand, hardly allowing myself
to look up from my bargaining with
some sable aunty or uncle, when |
knew that a pair of bright eyes were
looking down from the PIAZZA, or te
male ears We're listening curl0usl y to
catch any matter connected with the
'dicker' that might be of iatereSt.
With this Vlituous resolve strongly
upon me, | was slightly taken aback
i'll the midst ofWy acquisition of "A
dozen ducks and d few score OF eggs,
the lawful perQuiSitc of stout
wench, 10y silvery voice that struck
something OF memory, calling Cap
tainn
! raised my eyes to see above me
on the balcony, Mrs. Grant Wether-
bee, once Miss Kate Cornell, and
once my acme of perfection of Viz
glnlan beauty. Five years had gone
past since | had permitted my heart
to be torn into minute Shrcds by be
ing present at the wedding where
the beautiful Kate vas transformed
into Mrs. Grant Wethcrbec. and yet
upon the first glance, that same
heart bounded with something IKE
the old love-bCunded 50 iorcibly
indeed, t'at it sent me springipg
from my horse, and up to the ve-
randall without further notice.
1t is hardly necessary for me to
say how glad we were 10 meet.
say swc,' because can speak conf
dcutly of my self, and am sure it |
can believe i'll eyes, quite as conf
dent OF my tlr friend. Nothing
would now do but that | must enter.
and the names of the fair ones who
would greet me inside were rehcars
ed. y more deny ing disposition
than mine would have yielded when
heard the promise ot finding in the
parlors two of the most elegant wo
men iii Virginia, firm friends of mine
III the past.
believe they were really glad to
see me, and | will not.Oifer an apol
ogy for yielding to the cordial invi
talion pressed upon me, that | shoult
spend an hour or two with them
and share. what "a soldier has SO sci
/ dom offered to him, a bounteous ant
refined tea.table.
accepted how could | help it
after stepping out upon the Ncran
dab and seeing my men about TIVE
miles ACROSS the country to u mlli
where they were to Obtain Solll'
sacks OF corn, with orders after tina
TO ioin the regiment and report IN
absent till dark.
The tea was dispatched, but M
fair hostess would not hear me speal
of departure yet. | must play
game of chess, and uIlnk some q
that superb sherry | was wo't t
praise five years before, when
D. made part of her fathers cellar
Chess and sherry. with one OF tn
prcttipst women south Of Mason an
! Dixon's line. was but man, am
| Yielded, though knew that o,
e line had passed on. and that shoul
have Il hard, and perhaps risk
d gallop 10 overtake them.
J. The chess had advanced but Il Ii
+ lle way, and | was conscious I
e spending one ol the happicst houl
!. of my existence, when the door I
. the room in which we sat was throw
Il open. and five gentlemen in the I'M
= form of officers oi the coniederal
t service entered. AS quick as ligh
! uing glanced at the faces OF Il
i. three ladies' who were my entertain
crs. and as quickly ! became col
!. ! yinccd that they we've lhnocent.-
/. Fortunately, was enabled to pr'
r serve my presence Of mind, M
when Mrs. Wcthclbcc said:
d .Captain footc, allow me to PR
~ ~ sent YOU to Colonel .Ashby.'
u 1 rose quietly, and, taking h
!. hand, responded;
!. Il am happy to meet one OF who
!ss have heard 50 much
/. Then with an introduction to {.
r. others. we became seated. cann
y helm admitting that there was a n
~ mri,ary embarrassment with all I
De marty. aud for u moment nobo'
.. spoLe. IL required the tact of "
u, men t, rcc,ily this; 1t was rectifi