Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-07-02

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When she looked up, he was sliding the
bright blade back in the scabbard
"Captain Luce" sho said, "you have
been very kind | am going to ask one
more favor Of you"
"l will do anything for you consistent
with my duty" he said.
She bado him wait, and went out and
came back with an ordinary card photo.
graph, which she put in his hand. II was
the picture Of handsome young fellow, in
the uniform of Southern cavalry soldier.
"Is it your brother2" Luce asked,
gaucing at the finer living face before him.
He looks little like you
"No, he is friend" she said, blushing
very slightly. His name is Morris
William Morris. lie was q captain in the
twenty.sixth Tennessee regiment when |
last heard Of him"
Luce looked at her while she was speak
ing, and then turned away and looked out
at the bright land and sky, and it was as il
black cloud had drawn suddenly over
both He put the card back to her, with
out looking, aud said, rather coldly;
"Well, what do you want me to do ?n
f-Will you be back here again?"
"I suppose | can come once more, IL
there is any need y he answered. "Do you
care2"
"Certainly. shall be very sorry when
you 90. It's a dark time for US, you
know, aud you have been very friendly. I
shall miss you sadly"
"Thank you. You're very good"
" You will come tomorrow, then. Keep
the picture till you come. want you to
iamiliarize yourself with it, so you will
know Captain Morris if you should meet
You are my friend, too, now, and don't you
see how terrible it would be if you should
meet and hurt one another?' and she
sbuddered and turned her panied face aside
He took step or two away and sat down
by the table, and she came and sat down
opposite. He held out the card with the
face down, and answered, sternly:
" He is the enemy Of my country. | am
a soldier must do my duty"
II do not ask you to do otherwise she
replied, little proudly. "If you should
fall into the hands of our soldiers, and
should meet Captain Morris, if you will
give him my name | am certain he will do
you any kindness in his power. Is it too
much 10 ask you to do the same by him
viii you keep the picture till tomorrow 2"
If you wish it," he answered, aud drew
back the card, and took long look at the
brave, frank face and manly figure Of the
trooper.
Ii was late in the afternoon Of the fol-
lowing day when the captain came gallop-
ing up the Cottonwood avenue, aud sent off
the guard. His black horse was white
with foam. Miss Ellen met him at the
door, and he took last look at the picture
as he handed it back to her. And he said :
81 shall know him, if he looks like his
picture. | haven't a minute to wait.
could hardly get off at all. All the troops
are off but ours, and we break camp at day
break. | must bid you goodbye. Is your
mother at home2"
Mrs. Forest was quickly called, and
they shook hands and said goodbye, ex-
pressing their hearty regret, and hopes of
meeting again. And then the captain
mounted and rode off, turning to wave his
cap and smile, at the corner, and then,
punging spurs into his mare, went gallop-
ing down tho rows of troos with great
lump in his throat, and only dim view of the
flying wood and the field, tawny with sunset.
Siege and capitulation, movements by rail
and river, hard marching, weary camping,
forays, skirmishes, battles, bloody VIC
tories and bloody repulses, followed one
another, removing Luce farther and farther
from Cottonwood, and might have easily
worn out light impression. But it seldom
needed more than night, or danger, or lei
sure for thought, to bring to his minds
sight proud, straight girl, with serious
face, as be remembered it best,--and re-
new the ache and bankering he had brought
away with him. He had seen many thou
sands Of the enemy, dead and alive; had,
indeed, been sent North, in charge Of a
train of prisoners, but none Of his inquiries
for Captain Morris met with success. In
fact he knew that out Of the millions en-.
gagged in the enormous contest, it was thou
sand TO one that they two would ever meet.
One pleasant Monday in May the regi-
ment was ordered to capture a guerilla
band that had taken quarters in the noun
tain hamlet of Steubenville, and it moved
out on the South Notch road. Some miles
down the valley Colonel Grierson rode up
to the front of company G. Captain
Luce" he commanded, take your COM
pany up this Cd road to the right. 1t comes
out on the Bloomsbury turnpike, a mile
west Of Steubenville. They will most likely
run that way
So company c filed off and marched
along the rough old road. Some hours
after a messenger met them and ordered
them back to camp Luce was riding at
the head Of the column. A horseman came
round a bend some distance ahead with
the sun on his face. When Luce caught
sight of him he bent forward and studied
him intently for a minute, and then halted
his men and rode on alone to meet the
stranger. The latter came along slowly
and his horse looked tired. He wore the
dress Of Union captain Of volunteers, aud
was therefore Of the same rank as Luce.
When they were near each other Luce
halted him, and he saluted and answered
simply;
II carry dispatches from General Rose
Grams to General Grant. have been rid.
ing since daylight, and my horse is nearly
played out. Where is your camp, captain p
And Luce answered, quietly; You are
Captain William Morris, Of the Twenty
sixth Tennessee. You are a spy"
A flash of surprise and CONSERVATION
shot through the strangers face and his
hand sprang to his sword, but stopped with
it half drawn. Luce was before him, aud
the muzzle of his pistol was not three feet
from the strangers head. Don't draw,
he said. 81 don't want to hurt you. You
are my prisoner"
"You insult me-" was the bold reply
" told you the truth. | will report you
to the general. There, do you know that
signature ? You stop me at your peril. v
And be drew out and showed Luce letter
to all loyal commanders, instructng them
to aid aud furnish Captain Browning, and
help him on his way. But Luce persisted
81 take the risk. You are not Captain
Browning. You are rebel officer of cav
airy, and come frcm Earlsburgh."
He was plainly startled by that, but
answered, doggedly; There's no use Of
my telling you anything. You seem to
know more about me than | do myself"
uno,ta;, Morris - sni1 Iuca lt donii