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

two pairs OF eyes. There dear hearts that
had lain down SO many nights with fears
aud anxious prayers for the absent boy |
thanked God that night out Of trembling lips. |
Luce chung close to those two, as If he |
were afraid of losing them or himself lie
made himself the boy again, lie went in
aud out, stopping with one or the other all |
DAY long, aud talking over all the trials and .
pleasures Of their life and his own-all but
one. Aud ono evening as they sat together
in the dusk he told them his strange adj
venture with the Cottonwood family and |
the rebel captain. lie did not tell them
quito on, but his manner then and since his |
coming home, and their own hearts, told |
them the rest, aud they were very gentle
with him while he stayed. Presently he
went back to his command, and the great
tragedy driEcd on around him aud swept
him along. II carried him across states,
and back and forth through all sorts of
fighting aud maueuvoring -once into the
hospital with a ball in his thigh. Finally,
il carried him wounded into the encmy's
hands, and so into one OF the military
prisons. What kind Of place that was
need not be told.
Luce was sent there in May. In July
he was transferred to another place and
confined on nn upper floor, with some sew.
enty more, in one great room. About
dusk, on tie 2Oth Of October as the guards
were being relieved, rather stout, bearded
officer 10 the battered dress Of a Confed.
crate colonel, came up and entered the
place The relieving sentinel came up
moment after, aud the ono who had seen
the colonel enter went down. The night
wes dim, and there was good deal OF noise
and confusion. The colonel walked down
the length Of the staring den, scanning
loving looks. At the far end he stopped
before enc Of them, at a loss aud asked.
Is not Captain Luce confined hore2"
am Captain Luce" was the reply,
"Who are your
"Tho colonel looked close. 80 it is,
be said MY God wouldn't know you"
He opened his coat Under it was
another, doubled down and buttoned round
his body. He took it on and gave it to
Luce He took off his hat; it vas two
hats, one inside the other, and he pulled
them apart
Put them on, said the colonel.
1t was Inc uniform coat Of rebel cap
tain.
Nov then" said the colonel, come
with me-"
Without a word or hand-shake, without
at all knowing what it meant, Luce passed
out from among his miserable comrades,
down the stairs, across the yard and to the
outer gate. The colonel said "Come
along, captain" gave the word to the guard,
and they walked out side by side. The
fresh, free air, the stars shining overhead,
the sight Of women aud children, the odor
Of flowers from some garden overcame him,
and he tottered and walked crookedly, like
drunken man. The colonel took his arm
under his own. and spoke to him sternly:
keep up now, if you don't want to 90
back"
Go back? Not to that place, alive He
walked straight and quick They passed
right through the heart of the town Hun.
drcds of people jostled them on the narrow
sidewalks. They climbed steep block or
two and came among the quieter streets
Then they came out into the country. They
crossed some fields and entered piece Of
woods. Luce heard a neigh, and then saw
two borses hitched to the branches
Can You ride fast now, do you think ?"
asked the colonel, loosoning one of them.
al think So" Luce answered Let me
try"
"Get up then, he said and helped Luce
to mount.
There was road just beyond They
rode out and turned to the north. They
r0de nard, over out-of-the-way, rough,
billy roads. After a little while Luce
could only cling bindly to his horse, and
let him 60 gathering after his mate. He
was nearly dead when the horses stopped,
and the colonel came and helped him off.
II was in wood again, and there was a
stream close by. The moon had risen.
Tho colonel hunted few minutes and found
bundle that had been hidden under rock
1t was clean clothing, and Luce had need
Of il. He bathed himself in the brook and
let it float away his foul old clothes.
When he was dressed again he felt refresh
Cd They mounted and rode on into n
small town and up to the door of a public
house. 1t was near midnight, aud the
landlord had to be walked to let them in.
-" Here are the horses" said the colonel
L will take mine early in the morning
Give us anything you've got to eat and a
bed"
The yictuals were none of the choicest
but Luce ate like a starved dog.
When there was nothing left, they wen
%, fhnfr l..
awhile thinking and then said
" Is this all dream? Who are you
Tell me what it means"
The colonel pulled off his beard for reply
Captain Morris 70 said Luce.
Colonel, if you please" was the an
swer.
" Here is a letter which you will b.
glad TO see. II was months in reaching
me- 1t was sent under cover to one Of you
commanders, aud sent by him across tn
lines"
1t was from Luccs sister Louise, ant
one can imagine how eagerly Luce read it
Now get to bed" said Morris "Yo,
will need all the rest you can GET
So they lay down together a second time
In the morning they rode on. Their roat
lay off from the lines Of railroad and tele
graph. Everywhere they found horse
waiting for them. Luce made out tina
Morris had come over the same groun,
with some other companions, and thus haC
relays Of horses all the way.
1t was in the afternoon, sunny ana pleas
ant, and they we're riding slowly for tn,
first time.
" Morris" asked Luce, Z" what do yot
hear from homo p
All well' Morris answered " Forry
and father and-and friends"
Ho glanced aside at Luce, and they rod,
on in silence, both thinking of the sam,
things, no doubt They skirted the breas
Of hill and Morris checked his horse, ant
pointed down the valley. " Look there
Luce" be said
Luce saw through the trees the CLEAN o
the tents Of a camp, and the sound of
fife and drum came up suddenly lie moved
his horse forward and peered down till tht
wind lifted the flag and the sushine fell OF
it, Then he could have cried, aud indee,
he did not lift his face from the horse
neck for minute. When he did, Morri