The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-02
Ghe Daily Atgns,
a ROMANCE OF THE WAR.
The Reward of Calamity How g
Northern Soldier Won a Southern
Belle,
From the Kansas Citg Journal.

From the Kansas CityJournaI
It was in the winter OF 1865, shortly |
before the collapse OF the rebellion, that
| Gen. Shaler, commanding at DE V alls |
Bluff, Ark. sent detachment of cavalry
up into the Cache river country to inter-
cept some contraband goods that were
| being Struggled through the lines OF the
enemy That country was an almost in
teruinable wilderness of swamps and for
ests of cypress and gun trees at that time,
and was the last place in America that
any one would be supposed to choose as u
home. There were occasional spots, how
ever, of few hundred acres each, little
higher than the surrounding country, that
/ y much expense had been converted into
handsome aud valuable estates, with large
and preteEtious residences for the waalthy
owners, who, though isolated from the
busy world, were content to forego some
of its pleasures for the peace and quiet Sc
clusion thus afforded. Once each year,
when the cotton was ready for shipment,
and the little river was swollen by the
winter rains, a steamer would come up to
the plantations and take the seasons pro-
duct and the planters family to New
| Orleans, where the cotton would be dis
posed of aud years supplies purchased.
Then, after few weeks spent in the so
ciety of the metropolis, they would be
carried safely back to the landing at home.
Thus the years were spent until the chill
dren, who had been under instructors at
home, were far enough advanced to De
sent abroad to finish their education,
Itwas at one of these plantations that
the squadron of cavalry was halted and
Disappointed about daylight, with instruc-
tons to surround the house and allow no
one to escape. The lieutenant then d.
rected sergeant and six men to 20
i through the house aud seize any gooIs
that might be contraband of war. The
detail was made, and the men proceeded
to their work. Entering the house, the
sergeant made the inmates acquainted
, with the nature of his erranj, and assured
them that all private property should be
respected When the party assembled the
I stairs leading to the second story, one Of
the men.a young Prussian who had landed
in this country just in time to enlist, re-
manned below, and passed into the parlor.
Perhaps the single occupant of the room,
beautiful girl, may have attracted him,
and perhaps he didn't like this uncere-
monious style Of ransacking gentleman's
, house, war or no war. At any rate, the
squad got along without him, and came
down presently. and continued their
search. All the ROOMS had been visited
except one, and into this went the entire
: party, young lady and all. There were
four large trunks there, all OF the same
pattern and entirely new, The suspicious
of the soldiers were aroused still
more when the young lady asked
: the privilege of orening aad displaying
In OF IarcalP Tha
quest was granted, but each man scanned
/ ing the long looked for bolts of confederate
! cloth would be brought to light. They
n were disappointed, however; there was
4 nothing but what was evidently intended
/ for the household, and the last trunk bad
; had been empted of its contents-not
9 quite, for the sergeant noticed that the
2 drawer in the lid had not been opened
! Il and called the girls attention to it. With
If a slight tremor of her voice, she replied
re that there was nothing there but private
# property, aud she did not wish to remove
h it, This attracted the attention of the
d men, who gathered around, when the ser
geant again demanded that the search b,
- made Still the girl, who was kneeiine
y hv the trunk, with her hads resting on the
u lid, made no move, but looked imploring
" iato the faces of the soldiers She was
a beautiful creature, scarce seventeen, We
' with all the grace and bearing of an &C
c9mpiished lady. Before the sergean
could repeat the order, or execute it him
= self the Prussian, with a touch of the ha
and Il polite bow to his superior officer
}, said: IF the lady gives you her word o
OF honor that there is nothing there we seek
YOU should be satisfied" Word of hon
5. orr" repeated the sergeant, contemptu
ously; honor among rebels, indeed"
as There was a free fight in an instant, 10
- the Prussian dealt him a terrible blow il
the face, which staggered him back among
! his comrades, who took sides abdut event.
8 for and against the ''Dutchman,' leavin
g it uncertain which would be victorious
81 when the Iietenant, hearing the row, rush
Y ed in and queled it. In the excitemcn
which followed the trunk was forgotten
and the party left the premises and re
O. sumed their march. When the war wa
en- over, the troops were disbanded at 81
te Louis, and the Prussian was lost sight {
ne for several years. until the railroad frol
nd Memphis to Little Rock was revived, whe
Der be turned up as civil engineer, and al
- sisted ia locating the route, His nam
was mentioned frequently iii the papers Q
Ct the time, but when the road was flnishe
nd he disappeared again, and | saw nor hear
nothing of him until the other day | met
81 lady and gentleman in the cars, whose face
AIS seemed familiar, and which proved to |
:edd my Prussian comrade and his wife, tn
Ecu planters daughter, whom he protected
the war Then followed long story
ght how the railroad was located across th
TO plantation, and how they met again =
A. case of love at first sight-and were ma
hat ried, and had made tour of the lakes, an
Sor revisited the seminary at Cincinnati whe
All she was educated, and were then on the
a aIl way to California.
IN "WeIl." said l. you haven't told n
what was in that trunk"
IN 1t was pitcher full Of gold and silv
coin,' said the happy Dutchman, but
. didn't know it till we were married"
However that may be, its value was
no comparison to his treasure of wife.
4 . Tur GpEAT HER MAN