The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-05-28

startie me- One day I had picked ND in
the camp the daguerreotype of man
dressed in citizens clothes. It seemed to
De that OF farmer; but the face was ono
to be remembered. As I sat in the omen
door Of the old house, carbine across M
knees, and looked into the face If oI;r
prisoner, it came to me all at once +b.+
was his face had seen in the nict1r,
There was great change in some nar-
hcular; but yet confidently inquired:
Did you have your picture taken by
-, of Linchburg?''
eyes," he replied. 20
"Was the case Of red morocco. .s +
ut was'' -, ss..s,-
Then the picture found in camp must
nave been stolen from his house by fora
gers and afterwards thrown avay. The
man looked at me as if ready to answer
further questions, but had none to put
just then. l was wondering at the curl
Gus coincidence, when he sat upon his
ped, looked me square in the face and
said: = -. -. -.
II am Dan Vernon, the bushwhacker.
ana Killed one of your men last night
before turning in herev'
Dan Vernon" repeated after him,
Yes 1t is good joke on your COM
rades who took me for scrub soIdier.n-
was so taken by surprise that could
not utter a.word. He was as cool as ice
however, and he continued:
ut would give Sheridan great ioy to-
string me up or see me shot, but my time
isn't come yet. I shall be going pretty
soon" -5r'..l
Now that was pretty cool talk, consid
er1ng that was there to guard him, and
my carbine ready for a shot, with fifty
comrades within hail, but he went on:
II have my rife under the straw, and
could have shot you long ago. didn't
want to, however. I feel goodnatured
this morning, and you need fear no har1n.n
"One cry from me will alarm the whole
post, managed to remark. -.
pooh! Let's hear you veil out oncel'r
Our eyes met There was nothing
malicious in his, but they put strange
spell on me. His voice, too, had strange,
tender influence, and when he asked me
to toss him my canteen of water and hay
ersack OF food, obeyed without the least
hesitation. He drank. from the canteen,
ana as ne chewed away at the food he
remarked:
''lhls is pretty good fare for hungry
man: AS can't stay here to get it all. I
shall beg the favor of carving the rest:
with me.''
He was looking into my eyes, and Z
could not force my lips to utter a word
ofobjection
II hear that Sheridan has offered a re-
ward for me, but no one will ever earn
it," he said, as he drunk again.
He was not fifteen feet from NV car
blne, and / was thinking how surely
could hit him, when our eyes met, and he
said:
"No use trying! If you want to shoot
me, blaze away, but tell you you can't
hit me-" -.
We looked at each other for half q
minute, and I felt my carbine slipping,
from my grasp to the ground outside.
My fingers had no strength to hold it,
Dan laughed in dry way and said:
"Why don't you shoot?'
"You shall never leave this place
r alive" I said in answer, but hardly
l recognized my own voice.
"Pooh!'' he carelessly replied, q an
, ready to leave now! 1 shall 90 out O.
this other door there, and you will 81
e right where you are!''
I was looking full at him, and to saw
e my life I couldn't move hand or foot
Each limb felt as numb as if asleep.
, ''Well, old boy, good bye to you sale
Dan as he picked up his rifle from TIN
, straw, and IN another minute he was on
t of sight. I was sitting there, mouth
! open and eyes fixed on vacancy, when ,
comrade came down from the picket
s post, shook me by the shoulder and criet
A out.
' "a nice man you are, fast asleep ans
+ your prisoner gomez f.. ~.s
n Was 1 asleep? No! Was it dream
\ Ne! But prisoner was gone. There wa
It talk of a court-martial in my case, but j
e never occurred, as the prisoner was sup
n posed to be some common 'Johnny Reb-:
e Had it been known that my man was tn
K famous bushwhacker, should have bec1
t taken out and shot for permitting him t,
s escape. permitted him and yet
n didn't. was as helpless as if withou
1. power or muscle. That night he .crept n
l., on picket and stabbed him to the heart
= I wonder if the poor victim first say
those strange, wild, magnetic eyes gla1
h ing into his to deprive him even Of hi
d power to ask for mercy. 49,
4 NEW YORK BY GAsIIGHT