The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-04-21

arian. His command was thoroughly
within his grasp. His final destiny was
q puzzling and illogical sequence Of his
character and career. It violated every
antecedent and experience Of the man,
and, connected as it was and interviewer,
with the little incident ! shall narrate, in
which old Rachel Stone figured SO dIa-
matically, it has baff1ed philosophical con-
sideration.
THE WRONG.
Nv regiment was encamped near Win
chester. Tennessee. Mrs. Stone came
from Georgia to Tennessee to endeavor to-
get her young son discharged from ser
vice. He was not of age, and while she
had given her consent to his enlisting,
her maternal solicitude had gotten the
better of her patriotism, and she wished
to regain him home away from the perils
of the battlefield. She spent nearly
week in the vicinity OF the camp plead
ing with Capt. Keith and myself to IA
vor the discharge Of her son. I frankly
told the old lady that 1 could not ,ap-
prove it. I promised to forward her
application, however, though l should
be compelled by my sense OF duty to in
oorse my dlsapproval upon 1t. After
much vain effort to dlssuade me from
my disapproval, she finally brought the
application to me, and placed nay in
dorsement upon it. She then asked me
to read the whole paper over to her. I
should have before stated that she was
unable to read, and the fact of her illit-
eracy added to my admiration of her
unique and impressive individuality. 7
started to read the paper. She admon
ished me to read slowly. When l came
to Capt. Keith's Endorsement, forwarding
the paper "disapproved," the old woman
sprang to her feet excltedly, and in eager
surprise, and with impulsive incisiveness,
she demanded of me imperiously to read
that again. I did so very distinctly.
She seemed bewildered and unable to
realize the meaning of the words. She
asked slowly if that writing of Capt.
Keith meant that he was 'sagin" her boy
getting out of the army. I told her that
it did. She remarked in voice strange
~ variant in its quietness with her strong
excitement of appearance, that he had
told her he had written on that paper
that he was for her boy "gettin' u
out. "
Controlling her excitement with a
strong effort, she caught up the paper
aud abruptly left my tent. The simple
factis that Capt. Keith had deceived her
He had repeatedly and uniformly told
her that he would favor her sons dis.
charge, had written out her application
and, instead of approving as he lad
promised, he disapproved it, as he after.
ward SAID, trusting that she would never
know it. He supposed she would bring
it to me, and that would take ana in.
dorse it and forward it up, and his du'
plicity would never be discovered. It il
curious tact that simple uncultured
natures like hers are always suspicious
and she intuitively sought to verify the
correctness of his statements:
THE MALEDICTION.
The end of the old creatures visit t.
our camp was dramatic. Her sense O.
wrong at Capt. Keith's hands was deel
and intense. Probably she would hard
ly have been less resentful and indig
nant If he had struck her. But to dup,
her, to toy with her hopes, assent to he
wishes, give her sympathy in her pla1
day after day, and then finally deceive
her, was cruel beyond measure, and i
awakened in her a deep, implacable fury
4 that knew no bounds. She had enter
tanned high respect for him, and gav'
him thorough confidence. The transi
ton was complete. Every fibre of bel
strong, coarse nature was wounded t.
the quick. It was wonder, with thei
ungovernable spirit, that she did not at
} tempt personal violence upon him. Blu
, she reserved her revenge for something
more tragical. In her intense excite
| ment she began to drink, and the liquor
Of course, infamed her rage. Final
7 Just about dusk, she came to my ten
\ pretty we'll intoxicated, and the seen
\ that ensued is vivldly impressed upo
9 my recollection.
Her disorderea appearance added
, the effect she made. Her hair hun
, rough and uncombed about her fushe
: face. Her eyes gllstened with excit
c ment. Her countenance we'll indexe
t her turbulent soul. Hes massive fran
4 oAooN uAA0A AAOA AOAy o9AIoIAOA. NJ
!. poured out volume of talk, speakin
1 none the less deliberately because of IL
+ vehemence of her tones. Her languas
h was singularly and effectively dramati
3 She began by telling me that she had I
quarrel with me. It is true I refused
n do her will, but I have been candid wit
D her and never deceived .her. 1 had to-
+ the truth like man. But Reub Kel
d had acted like a dog, AS she spoke b
Il name it seemed to intensity her wrat
0 She deliberately, and, it must be said, {
b oqu, mtg portrayed his perfdy, giving
d graphic picture of her hopes, her plan
n her love for her boy, her strong yearni1
to get him home, her labor, her appea
t her trust in Keith, his ready, sympathet
/. CO operation in her fervent desire, b
base betrayal of her confidence. tt
n stern old soul got right pathet
/. and touching in some of her 6
= lusions. Her tale was told with Il