Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-07-06

saw them coming, but recognizing but
one among their number who knew his
face, he kept on steadily ploughing.
The soldiers were young and careless,
and wild with excitement, but stopped
to ask:
Chow long have you been plough
ing?"
"Whoa! Since daylight, an hard work
too, an every one comm an askin', hev
[ seen the mudsill that ran away-Whoa
l tell yer, )" called the ploughman, stead
lily keeping his back on the warder, his
FESTIVE horses affording him good ex-
cuse.
"He is supposed to have swan the
river, said the sergeant, "and if you've
been here since daylight, he couldn t
have got over without your seeing him. "
Wall, L hain't seen him, an all ken
say is that eff he swan that air river with
the water cold as ice, he's more grit then
l give them mudsills credit fur. Git up
thar!' he added, bending double over the
plough as he furrowed on. The soldiers
marched on toward the house.
Virginia was busy feeding the chickens.
Without turning her head when she saw
the party of soldiers, she whispered to
her mother: *.
"Mother, darlin', don't pretend to
know anything. Let me talk"
'Here chickey, chick, chickp she
called, raising her voice and scattering the
food.
"Good mornin', miss, said the tall
stout s sergeant land you, maam: Have
oner?"
"What prisoner, sir?" cried Virginia.
" Dear me, mother, that's what the little
boy Was telling us about %
"What boy % said the sergeant, off his
guard.
"Why little boy from town; he came
after father'd left this mornin', and he
said that the Yankee that was to have
been hung this mornin' had got off-but
we didn't believe him!'' said Virgie, with
such an air of innocent inquisitiveness
that the soldiers were completely de-
ce1ved. A boy had come in, as she said,
so she spoke the truth in that part of her
assertion.
$50 your fathers away, is he? 90 in
quired the sergeant.
"Why, he went to the hangin' ever
so early this mornin'," answered Vir-
ginia.
But the soldiers did not leave without
searching every loft and Granny of the
outbuildings, and every bush and hol-
low about the premises, and when Vir-
ginia saw the band dispense themselves
over the fields, she was not little re-
lieved.
When the long day drew to a close,
and Virginia went to call the "help" to
supper, whispering that there was no one
in but her mother and father, he felt as
if he had lived a lifetime in the past
twenty-four hours.
AS they sat about the fire chatting
pleasantly and securely, the rescued
youth silent from gratitude and thank
fulness, the father laughed heartily,
telling some of the stories which were
rife about the prisoners disappearance,
he the while casting side chances at Vir-
ginia, and signing heavily.
"Cheer up, my boy" said the farmer,
cheerily, "and don't be sighin' your
heart out. This time twelve months
you'll be bringing your bride home to
the old farm In your native state, and all
this trouble'll seem like a dream"
Ono, Mr.. Drake" said Archie, earn
estly, "I'n never marry a Yankee girl. -
Virginia got up to put On fresh fuel
Immediately.
eyes, yes, you'll marry among your
own people as you should" said Mrs.
Drake, more acute than her husband,
and disliking the turn the conversation
was taking. Virginia sat quite silent,
with glisteuing eyes and rosy cheeks.
And so they waited till the hour had
struck, and then Moulton and the farmer
rose to walk to the crossroads where
they were to meet the clergyman
Archie kissed Mrs. brakes hand in the
fullness of his gratitude, uttering broken
words of thankfulness and blessing.
He caught Virginia's hand, but sudden
ly choking he turned passionately away.
"Il shut the gate after you," said
she, brushing back her tears. So she
did, and Archie, in the silence and dark
delayed moment, helping her to latch
it, probably-though he found time to
whisper few hasty words which had no
reference to the gate.
"Keep up your heart, Virgie darling.
Only wait till after the war, and God
sparing my life, I'll come for you, love-
I'll write to you through Mrs. Vincent
She gets northern letters"
So they parted, but not forever, for
Archie Moulton has been Virginia's fond
and faithful husband for many year,
and they have shared more than one Joy
and sorrow together since the day when
Virginia first found and succored him in
the hour of his danger and distress.