The National tribune., 1881-09-03

steadily up the river, keeping near the centre of
the stream and observing the utmost caution in
order to avoid detection.
Passing under the aqueduct, we struck over
toward the Virginia shore and kept on our course
until we reached the rapids just below Chain
Bridge There we ran the boat into a small Sc
questered cove the south side OF the river, and'
made a landing The Lieutenant was the first to
step ashore with his CHASTITY load, after which the
rest of us followed and lifted out the prisoners
The darkness was intense, but by the aid OF an
occasional match we succeeded in cropping our
way up to the base of an Overhanging cliff OF
rocks and there, with our hands and the bayOnets
of the two soldiers, we at length managed to dig
a shallow grave, well above high-water mark, in
which we buried the poor creature whose life had
gone out under such tragic circumstances.
The sad duty accomplished the Lieutenant,
who had thus far spoken scarcely a word since
leaving the island, advanced to one of the pris-
oners, and before had time to interfere or utter
a word, placed his revolver against the mans head
and pulled the trigger. | sprang forward and
caught the hand holding the weapon but it was
wrenched from my grasp with such force as to
nearly throw me over backward into the water.
"Stand back stand back" cried the Lieutenant,
cor by Heaven I'll kill you Stand back, say"
| called upon the two men to assist me in dis
arming the madman as he seemed to be; but be-
fore could gather around him two more pistol
shots rang out upon the night air, and there We're
four corpses where there had been but one upon
landing
"Now help me dispose of this carbon" said the
Lieutenant, in a strangely altered voice. - Into
the river with it,
We loaded the bodies down with rocks. and
sunk them in the deep water If the co re, and en-
tering the boat hastened from the scene reaching
our quarters about daylight.
Our comrades of the night previous who had
witnessed the first act of the tragedy were anx-
ious to know the ending, but we were dumb.
Rumors of the affair reached headquarters, and we
ordered up and closely interrOgated but
divulged nothing
The occurrence had begun to die out of mind
somewhat, when the heavy freshet succeeding the
Balls Bluff affair brought many dead bodies
down upon its turbid tide. One day was on
the island in command of a squad engaged in re-
trieving the cOrpses from the water. One caught
upon the ferry-rope and | went out with a boat
to bring it in. As the line was being made fast
to the body the face came uppermost and rec
ognized one of the victims who fell beneath the
Leutenants avenging bullets.
That same evening two others came floating by
were dragged to land, and all three were buried
near the centre of the island, not far from where
the crime for which they suffered had been COM
mitted
| soon lost sight Of the Lieutenant altogether
he going up the Valley with Shields, l to the
Peninsula. Before We separated | approached
him on several occasions with a view to discover
ing key to the mystery enveloping the affair in
which 1 had played an unwilling part, but could
get no satisfaction
1T is nobodys business but my own" he
would reply. You may rest assured however,
that she was worthy Ofany mans love and oect
She did not cast off her right to either when she
cast off her wOmans garments" He would make
no further explanation. One thing seemed to
puzzle him as much as the whole matter did
myself He could not conceive what led his
companion into the association which proved so
fatal, nor could I. To me it was mysterious
affair throughout, and remains so to this dav
My belief is that the unfortunate woman was the
Lieutenants wife. can give no reason for think
ing such to be the case further than this One day
| came upon him suddenly and unexpectedly He
was in the guard-tent waiting for grand rounds
| entered to notify him that the men were ready
and found him sitting, his elbows on the table
his head supported by his hands, and lying open
before him letter. the writing that of a woman.
I barely noticed the caption. 1t was dated July
80, 1861 and addressed to "NIy Dear Husband"
Upon becoming aware of my presence he
quickly folded up the missive and placed it in
an inner pocket, over his heart. Within a week
we parted never to meet again.
Now that he is dead | am, if anything. more
than ever inclined to cast his memory the
mantle of that charity which believeth no evil;
and vet in this narrative have simply given the
outline of facts which brought us two together in
one of the most thrilling episodes of a not un-
eventful life-an episode, too which helps to
prove the old saying that truth is often stranger
than fiction
FROM "DON QUIXOTE."
Beauty in modest woman is like fire or
sword at a distance: neither doth the one burn