Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-09-28
CAPTURED.

outlying pickets presented himself, red
and blowing with running.
"l've got EN-, sir. It's some Of thin
! rebels-hookin' it across the lines.
brought Fen to.witha round turn!'
"Where." exclaimed the lieutenant.
as he jumped to his feet. He was young
and Jealous, and had not yet had a
chance to prove, his zeal. Rebels
breaking the lines; eh. Well done,
Wright" -,.l-t, -r..a,...
Carrying provisions, sir!" --
NO doubt! No doubt. Arms and
ammunition, too, of course. Where are
they. We're they taken prisoners?""I.
The man looked sheepish. "They' re
back in the woods, sir. lJest fetched it
along.
1T? What on earth"-The lieutenant
followed Wright, who ran to the woods,
dashed behind 4 copse and hauled out a
little girl of about ten Years Of age, car
ryingra basket. A donkey stood beside
her. .- ..,s
go "There they be, leftenant She was
footin' itlpast the pickets, singing Dixie
to herself as asev AS yer please"
C.
thought you had captured dozen men,
you braggart. Who are YOU, my child"
"I'm Dora Nettley, sir" .'' ''.-' 'y
Dora was chubby, freck1ed child,
with honest brown eyes, which remind
ed the lieutenant OF his sister away out
in Michigan. Still, important intorma-
| ton, maps and dispatches, had~often
been carried by women and children
since the war began, and this might be q
bearer of information, child though she
+ was. ...,-,- l..''t
where did YOU come from, Dora'" .
From 'artinsburg. sir
"a nd what have You in that basket?'
The chilfs face grcw4red, she shut
her lips tight and remained sile1rt..-'~'
'Search it Wright"
"Here's tea, sir, and little package
of sugar and here's a bottle of quinine
pills" 5...- .-r5.
"Where are you going with these
things, Dora?' ~.
She looked wildly from side to side,
her chin Gaivered, and then she burst
into passionate sobs. "Oh let me go,
sir. It's my mother. She is down on
the plantation, all alone. The negroes
have followed your army, and my moth
er's alone and sick. l just thought I'd
buy her little tea and sugar and the
incidence
GLOW do YOU know she is sick?'
"Patsey toll me. Patsev's the coach
Martinsburg. He said there was nobody
to take care of her.
"And YOU rode from Martinsburg here
on Donkey"
eS, sir
And meant to pass the lines?'
Dora nodded and her eyes sparkled.
This kind-fuced lad was not so terrible Il
foe, after all. Il was Just going down
the gap-road. l have ridden it on Spot
hundred times before"
"Wright's face was eagerly turned to
the officer "Oh, lit the child 90 laften-
ant What harrum kin she do with her
bit of Ia for her sick mither? | wish I'd
betther business whin l teched you,
sissy" IT,. ....
Il wish YOU had, said Dora, simply
Chow does it happen that your mother
isalOnc?" asked the lieutenant. "Where
is your fatler??'' pr -.,--.,-. -,-,,--------
Dora's cheeks glowed Il fiery red
She looked at the ground uncertainty
She was quick-witted child, and had
gseen-the pity land sympatf1N in the
GERS eyes. Z If she could hide the fact
that her family were actively concerned
| with the confederates, there was d
chance that she would be allowed to
pass. But-to. lie.F Ia -aH.p~~I
Where is your father, Dora2"T' he re-
peated. E.,r.i a,...na,,,..,. .,.,r.urg
:. an the army" she faltered.. ... ,,''',
Fighting for the unionn'' said Graham,
quickly. .-.....,
There was long pause. ~ 'He is with
Lee" she said at last. ,..i,.a,r.r.
sand your brothers," ~!
''They are with Dick Ashby."'.
The young officer turned away impa
~tien tly.~ He had hoped to find agpre-
text for being of service to the child.
Walk down the field bit, lieuten-
ant, an kape yer back this way" whis-
pered Wright. >"IH give her the wink
to be off. And what harrum's done?'
let YOU pass through the gap Il is
against orders"
She did not make any noise, but
dropped on the grass and buried he,
| face in her hands II want motherH
she sobbed. ooh, I want mother"
aye see, chiid," explained Wright
emo support or comfort kin be carried
to the lnimy." :. % ~ ufori 81 >'arGt
she is not an enemy cried Dora
angrily. "She's-mother." r., ..,,,li;,
"Come with me, Dora" said the lieu
tenant He lifted bhef on the donkey
and led her to the farmhouse where The
wife of General R---,,''had her quarters
| She was gentle, motherly woman, ant
he told her the story! !'','4'''' ''''l& ).
81 am going to the com handing offic
er to telegraph for permitifor her tC
pass the lines. You can discover wheth
er she has anything coptraband con
4 cealed about her! But would stake
my life on the honesty of,the child.''o
Y on will have ride of twenty, miles
in the hot sun, lieutenant" ,, said Mrs, r
DO you know the child?" ''i1'j
Thrilling AE2i R What if that eatapo otor h sd
man Wonder were my mother and this
child little AliceW r,lIf0
Mrs. R.-took the girl up to little
chamber which she told her should be
her own until the lieutenant returned
kissed her and left. She felt impatient
with the, dreadful turmoil and sorrow
of the war. This poor mother, dyine
through the country! Why WIS there
no one who could set itan right. In the
meantime Dora had hidden Fer basket
| locked Cne door, anu kIleeieu |oo~h ~
| the side of her bed. She was prayins
with all the strength of. her, heart to .Go1
to help her. And on. the other side %
the mountain in aiIsohtary1 house. Jhel
mother lay alone, hers hands covering
her pale, worn face, while she too spake
tothe same Friend, who had been hJs
Friend in whom she had trusted all he,
| life. - = @s5<A AlSa14 ~ -
Down the valley gailoped the, lieutens
ant-a stranger to them both -pronlpted
he Thought, by a casual likeness< o the
child to his sister. Y et was there moi
some One who heard. their sprayersl and
made of this man the agent to answerf
Tie One who could and would in His
own good time set all this turmoil and