Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-29

000lr may D6 o mlSIA 40 aICer Ill.
sWhat is the affair, Generalr
"Simply this: the secretary o: war writes
me that all the papers concerning the coming
campaign in Virginia were stolen from the
department and traced to Clnra Willis, OF
Baltimore Miss Clara has since disappeared,
but there is every reason to believe that she
is some " here in the Shenandoah valley try
ing to communicate with the enemy. This
Is the girl, Bob, am satisfied. worried
enough out of the landlord to convince me
am right. Put guard about the house so
no one can enter or leave without your per-
mission, and keep your eye on her"
"But, General, this is difficult. II am
actr:
MAKE love to her, Bob" said his COM
mander. with a twinkle in his eve, "Sacri-
fee yourself ON the altar Of your country. She
is woman, and devilish pretty one, and,
therefore, may be wooed she is woman,
and, therefore, may be won" So saying
the brigadier ordered horses, and Bob heard
them rattling of in the moonlight, leaving
him to execute his diplomatic mission.
Calling Corporal Bang, Bob directed him
to place q guard in front Of the house, and
another in the rear, with orders to permit
no one to enter or leave, man, woman or
child, without his the Leutenant'sl orders.
do you know, Corporal, what has be-
come Of the young Indy who was seated on
the porch before supperF'
''She skootel up stairs. Lieutenant, and
every swish Of her petticoats had secesh
cuss in it. She lit up the corner room, l
calculate"
VERY well; you have your orders.'
"All right, Lieutenant"
Bob Ellersly seated himself in the vacated
arm chair and smoked his briar wood pipe
in the moonlight, revolving over and over in
his mind the strange duty imposed upon
him. He was interested, and yet did not
like the business. Young, ardent and amhi-
tious be thought Of his comrades riding off
to glory, while he remained behind to cir
cumvent a woman. Bouncing from his
chair, he walked the rough boards of the old
porch impatiently.. Suddenly he descended
the steps and stood under the trees, gazing
up at that corner of the room occupied by
the enemy. Country taverns are not graced
with curtains, but something of the sort had
been improvised for this apartment, and he
could only see shadow of the inmate pass
ing and repassing, as if she, too was restless
and impatient.
As he stood leaning against tree in the
moonlight he presented as handsome figure
as one would care to see. The broad shoul.
| ders, swung over slender hips, held over
them head in which youth and manhood
| contended for the mastery. His face was
boyish when at rest, but when animated he
seemed to take on years in the way of ex
preston which, added to his soldierly bearing,
| impressed his comrades as one capable of any
| duty. Left an orphan at an early age, with @
small property, on which he had been edu.
Gated, he stood alone in the world. He had
not, he said, relation that he knew of Oh
Garth. $50 much the BETTER" grunted cynical
Comb; 'if you have poor relations you feai
they viii want to borrow your money, or gel
hung; if you have rich ones they are sure tc
| get into congress, or the penitentiary, and
worry the life cut Of you. Relations ars
nuisancesn
The next morning Ellersly informed Fang
| in the presence Of the landlord that they
Esd been left to look after the Forwarding Of
important dispatches from the front. and
with an orderly rode to M He wa
scarcely out OF sight before an ancient gig
that wabbled in the wheels and groaned ir
the body, as if afflicted with combined old
| age and sciatica, was drawn in front by an
animated hat-rack for a horse. The negro
driver stopped at the foot of the steps and
our heroine, fully prepared for jaunt,
seated herself by the colored boy. When
the horse was turned toward the road It's
private on guard brought his nlusket down
before the horses nose AMI arrested the
concern.
What's tn, meaning Of thisf' demanded
the girl
! Cant SO, that's ALL"
i Call our corporal: l want TO know the
meaning at this outrage"
Corporal Bang stepped to the front
"What is the reason for this detentioa.'
she continued
! AhSh ~ SiNSo oiucio t-.is iNhSN'it1f ''NH
as gets orders has bayonets," sententiously
| responded Bang.
There was no help for it. With flushed
cheeks and firm, set mouth, the girl de
scended from the vehicle and entered th'
house. Every step was protest. The an
Gent gig was restored to its maisoi de sGate
and the hat-rack of horse to its stall. Al
! L. ,aft Of hf
attempted escape. After dinner. while
smoking his pipe, the suspected girl ap
preached him.
II attempted to drive out this morning,
sir" she said Indignantly, ''aud was arrested
by your mon. Am to understand that
am prisonerF'
81 am very sorry, madam answered the
aide. avoiding the question, very sorry Sc
rude a thing was done"
Don't apologize, sir. We know you
miserable government makes war on women.
You are only hireling executing its brutal
orders. Again ask you, am a prisoner"
ut is really painful to know that You en-
terrain such an idea" patiently continued
the officer. These men execute orders SC
literally that mistakes like this will occur"
II am not prisoner, thenf'
"You are at liberty, assure you, to &c
where and when you please. To prove tc
you, however, how unjust you are to us
will add that you shall so as You will and,
owing to the unsettled and dangerous con-
dition the country is in, l will furnish you
an escort of armed men to see that you go in
safety"
"Mr. Lieutenant" she said with scorn,
''when l need your services l will ask
them.n
do so, madam, and you will find me
ready to serve you" And so they parted.
IAN unpleasant beginning for a love at
fair" murmured Bob, resuming his pipe
For the next twenty -four hours the Lieu
tenant saw little of his suspect, and the little
he did see was not agreeable. Meeting her
by accident on the stairs she not only gave
way, but gathered her skirts about her, as il
she feared contamination from the touch
The day after, however, her mood changed.
She received him with q bewitching smile,
holding out her little hand, saying:
MIR" and she paused
'Ellersly." he added, lifting his cap.
"Mr. Ellersly, wish to apologies for my
rude talk. Iforgot that you were an officer
on duty, and what is more, forgot that
was lady. Pardon me.n
II have no pardon to ask, madam said
Bob, CALAMITY. 'Reproof is swecter from
some than commentator from others Now,
| what can do for yoIr
ave will breakfast together" she said,
''and then will tell you
At breakfast she poured out his muddy
coffee of beans and chickory, and was SO very
amiable that Bob, young as he was, could
not help thinking she was too confoundedly
sweet, and he became, in consequence, ths
more alert and suspicious.
snow I'll tell you, Lieutenant, she said on
the porch, 81 am ashamed to confess, it, but
have some poor relations in thcse noun.
tains almost starved by the war"
That is lie, thought Bob; bnt no said
nothing-only smiled sweetly.
II wish to communicate with and heIp
them" she continued; and if you will fur
nish me with an escort 1 will make the at.
tempt"
An ambush, thought Bob; hut he smiled
| all the more, and added:
"Why of course l will. I'll do better-I