The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-05-30
tinued her rocking, as IL their pollteness and

|
one in doubt whether he was suffering from
a toothache or INDUCING in a smile.
On the landlord making his appearance
the chief gave his orders. They were for
supper for himself and staff, one room for
the night and quarters for corporalS
guard. While the supper was being pre-
Jared the general sat in split-bottomed
arm chair, near our heroine, while the men,
bers of his staff, weary Of long days ride,
stretched themselves upon tho sol upder the
trees
"How many vanished hour and day
Have sunlight DER me she'd"
since last parted from that gallant band OF
good fellows loved general held together
during the four years OF terrible conflict.
can see them now. ! SEQ the tall, slender,
volatile Cbesnutt, gay as lark and brave
as a lion. Esterhaze, quiet, grave. yet ever
alert to duty. Comb, slender and awk-
ward, but possessed Of the keenest sense OF
humor, as ready to jest under fire as in the
camp. Then came old Granville called old
because he was so solemn. 1t would take
surgical instrument to get joke in his head,
and then another to get it out. And last,
but not least, for he is the hero OF my little
romance, Bob Ellersly, Young, handsome and
| liable to love and debt.
Two OF these met violent deaths, and the
rest are scattered world wide apart. send
them greeting.
"a say, Bob" cried Chestnut to the aide,
ss b. rested his bead on his elbows and kicked
his toes into the grass, rather handsome
girl that up there"
1.-THE old man seems to have discovered
that" Bob responded. Sec him doing the
sweet on her, will you"
"Wel he is" Comb Clipped in. "but be
isn't making much Roadway, gather from
the expression on her lovely countcnance."
The General was doing the suave polite,
for which he was famous, and getting little
in return but crisp II onosyllables
1t does not require much time to prepare
meal in Virginia. Ham and eggs, with hot
biscuits, make the substantials, while sticky
indigestble sweets, called preserves, form
the entrees The General and staff were soon
called to table, and ate with the hearty relish
Vi utDply ri''i ouPpJ' 'o' ''N''
disposed of the General called his aide, Bob
Ellersly 10 one side and said
81 have IA rather pleasant duty for you,
Bob"
"An right, General, th. plsAsantsr the
better"
at is one, Lieutenant" continued the COM
mander, "of extreme delicacy, and | trust to
your tact to carry it to successful issue.
Now, don't let any Of your boyish impulses
make you blunder You seq that young lady
on the porchr
~ believe noticed her"
We'll, for the next ten days, OF until fur
Their orders, you must not permit her to get
out Of your sight. You must do this deli
cately, for she is the niece Of the most prom
inent and important loyalist of Baltimore.
1t will not do to offend her, for the whole
affair may he mistake after all e"
what is tho affair, Generalr
"Simply this the secretary Of war writes
me that all the papers concerning the coming
campaign in Virginia were stolen from the
department and traced to Clara Willis, of
Baltimore. Miss Clara has since disappeared,
but there is every reason to believe that she
il somew here in the Shenandoah valley try
ing to communicate With the enemy. This
Is the girl, Bob am satisfied l worried
enough out of the landlord to convince me |
am right, Put a 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 / an
not to make her prisoner. how am ! to
actf
snake love TO her, Bob" said his com
mander. with twinkle In his eye. "Sacri
hceyourself on the altar Of your country. She
is u woman, and devilsh pretty one, and,
therefore, may bs wooed; she is woman,
and, therefore, may be won" So saying
the brigadier ordered horses, and Bob heard
them rafting OFF in the moonlight, leaving |
him to execute bis diplomatic mission.
Calling Corporal Bang, Bob directed him
to place 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 Lieutenant's) orders. |
''Do you know, Corporal what has be-
come OF the young lady who WAS seated on
the porch before superb
"She skooted up stairs. Lieutenant and
every swish Of her petticoats had secesh |
cuss in it. She liz up the corner room, |
calculate"
Every 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 tho strange duty imposed upon
him. He was interested, and yet did not
like the business. Young, ardent and nmbi-
tious, he thought OF his conn AIDES riding of
to glory, while he remained behind 70 cir,
cumvent q 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 SEQ q shadow Of the inmate, pass
ing and repassing as If she. too. was restless
and inpatient |