The National tribune., 1888-03-15

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ANYTHING FOR Mrs. SUSAN srTToE?"
sitton," said I, emphasizing the word mistress,
and certainly you are not married"
But / am though" said she, with roguish
laugh, and my husband is Yankee soldier
in the 10th Ohio Cav"
How long have you been marriedp" / ask
ed, for / was now interested in the history Of
this young girl and was SO ill-mannered or for
getful as to stand and question her without
once Offering to look over the letters for her
Two weeks Last Tuesday" said she in reply
to my question.
And where is your husband2"
He started last week with his detachment
over in Maury County, and he told me he would
write the first opportunity he had"
Were you acquainted with your husband
long before you married him 2"
NO; the first time saw him was Sunday.
and we we're married Euesday night"
/ yentured to inform her that perhaps she
had committed a very indiscreet act in marry
ing in such haste, and probably her husband
had forgotten her by that time
Il know better than that" she tartly re-
piled. He loves me, know he does and he
has promised to come and take me to Ohio as
soon as the war is over"
By this time / had looked over the letters
and found none for Mrs. Sitton, and so in
formed her. A shade of disappointment fitted
over her countenance but, Frightening again,
she said:
"rH be in again Saturday know there
will be letter for me by that time" and she
darted off without giving me an opportunity to
ask further questions.
The next days mail brought several letters
for citizens, and among them l was pleased to
notice one for " Mrs. Susan Sitton."
Mai Smith came in at the usual hour and
we sat down to look over the letters. 1 took
peep into the letter for Mrs. Susan, and found
it to be from her husband, Robert Sitton. His
epistle was well worthy an affeetionate husband
to his beloved wife. 1T contained information
respecting their marches, etc, and announced
that small detachment, embracing his COM
pany, would start on the morrow for a scout in
Lincoln County The letter closed with assur-
auces of his love and promise to write again
| as soon as opportunity offered
There was one letter in this mail which at
tracted the particular attention of Mai. Smith,
as well as myself 1t was addressed to John
Noland, and appeared to have been written at
Columbia Tenn, aud mailed at Nashville. The
suspicious character OF the letter. and the
threatening allusion to the Yanky soldier"
induced me to take copy of it, which was as
follows:
CoIUMRY. Aug. tb 1853
| DEAR JACK: am out of the frying-pan into the
| fire left Wheler 2 weeks ago and am now in the
| Yanky lines. Bin Thompson and about 40 more
| man Godiry, bHt will leave for Lincoln County
! next week Jake goes with me. Tell the old lady
will be along IN October, If not sooner. see Bill
| Stuert last week rite from shelbyye, and he herd
| Su Lacy had got married to Yanky soldier.
don't beleaye the story, but if is he had better
| sa his praers before | get site on him / think Tom
! had better stay at home; he is too young to fte
| and knock around IS he would have to do If he
come with US. send this letter by Bill Thompson
1 to Nashville. No more
From onesyou know who, jim.
| don't remember, if ever I knew, what dis
position Maj. Smith made of this letter
| know that both Of US were pretty well satisfied
that it was written by rebel guerrilla, who
was cheating the gallows Of its due every day
that he lived.
Punctually on Saturday the pretty little wife
of the Yankee soldier called at the postoffice
for her letter. Her heart beat with delight as
| handed her the nssve, and she gazed with
| pride and satisfaction at the supeFscription-
| Mrs Susan Sitton. 1t was probably the first
time that she had ever seen the name written,
and she pondered over il as if to realize that
she was indeed wife, AID that the superscrip-
tion was her own proper address.
She soon observed that the letter had been
opened and this she did not seem to like very
we'll | told her that, although it was not the
custom of postoflices generally to open the let
ters received, it was, however, the custom of
that Office, except the person addressed was a
United States soldier. / then showed her the
and called her attention to the threat against
the Yankee soldier who had married Sue Lacy.
| In moment the color came to her cheeks, and
her eyes sparkled with anger.
I" / know who that is. I'll bet dollar it's
Jim Wyatt He's a good-for-nothing, seeesh
rebel, aud fined a company that was got up for
Wheelers cavalry. He stole two horses from
Squire Caldwell last Spring. l hope he'll get
bullet in his head before he ever comes back
to Shelbyville."
perhaps he was an old beau of yours" re.
marked
"No, he wasn't; but he wanted TO be, though
and / would have nothing to do with him
Good day, sir,' and the young lady darted of
aud was out of sight before l had time to ask
further questions, leaving me alone to reflect
upon the unsophisticated simplicity of thif
newly married Southern belle.
In about month after the events above mar.
rated cur regiment was ordered to Bridgeport
Ala, aud I was obliged to turn over the post
| Office to other parties Then followed the bat
ties of Chickamauga and Mission Ridge, the
siege of Knoxville and the famine of Stringer'l
! Ridge. The Winter passed, the Spring dawn