The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-10-20
LOYAL AT LAST.
A Tale OF Love and Adventure In
the Late Civil War.
BY BERNARD BIGSBY.
AUTHOR OF "ELLEN's SECREr,'' So FA1LEH
AMONG THIEVES - ':MY LADY FANTAs-
TICAI," AND OTHER STORIES.

AMONG THIEVES ;" ':MY LADY FAN1As~
TIcAI," AND OTHER STORIES.
loeppr!1hted, 1888, by the d. NJ Kellogg Nesass
paper Co7spG1Nl
First they were narcneu uowar0s Balti-
more, then recalled, then started on q wild
goose chase at ter Bradley Johnson IS brigade,
and just as they had come up with him,
while he was leisurely driving away vast
herds of cattle and sheep he had captured,
orders came not to attack him; and hardly
lad the angry men recovered the dlsap-
polntment and the dusty clouds that lowered
oyer the Confederate host vanished thar
these orders were counteruanded, and they
were told to strike the enemy whom now
they could not find. Next they were hur-
ried in hot haste to the Shenandoah valley,
called back to Washington, dispatched with
flying speed to Harper's Ferry, started
toward Winchester, then compelled to make
forced march to Frederick, Md. And all
this ON half rations, under blazing sun,
beneath the fury of whose burning rays
more than four hundred men dropped sense
less from the saddle.
have heard Harry Winthrop say that the
C1ost exquisite luxury of personal comfort
he ever enjoyed was a hot-water bath at the
hotel at Frederick, and, nextto that, asound
slee, for nine hours in q real bed, which
that hospitable city afforded him. For near
lv q whole week lie was a gentleman at
large. for the men Of the renountcd force
81 least, what was left Of them were draft
cu To their regiments, and Tor u time Harry
xyns left at liberty to follow the dictates OF
his own inclination.
he boarded at the house Of d lady named
Piatt. u widow with two charming daugh~
tars, Lucy and Agnes. These young ladies
were typical Of the times when many
house on the borderland was divided
against jtself. Lucy was staunch Union
jst, TO whom the stars and stripes were sa-
cred amblems and the constitution Of the
United States a Bible, while Agnes was
red-hat rcvoIotonist who Worshiped Lee
and prayed for the success OF the Southern
arins 1t was whispered that once these
young ladies pit.ed their wits against each
other in singular rivalry. Agnes, burning
with ambition to do something for the
cause. had drawn map Of the disposition
If the: Federal troops and found means to
scnu i 30 the Confederate General anu, that
while she lncautiously left il in her cham
he:. for q few minutes before dispatching
it, Lucy had with consumnlate skill SO COM
p]eSely altered it that it was d snare and
Aellslon to the man it WAS intended to ben
eft. Il can readily be understood then that
our hero was petted Oh the one side ancs
routed at on the other in manner which,
mad he been he@rtWhoae, would have driven
him to distraction, butt as It WAS, simply
afforded him amusement. He was present
s,ua DAY al y batJ}a-roTal between the TAX
CHAM ions, and, oddly enough, the conten-
bon turned On Il matter OF peculiar interest
TO himself.
Lucy lad received a letter. She read it
nlusbingiy at the breakfast table and said
quietly with q cooling satisfaction to her
s.l1the~:
''EIe arrives to-day, mamma"
The widow smiled in acknowledgment Of
her daughters beaming happiness, but
Agnes flashed out angrily:
'sThen, if the house is really to be turned
into 81 barracks. you will excuse me ii
keep entirely to my room !"
"Ensh, hush, dear: you forget yourself"
Mrs. I'iatt chiGed.
siNo, mother" was the bold reply; it is
you aud Lucy have forgotten yourselves, or
j.iey tenant Mckenzie would never be a
guest IN this house,
Here Harry interposed with the good
slaturod desire To arneliorate the ungraclous
tendency CT the discussion.
81 know a Lieutenant McKenzie-at
least, II speak more correctly, ain ac-
quaiIttea with Major Arthur Mcdonald,
who has e. nepllew of that name; and to tell
.i;e truth am very anxious to meet him."
:'lllcu you will have ample opportunity Of
gratify wing your desire it you remain here,
Misic; Winthrop Agnes said--the girl rare
~ addressed him personally. and never ac-
hnowledged his military rank" for from
shc time he enters the door you vii; notice
that MY mother and sisters individuality
will be lost in the absorbing presence Of the
young gentleman"
"Ruc thought he was wounded and had
gone home,' Winthrop ventured.
sYes sir; and he is now returning as an
"onvalescent. believe he was
hurt in the rpasterly retreat your men made
from Charlottesville"
"iSilence, Agnes!;' the mother interposed,
alarmed at her daughters bitterness, 81
am always trembling for the rash remarks
that drop from your lips so heedlessly."
SHAY: madam Winthrop INTERVIEWED,
" pray 90 not think that ever could take
advantage Of idle words uttered in the
bone circle to which you have 50 kindly al~
Iaitte;i rle. Besides, I shouldn't be sur
pElSe0 TO near trlL there is some gay C1Vd~
Ier riding in the Southern ranks from whom
your daughter takes the color Of her opi1l-
ions. Such devotion as hers, in so young a
girl, mas a more personal inspiration than
patriotism"
The shot told. Agnes Platt blushed scar
let, and Indignantly left the room.
And Willie Mckenzie came. Harry found
him, as he had anticipated, a whole-sopled
young fellow, little the worse for wear
just then. but full of animal spirits and With
frank, winning manners, which quickly
broke down the barriers o. new acquaint-
AS they sat smoking their cigars
together on the stoop that evening, Win
throp broached the subject which had such
q thrilling interest to him. Taking tho
links OF the watch-chaln he nau ioun,1 GA
The spot of Barclays murder from his pock-
et, he abruptly handed them to the young
man with the pointed question:
"Haye you ever seen these befcreW
He was astounded at the CHASTITY paleness
If McKenzie's face. He literally trembled
Is he gazed with black look at the golden
inks.
"Why do you ask2" he stammered.
1oks f>1 kto nc,