Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-11-30

ene nrst. L introduced myself. anolo-
glzed for my intrusion; learned fiat +
was not an intrusion at all. Int tbot
they We're glad to see gentleman from NOM
ene Union army-with ever so smoll
an accent on the word. Nv benefoc-
i Iress OF the glass of water introduced
herself and then her sisters; and We
presently fell to talking very cordially
supposed they were of Confederate
sympathies; it was safe to take that for
granted OF any woman in the Valley
south OF Martinsburg. There were ex-
ceptlons, but the rule was as I have
stated.t
we did not say much about the war;
and L thought they showed on unusual
dellcacy for Virginia ladies in not
making that subject Extensively prom
1nent. They We're very agreeable, and
began to think that the Southern
women were not as bitter as they had
oeen reported While was partaking
OF the refreshments they had set before
me. one of them observed:
Your first name is Frank. Won said
lieutenant? That is our brothers
name; our Frank, who is serving with
General Johnston. And don't YOU
think, sisters, that there is considera-
Die resemblance between the Lieuten-
ant and our Frank?"
The girls were kind enough to saw
that they really thought there was q
great resemblance. 1 was bright
enough to say that was very glad they
had so handsome brother. And then
we oil laughed together and became
quite merry.
Our troops had been paid shortly be-
fore this, and large part of the pay
ment was in gold. That was very
unusual circumstance, and one that be-
came impossible to happen few
weeks later. I had few gold dollars
jingling in my pocket, and I presented
one to each of my fair entertainers.
Not as payment for their hospitality,
that 1 knew would never do with them,
but merely as tokens of goodwill.
They had not seen gold coin for some
time, and they thanked me while ex-
aiming and admiring the keepsakes.
While we chatted thus, one of the
ladies excused herself and left the
room. I thought nothing of it at the
time; I did afterward.
Suddenly my sergeant came running
in, without formality.
"I4ieutenant!" he exclaimed. There's
squad of horsemen just come over the
hill"
I forgot my good manners in an in
slant. l bolted from the room without
ceremony. I stayed not on the order
Of my going; I went at once.
We mounted our horses and rode
rapidly through lane to piece of
woods, thinking it safer to keep out of
the highway for the present. We
paused when we got to the cover, and
looked back. A white linen sheet was
hung out from one of the open upper
windows; for what, could not doubt
In moment dozen russet-clad horse
men galloped into the yard and sur
rounded the house.
We withdrew in silence and secrecy,
regained the road by wide detour,
and returned at top-speed to Winches-
ter. I felt as though 1 had learned
something that I did not know before.
"A week lattsE IOu0 OuG UIldt Way Ill
company with good-sized detachment
of cavalry I called at the house, and
was received as cordially as though
nothing had happened. The ladies
were not in the least embarrassed.
"That was smart trick you tried to
play on me-" 1 said, with some heat.
They looked surprised, and one of
them, with q fine show of dignity, re-
quested me to explain myself.
I did SO very plainly.
"You are quite wrong, sir, assure
you" was the reply. "You were our
guest, and while you were in this
house we should scorh to take such an
advantage of you. Be assured, we did
nothing to bring you into danger OF
capture. I don't know how those cav
airy learned you wene here"
They probably thought that I was
satisfied. What I thought was that
they lied in most bewitching way
Chicago Ledger.