The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-09-14
CAPTAIN SMEDLEY.
A Romance of the Civil
War.
BY MAI. JAMES F. Fits.
CHAPTER VI.
LOVE AND LOYALTY.

CHAPTER VI.
LOVE AND LOYALTY.
The candles burned and sputtered,
and hardly illumined the dark corners
of the room; but the moonbeams pour
ing into one of the small windows helped
20 light the place. Charles Smedley sat
upon the small box, his head leaning on
his hand, in much the same attitude in
which we saw him before the rush of the
mountain men upon him. Graham Bran
don sat carelcssly on one corner of the
large box, his shapely head slightly bent
down as he earnestly looked at the
others face. Only six years of time sep
arated them; Yet there was much, very
much, IN those few years. For a care
full observer, scrutInIZing both of them
as they sat there, would have seen that
the one face was full of hope and life,
eager, earnest and enthusiastic; the
other. serious, reflective, careworn, with
dash of the bitterness of trial and dis
appointment in its lines
The Captains sword lay between them,
its handsome mountings glittering in the
light. Brandon took it up ana placed it
on the blankets.
I am superstitious, he said, with a
smile. / want no weapon, however hon
orable between us. The events of the last
few hours have made us friends. From
this time forth, whether there be war or
peace friends We must be. =
omedley grasped the outstretched hand.
lou hav3 saved my life, he said.
The hours are not many when / thought
Il but poor possession, at least. But, rs
the world goes, you have done me the
greatest service that man can do for man.
That service binds me to YOU
There is another bond = replied Bran
u I 1
both firmly enlisted in the Union cause;
that makes us brothers"
Smedleys face clouded.
Yes, hc said. i have reached that
point at last. BY the sacrifice of every
thlng-lOye friends, possessiOns-Ih have
kept myself true to the country and the
flag ! ann at last a soldier of the Union,
but have given up all to become one. "
His woeful voice deeply touched his
companion The hand of the latter was
placed upon his shoulder.
You will be honored for that, here
and elsewhere, :" said Brandon. a know
now something of what you have sacri-
feed for your loyalty. I read those let
tors; pardon me, l had to, so that | could
fully explain your conduct to those sim
pie, ignorant men. They have supplied
me with what was lacking in your ex-
PLANTATION when YOU came to me at Knox
Vile. Yes / understand YOU thoroughly
now, and honor you accordingly. But.
my friend, may it not be possible that
You are selfish in Your heart burnings?
May others not have suffered, too, and
still kept their loyalty bright and steady?
IN brief, do you care to hear about me-
to know me just as | am with all that l
have put aside to he here now"
SmCdley rose and walked the floor.
gtt L
ested in IL. When | have heard it, YOU
may have to be corrected about myself.
Well, then, | was born and bred in
Knoxville. My fathers were soldiers
back even beyond our Revolution.
grew up educated into a love for the
Union. became am attorney. and when
this war began | had become we'll settled
there AZ home in business, and was to
have been married in May. You are full
Of the misery of your own disappointed
love, | don't suppose you want to hear
about mine"
Tell me all" said the other
Il viii. Alice Clay is the best and
h1ndsomest girl in the place Her
parents are secessionists, of the bitter
est kind When the struggle came on
they forbade me to see her. | disobeyed,
and she dii, too. With great deal of
trouble we were able to have a stolen In.
terview once a week. | am sure of her
affection; whatever may happen to me.
She viii be faithful. The city was oc-
Cupied by a large force of Harris men.
and all the Union people were put under
the seycrest espIal. Many were arrested
and imp nsoned, or sent away from home
! restrained my feelings and kept strict
guard over my actions, that | might not
be molested [ knew the time was sure
~ ffApFa ygb hon | must i,3,, Al, -,
army, and fight as l thought; but ii was
like death to leave Alice and for a while
l wanted To be of service to these sorelv
prosecuted people up here, whore | had
become Well acquainted during the few
Years before the war. You remember
what / did for YOU a few weeks ago in
hiding You and getting YOU away, when
You were threatened with arrest and con
hnement; / did the same for many others.
There has been hardly week of the last
two months that l have not been able
to secretly send news up into the
mountains of she plans and movements
of our enemies in and near Knoxville. I
dld 1t ut the risk of my neck for their
rage was so great at being often baffled
lu this way that l should certainly have
been hung when detected. When I
learned of this last projected raid. I
could not find man / could trust and
who was willing TO make an exile of
himself from his home, to warn these
sturdy mountaineers of what was com
ing. | would have perished rather than
that they should be taken bv SURPRISED
Well knowing the penalty of coming, 1
have done It. / had last brief inter
view With Alice IN the night; there was
parting that wrung both our hearts. In
secrecy and stealth / turned my back
upon love, home, and friends. to return
wheu2 God only knows, am a marked
man now; never may l return to that fair
city that is all the world to me but with
Union army. When shall that dav
come? 1t seems like mockery to hope
for IT, All East Tennessee is overrun
and held down by the bayonets and sa-
bors of Governor Harris army; the
Government does not answer our ap-
peals for help; We must 90 and battle for
i on distant fields, while our own grand
loyal region lies proStratel"
As the speaker turned from the story
of his love to the condition of his see
ton. his eyes flashed, his cheeks burned.
and lie stroye not to repress the deep ex-