Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-05-30

soldier as "a friend,n and then Miss Ellwood
cropped a low bow and said, laughing: "Now
l. Is my turn; my mother and my cousin Ed
ward"
The same spell, the frankness and the I'M
| usual geniality of these Virginia people, told
on the sergeant again and treasured him. 3D.
ward" bore himself with reserve, mingled
With tenderness. The children who had been
by the roadside that day came up and greet
Ell the new conner shyly and somewhat cold
L., calling him "Uncle." The mystery in
these strange relationships would have puz-
ed Andres not little had he tried to I'M
rlvel it. Excusing himself, he said to his
companion, 'I'll take post outside until You
are ready" The visit lasted an hour or more.
When Miss Ellwood came to the door with
lar visitor Andres said: I'm keep my pledge
as far as / can. Our army Is moving its
lines back and this house will be outside Of
the pickets. How far outside do not know.
May be the enemy will hold this ground and
then my power will end" Edward" was
silent. Miss Ellwood said promptly, and
with spirit, 81 can answer that the southern
soldiers will not come nearer than at present
and we shall be outside the lines, unless your
army circles us in"
Before they reached Andres guard post,
now the outer Union picket, Edward" said to
the other: "Comrade, our trade is soldering,
and we have no business with feelings that
clash with duty. But there is a secret here
we must beg of you to respect and pledge
my faith you shall not be harmed by what
| you do.h
With tryst for the next night they sep
alated
The armies settled in winter quarters, the
Elwood place between the camps and in
| 81 hit Of both Andres had periodical tours
of duty on the outpoets, and young Seyton-
for such he was in reality-found ready
ally to pass him through the pickets by night
| ard to guard him ON his risky errand.
" neither that errand was one of love only
| OF with some deeper dramatic interest, the
otliging ally could not guess. He shared in
many of the comforts of the family circle,
ard still stronger charm for a soldier exiled
from all social pleasures was the meetings
W tn the genial southron who did the honors
of hostess.
Miss Ellwood and Seyton both assumed,
on twardly, that the latter held the relation
of sutton, but at times the interest of the lady
In the chivalrous sergeant led him TO hope
tn at he, too, had favor in her eyes. How
ever, accident had brought him ON the scene as
and he was content with the part he had
taken. At such times the next best thing to
being the hero of a romance is to stand by
some good fellow who is the hero The mys-
teIy In it all, too, piqued the sergeant's fam
cy; the half shut house; the long confer
en- ,es between the old lady and the Pennsyl-
vania lover-or cousin, or whatever he was
in the inner room, while Miss Enwood kept
away dizziness by sprightly talk in the recep-
ton room. Occasionally Andres would think
That affection was ripening in spite of al,
but at the hour of parting Seytons hand was
pressed last and held longest, and glances of
intense though rather sad expressiveness
pas sed between the supposed sweethearts.
at length there came a break IN these
visits. Edward" was frrloughed from his
company and went north. On his return
some weeks later the spell that had saddened
him before had vanished. He spoke no long
er Of mystery, and was even careless about
privacy when he resumed the visits beyond
the outposts, though for FORMS sake things
went on In secret Miss Ellwood was also
changed. Her manner toward both soldier
comrades was most cordial and at times she
was quite gay. Andres was charmed and
more than ever inclined to fiatter Edward
on his success in wooing outside the lines
Late one night Andres, who was in charge
of Il picket guard, was ordered to extend his
picl,ets before daylight to bluff some rods
hey ond the house. After it was done and
day was dawning he returned to the house,
now in the lines, to tell the occupants of the
change in orders. The faithful Patrick
Henry had been doing night sentinel duty,
too and he was abroad and hailed the ser
gealt at the farm yard gate.
No ha caid eall1fipc
"3ood morning" said the other, quickly,
81 wish to see Miss Ellwood, ORR
"Scuse me, sab, dey's all done gonel"
"Anp'
envy single one, suah!"
"Why how comes thatfn said the other,
alar med.
"D-dunno, sab, 'ceptin' de Lawd done TUX
'em"
1t was now broad day and a turn of the
eyes showed the puzzled soldier that the Con-
federate camps that had stood out boldly in
sight across the fields were gone too The
neg1'o's eyes followed the sergeant's.
"Ahi some other people are away, I see :"
And ros colored with anger. Turning upon
the Did negro he muttered bitterly, ~ sup
pose the Lord took them, too, chr and strobe
on to the lines As soon as he was relieved
from picket watch, Andres hastened to the
camp Of the - Pennsylvania in no happy
frame Of mind. Seyton greeted him cordially
and met him by saying at once, 81 have an ex-
plan alton to make"
"Vell! l think So Howl
81 ZEE you are excited and / suppose some
strange thing has happened. / knew it was
to come, but it is all right, as ] told you it
would be- There has been no treachery and
no harm done"
"Iut what are you to those-personsG"
"Irother and soni"
"scoundrelI l ought to run you through
At any rate I'll have you arrested as a spy"
First hear my story. was born in that
housa, slave holders son. My brother,
Henry Seyton, was wild fellow, but gener-
Gus, noble and true. Father died and Henry
beca ne hail fellow with the popular set Of
the county. greatly to the regret of my mo-
Their. My stepfather, Col Ellwood, who was
also foster uncle. was genuine southerner,
cons rvative and set In purpose. l went
north to school, and in 1861, on reaching age,
/ sent q writ of manumission to the slaves
had inherited, and all but the old family
hands left the place. did not write to the
folks after the war began, except to say that
l haf enlisted for the Union and to warn
them not to know me in case fortune took me
to tn se parts, as something might arise to
quest ion the loyalty of one born Virginian
From Confederate prisoners met learned
that Col Ellwood had fallen In the war and
Henr y was captain in the First Virginia, q
regiment raised In our county and filed with
lais loon companions. This Is all heard
Until the army came here, as you know.
WheI neared the place marching that FIRST
-
day, my heart was full and It was as much az
could do to keep from rushing out to greet
Eva 1t the roadside-for my sister was my
favu lite pet in the old days
"V hen went with you that night, as soon
a. tn, greetings were over, ] learned that .
third principal was IN the house Capt. Soy