The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-11-07

devoted to our prisoner and she was
made as comfortable as pos.
sible. left her talking to Sunny"
and joined the picket in the other
room. 1t was fearful night, with the
bowling blast and pouringf1ood, while
the waves dashed against the pier and
threw watery fingers upon its top.
The building rocked and groaned with
every rush of wind and waves, but
worn out | spread blanket upon the
floor and sank into heavy sleep.
When | woke the night was we'll spent,
the rain had ceased, but the wind was
still blowing a gale. The pickets around
me were sleeping soundly, but was
certain that heard some one walk
ing with the guard on dutyin the shell
ter Of the building and engaged in O.
low conversation. was certain that
l distinguished "Sunny'g" voice.
composed myself again to slumber
and woke no more until broad day
lioht. My first thought was of my
prisoner and l sought her apart
ment. There was no response
to my thrice-repeated knock and l en-
tered. The bird had flown. No one
could give me the slightest information.
None of the guard had seen Sunny"
or the girl since the night before, and
Andrews had gone to headquarters.
was forced to believe that the CONVEX
sation | had heard was part of some
dreamy fancy. l made my way to
headquarters and rendered my report.
Sunny" was sleeping when l sought
my quarters and | did not disturb
him. | met him at night, but when l
sought to question him he was
strangely reticent and finally said,
"You know that l won't lie and /
have nothing to tell" AS her capture
was OF no consequence; and when
considered the brave part he had
played, | felt pleased at her escape
and said so. "Sunny's" face bright
ened and the cordial relations be.
tween US were restored.
was informed by Andrews that the
little girls name wasEtolie DespIaines
and the dead smuggler was Francois
GirOux, her stepfather. Three days
later the mail brought my friend let
ter postmarked New Orleans, and d.
rected in a beautiful angular hand.
An hour later he was away for the
city with a II hour pass. For the
three weeks succeeding his return he
was a changed being. Whenever we
were together he was either much eIat-
ed or correspondlngly depressed. 1t
seemed to he the old, old story. At
last one night when he came in late,
cropping unsteadily for his couch, I
noted his quick and irregular breath
ing. 1t was not long alter midnight
when | was awakened by my COM
rade's voice. lie was raving in the de-
irium OF fever. We had no medical
officer ana Icoul1 only administer SIM
pie remedies. All night he raved of his
mother, OF his duty to his country,
OfsOme dread alternative that he tear
ed to face, but always ended in a wild,
despairing cry for Etolle Desplaines
and a love that he could not lose. In
the morning had him taken to st.
Louis hospital, and the surgeon re-
piled to my inquiry. ''Typho maIari-
al fever, and thousand chances to
one against him." The answer crush
ed me. drove into New Orleans and
wandered aimlessly about Just
Tivoi Circle felt a touch upon my
arm, and, turning, l looked into the
beautiful face OF Etoile Desplaines.
Pardon me-" she said, but as We
have met before and I am sure you
won't arrest me now'-there was a
twinkle OF the black eyes and a little
smile on the perfect lips as she said
this, but and now there was ten
der pleading in the low tones-"will
you tell me OF your friend?"
l answered as we'll as was able, "In
St. Louis hospital dying with the
fever"
Her face turned white as death; she
gave one low, sharp cry, and with q
look that haunted me for many day
she turned and was gone like a flash.
That night l was detailed to division
headquarters, and was off for the
Red river. During the Red river cam
paign there came to me there one
day, in answer to many written en-.
quiries, this information of Sunny"
from the executive officer Of st. Louis
hospital, -"Discharged from the hos
pital conValescent.' This news was
doubly welcome, and | looked Tor
warn to our meeting in the regiment
with eager anticipation, but when
next joined my own command the
Potomac was in sight, and no one
had heard OF Sunny" He had never
hoisted sail and heavy double-ba
relied gun went quickly to his Shout
joined the company. and his name
had been dropped from the roll. A
vague presentiment fixed itself upon
my mind.
X
1t was the close OF that memorable
day when Sheridan and Early joined
issues where the circling SUBMITS OF
the Blue Ridge look down on the gar
den spot OF Virginia. | was making
my way to the hospital OF another
division where q friend struck down
in the first charge, was carried. The
September moon was rising in the
heavens. Beyond the hill where the
death dealing batteries of the enemy
had been posted, made little de-
tour to avoid the horrors of the main
battlefield. In q beautiful glen I
crossed the Redbud and was climbing
the wooded slope beyond. There was
q sudden flash and sharp report Of
a pistol close before me. sprang for
ward quickly. In a little opening
where the moonbeams struggled
through the leaves OF q giant hickory,
one upon the other, two
forms were lying. A sudden fear came
over me as l discovered the upper
most was a woman. AS l lifted the
form with trembling hands, a pistol
dropped from the dead and nerveless
fingers. The other form was man
clad in the gray Uniform OF the con-
federate service. The breast, bandag-
ed with linen torn by his companion
from her own fair bosom, showed
where he had been wounded. His
soul was but now released, and it's
message rung the death knell OF the
beautiful girl who lay beside him,
dead by her own act. They were
beautiful in life, and the dead white
faces were beautiful still. They were
Etoile Desplaines and Sunny" An
| drews.
Through the week we 60 down into
the valleys of care and shadow. Our
Sabbaths should be hills Of light and