Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-05-30


lieutenant, responded In the same tone. He
looked over the party, the women nodding a
recognition, and then looking straight at me,
he said:
"Whom have you here, Mr.. --2n calling
the farmer by name. He eyed me keenly
from head to foot, and the whole proceeding
was so sudden that l was off my guard. The
searching glance of the officer made me quickly
conscious of something | had not given
thought heretofore, but which now was all
important was dressed in buttarnut suit
exactly like the foot people with the cavalry,
and who | now saw were prisoners The
farmer broke the painful silence and said
calmly:
Captain, | reckon he is one of you-all"
The lieutenant came nearer, pulled open
my jacket laps, saw the cotton shirt beneath
and the store shoes on my feet and shook his
head moving away without a word.
Explain this" he said to me, hating at a
few PAGES and resting his sword on end as he
stood.
Il am SICK" said my regiment is'-
was about to say at Newport News, when
remembered 1t was far away in battle.
"What regiment-what corps!' he snapped
out, tapping with his sword with meaning
look at his followers.
60 New York, Sixth corps" l answered
promptly.
"Where's your uniform and your equip
mentsr he demanded in the same skeptical
tone.
reddened so that | felt hot through and
turned heplessly to Allie, whose anxious face
was fixed upon mine in silent appeal. She
stammered out something to her father, who
was stealthily regarding the mysterious pris-
oners of the party and trying to look uncon-
cerned
did not know how to answer, for in my
mind the subject was blank. My situation
as a convalescent was to- agreeable to leave
room for care about the future, and had
thought of my army belongings at all it
would have been to conclude that they were
slowed safe in some closet to be ready on call
The farmer stepped into the cottage door
holding to che officer to follow, and. suppos-
ing that my conclusion was to be proved cor
rect started to follow them and change the
color of my Clothes for knew that was in
the hands of the patrol from the fort and my
holiday from soldering was over. Allie kept
her great tender eyes riveted on me, wonder
and anxiety revealing something deeper and
telling me that | was all in all to her. Clasp
ing both her hands in mine looked her frank
" in the face and said: "You are "A true Nir-
gilman, and when Virginia Is once more Union
| Will come again" With my eyes and a
pressure of the hands promised still more,
kissed her burning cheek and hasten ed after
the officer and his guide
Everything l owned had been buried deer
in the ground: the farmer had done it to
avoid the prying suspicion of INSCRIPTIONS
Secesh neighbors. When he dragged them
out the lieutenant eyed each piece to see that
they were parts of one whole, and when
stood up fully clad and equipped he said, dry
ly, "All right! my boy; but this will have tC
be better explained some day
l went rapidly to my regiment, all the way
under provost escort. The two butternu
prisoners were convicted of desertion from
the Union army and sent To breaking stont
for the rest of their terms of service. Oui
colonel received me with the welcome new
that he had in his camp chest a commission
for me as a reward for bravery in front o.
Richmond but before l could qualify as al
officer the charge of deserton made by til,
provost marshals office must be cleared up
How account for the time between my de
parture from the fort and arrest by the pro
vostl The patrol lieutenant kindly forward
ed the farmers statement with his indorse
ment that the Virginian was a worthy man
to be friendly to all kinds even to renegade
and guerillas.
My colonel sent to the TIL Michigan to Sc
cure AllarI's testimony about my losing tn
path and the consequences of that mishap
but the answer came back that he had bee
discharged the service of the United States
present whereabouts unknown"
| fingered III the guard house for weeks
My case was published III the army and
was on the point of yielding to the regua
course of justice, which to me would meal
eternal disgrace, when stranger i'll civilian
clothes was admitted to my quarters. In
few moments identity was established to an
swer the points of law, and | walked out al
honest man with commission in my hand.
The civilian witness had heard of my cas-
by accident way out in the northwest wood.
had traversed u long wilderness route on foo
and incurred great expense to save my sol
der reputation and honor after so nobly saw
ing my life in the swamps. He was the tray
eler whom | had avoided on Hampton pike
The tide had cut him off in the little orchar
peninsula that summer night. AMI in his wal
behring's he had found me where had falle
, in fever chill, and then alone had dragge
me to the haven where | was finally nurse
back to life.
The commander paused, somewhat agitate
, and breathless, for the recital had been r,
ceved with an intense interest that reacte
} on the speaker and made him all but elc
quent After a short breathing spell h
, tnrned to the strange couple on the right an
said, Comrades, my story is recalled to III
at this time by the presence with us of Con
rade Allard, of Michigan, and the true daugl
: ter of Virginia, who, am certain, is again
, the Union, for she is the mother of my tw
loyal sons of veterans, and for nearly twent,
five years my wife"
/. A Story of sherman.
3