The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-30
ct WILL CONN BACK AeAm. ="

through the doorway:
"Aliep she said, ''you may come now"
A young woman-yes, a mere girl-entered
and instantly I thought OF that sweet voice
heard in my deirium.
81 am SO glad you are better" she said,
Ehyly lingering behind the elder one.
After pause the latter said:
"Now, daughter, 1 think you may talk
about bis affairs"
Ny eyes were again fixed on the shore lands
and repeated word for word the old thought,
az came from there-from there" Memory
stopped at that.
eyes" said the young one, 'tfrom there;
but you were brought; you-you couldn't
walk yourself"
This was said with naive expression Of
curiosity and pathetic interest
"Who brought meG" l said.
another soldier. He had you bound on a
board, and one end dragged on the ground
and he carried the other"
was lost in thought This was new to me-
"Where am q" said, looking around the
room
"Why, in our house, on Hampton pike. !"
After watching the effect of this explanation
for moment she added: "You lost your
way, reckon"
Slowly / recalled and recounted audibly
my adventures of the trip toward Newport
News
81 lost my way-the path was not there
The water-oh the warer-the fever-the
darkness and the terrible swarms of buzzing,
singing beesl"
Eyes, you had fallen from a tree. He
picked you up and got you here as soon as
light. You-you might have died" she add
ed, tenderly, looking down and blushing.
The mother now came forward with some
nourishment, and | lay and fed myself Ian
guidly, with the eyes Of this fair young sa-
marian watching me. and ready answers
waiting for every question.
Before I turned to sleep that night knew
that l was by chance in the care Of q humble
Virginia farmers family, and that kind nurs-
ing had saved my life. In a few days was
able to go out on the little front porch, and
there l passed the long summer afternoons
cheered not little of the time by the COM
pany of Allie, whom, on account of the same
ness of our ages, her parents seemed to turn
over 10 my companionship as a matter OF
course.
Allie explained it one day after regarding
me long time with pair of wistful eyes.
1--WE never see anybody now, not since the
war, and it is right good to have you to talk
to-"
The farmer and his wife were taking an
afternoon breathing spell on the little cottage
lawn within hearing.
Daughter, did you tell the soldier how he
came to be here with usf' said the mother.
about the way he was carried herel Yes,
MOTHER"
mo; mean why the other soldier left
him to us. You see," she said, rising and
walking toward the porch 'the other soldier
wanted to know how we stood on the war,
and said; We are Virginiaus sure enough
Then you so SeoeshT he said. Wasn't
Virginia Union oncer I said. 'Ya-a-s, he
answered, right doubtfully. And won't she
be Union againr | continued He thought
over it a spell and then looking at yore pore
weak body he said: We'll, can trust you
anyway Then he left you"
The farmer rose up and paced back and
forth in the yard, looking, with careless mo-
tions but with an anxious face, IN all direc-
tions. They are UnionistS at heart, said,
'1ssGid the. means social c-:t!%wTy."
Besides it placed the whole household under
a sort of espionage, for the house was on the
border between Union military ground and
the broad, debatabls soil Of Virginia. Chang
ing the subject, for l saw the farmers uneaSi-
ness, l asked:
"Who was the soldier that left me hereT'
ooh, I forgot all about that paper" Allie
exclaimed; and, running into the house, soon
returned with a little ship that read, A. Al
lard, til Michigan. He said was to give
this to any of yeu-aA that came this way"
the maiden added
1t was my turn 10 be mortified and re-
served. This was doubtless the comrade
whom had repul sed and almost insulted on
the journey that memorable day.
For a long time was so deeply buried In a
very unpleasant retrospect condemning my
own stupid and brutal treatment OF a fellow
soldier that did not notice the alarm and
uneasiness of my benefactors, who had left
the lawn and were standing, guard ike, at the
open door watching party approaching the
house by the farm lane. Tho new corners
were Union cavaIrymen, having under escort
two foot travellers, not in uniform.
Not a word was said until the horsemen
refined up in the yard and the leader dis
mounted and stepped toward the porch.
"How-d've, captainT' the farmer said faTil-
larry, and the ether, who was really second
lieutenant responded In the same tone. He
looked over the party, the women nodding
recognition, and then looking straight at me,
he said:
Whom have you here, Mr.. -" calling
tbs farmer by name. He eyed me keenly
from head to foot, and the whole proceeding
was so sudden that l was of nay guard. The
searching glance OF the officer made mequickly
conscious OF something l had not given a
thought heretofore. but which now MAS all
important | was dressed IL butteruRt suit
exactly ike the foot people with the cavalry,
and who | now saw were prisoners. The
farmer broke the painful silence and said
calmly;
Captain, I reckon he is one Of you-aH"
The lieutenant came nearer, pulled open
nv jacket laps, saw the cotton shirt beneath
and the store shoes on NV feet and shook his
head. moving away without word.
Explain this" he said 20 me, hating At =
few PAGES and resting his sword on end as be
stood.
Il am Sick said. MY regiment is
I was about to say az Newport News, when
remembered Il YVES far away n battle.
what regiment-what corpsf' he snapped
out tapping with his sword, vita meaning
look at his followers
60 New York, Sixth corps" answered
promptly.
where's ysur uniform sHd your equip
meatSr he demanded II the same skeptlcal
tone
reddaned 50 that I felt not through and
turned heiplessiy 10 Allie, whose anxious facs
was fxed upon mins il silent appeal She
stammaTed out something % her father, WHO
was scealtnly regarding the mysterious Pris-
onsrs Of toe party and trying % look uaeOa-
cAEnsd