River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-01-08

Captain exclaimed:
This isn't according to custom. Who
knows but she's young man disguised,
and viii drop the Major with a pistol.
Come on, boys"
Several OF US followed him. As we
saw him twirling the ends of his mus
tache and tipping his hat slightly to one
side. we followed his example in these
respects also. We overlook the Major
Just as the rider halted, looking very
pale, and said:
1T wasn't his fault, sir really it
wasn't
Whose fault, MADAME" said the Ma
jor. rising his hat.
'.Mr. Glennie's," said the girl
'sOh. confound it! l mean-so they
got him, did they?"
s'Oh. no, sir; but he wishes they had.
And they would have done so, only
only"
We'll. MADAME"
''Only they were prevented"
Indeed. How was that?"
'Nhy, you see, sir, he stopped at our
house Just for drink of water, and
while he was standing by the well the
Rangers"
''Rangers?"
'.Yes, sir; the Texas cavalry-they
came across the hill just then. lie
started to run this way. but-but-"
..Well?"
The girl looked down a moment, col
ored. raised her head, and said rapidly:
4 told him he would never get there
alive. | said they were a hundred to
one, and he'd surely be killed. I'm a
true Southern woman. sir; my father is
Captain Grayson, of the artillery bat
talon, but / don't believe murder is
war, so / made him come into the
house. He declared he wouldn't; death
was nothing to duty. But l made him
come in"
Indeed! What arguments did you
use, may ask?"
Again the girl looked down and col
ored deeply. Some of the young officers
began to exchange winks.
He declared he wouldn't" the girl
resumed. but made him. He strug-
gled with all his might. but"
Il beg your pardon for interrupting, y
said the Major, biting his lip, ''but-he
escaped. them"
Yes, sir; but not moment too soon.
hadn't more than got him into the
hOgshead-"
''HogShead?'
Yes, sir; big sugar hogshead in the
cellar that we had meant to keep sweet
potatoes in. when two of the Rangers
came to the front door. They said they'd
seen a Yankee at the well and wanted
him. told them he had seen them and
made a dash for his own lines. lie
really did YOU know, for a step or two,
when-when-"
When You warned him of his dan.
g,r?"
Yes, sir. Well, they took my word
when told them who my father was
and they went away"
.'Ah. Where are the Rangers now?''
They went back-I don't know
where-hours ago"
And caught him as they went?"
''Oh. no, sir: they couldn't. But he
was in a dreadful excitement. lie said
he had no right to be outside the lines
he could be court-martialed for it and
disgraced. and may be shot if things
went wrong in the fight. He went on
80 that / wouldn't listen to him. and
was afraid that some of the Rangers
might come back and hear him, so
wouldn't stay and listen to him
But why didn't he return after they
retired?-'
Because he couldn't, sir. ! wouldn't
let him. ! didn't want him to be court
martialed and shot. and all of those
dreadful things: 50 | thought il would
be only right To come and tell you il
wasn't his fault"
The enemy has been gone several
hours" said the Major, turning with a
suspicious look to ms. I'm afraid there
is some ruse about this" Then he
turned to the girl. and sternly said:
Young woman. if your story is true
he should have returned by this time
He knows there is nothing to fear, and
there Is nothing to prevent his coming
back. if he knows the enemy have dis
appeared"
.'Oh. yes. there is. sir; there's a cover
to the hogshead. and a paddock beside. >
.Oh-h-.' said the major, with many
infections, hes your prisoner, is he:
But. heavens. madam, if he has been
locked in hogshead all this time he's
probably suffocated. Confound-"
"Oh, no." said the girl. with an as
surfing smile. There's big bunghOle
to the hogshead, and l know he has
sense enough to breathe through it, be
cause when went down and whispered
through it that the Rangers had gone
home again. he"
what did he say?"
Nothing -he-but | know he was
alive and Just like his old self" Then
the girl suddenly dropped her eyes
again and colored deeply, while a very
young Lieutenant murmured:
.'Umr'
Il See" drawled the Major, very
slowly. Attention. First company
deploy as slirInishers. Forward!''
The girl turned her horses head
quickly. looked backward, set her lip:
firmly, and exclaimed:
You're not going to court-martia
and shoot him2'
Suppose vere?' said the Major. a:
the men began to file from behind the
curtain" that commanded the road.
Then" said the girl, IN gallon
ahead at the risk of my life, and let him
escape on my pony
Madam. said the Major, lifting hi:
hat, Il give you the word of a soldier
and a gentleman that you shall be his
sole judge"
The skirmish line advanced. and the
officers Of the other companies followed
the girl and the Major. The latter
should have ordered US to remain with
our men, but he didn't. We reached
the hOuse-more than mile outside the
lines-without annoyance: and when
the girl had lighted a candle we fol
lowed her and the Major to the cellar.
The Majors suggestion that the girl
should first whisper at the bunghole
and see if the captive was still alive,
was not acted upon Instead, she said.