The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-06-25

SOmeClmeS ChlnK now, considering how
much was really wasted or arrived
too late, that if we could have hac
fifty or sixty experienced commissariat
men, that the issue OF that war would
have been different.
Well, it was after one of these DAYS
of exhausting labor at the desk that
the night being warm, I strolled
around to hotel much frequented by
officers and the tennessee doree Of the
whole South, who We're in Richmond
at the time, and seating myself at one
OF the tables, called for light lunch
and glass of wine.
While awaiting my order to be filled,
| picked up an old copy of the New
York Tribune and began to read what
our friends, the enemy, had to say
about us, as listened to the occas-
ional booming OF their heavy guns
without.
Suddenly an advertisement caught
my eye: ~. q.
Wanted-News OF the whereabouts
OF Miss Imogene Hartley, now in the
South. Any one applying to any
officer ofthe field or staff OF the United
States army and sending letter con-
tanning the above information will be
literally rewarded and granted safe
passage (if the bearer be Southern
many back to N own lines. Measures
have been taken to secure the return
OF Miss H. to her friends should her
whereabouts become known. Address,
Parents, this Office.
Imogene Hartley!
Why, she was the woman I loved
best in all this world. She it was
whose gentle nursing had brought me
back, l might say, from the grave, and
in whose sweet society nearly all of
my convalescent hours had been
passed, until out OF pure shame my
conscience drove me to the ranks
again, when, as l say, was detailed
for clerical work. 1 was now fully
recovered, and only the night previous
had come as near to an open avowal
OF love as in those times, and knowing
her antecedents, I dared. But,
although a Northern girl, I knew she
loved me. She had been South on
visit when the war broke out and had
been taken with long illness. Letters
from Raleigh, she told me, and from
CharlOttesburg, where she was staying
with friends, had reached her parents,
but her later ones must evidently
have miscarried for some cause 1
once carelessly asked her to whom she
had intrusted them, and she had
replied: '"ro Captain Everett, I be-
ieve."
Her grief was great, and though
loyal to her section, she took her
turn in nursing wounded federals and
confederates alike. It was thus met
her and when I could walk about our
acquaintance was renewed. I always
avoided the subj ect OF her transfer
across the lines for ! loved her as man
loves but once in life. I had no hope,
no thought OF any future save with
her. / reverenced her and in thinking
OF her the lines again and again came
into my head:
Open wide the temple gates for this, my
love,
Open them wide, she cometh unto Him,
And deck the pillars now as doth behove,
And all the posts with flowers and gar
For to this saint much reverence is due,
AS to one who walks within
With trembling steps and humble rev.
erence,
For that she walketh before the Almightys
view.
The lines may not be correctly
quoted, but it was thus I always
thought OF my love. So pure, so free
from all outward show or inward
meanness that I trembled when I
thought OF the daring assumption
which had led me to love instead of
worshiping her. She was the incar-
nation Of purity. I can put it no
stronger. It embodied her as a mantle.
1t repells the most audacious, it
humbled all men who approached and
compelled their slavish devotion.
Why she should have singled me out
OF the crowds of brilliant officers who
surrounded her cannot imagine. !
han been promoted, but was even then
only an humble lieutnant-but read
the love-light in her eyes one spring
morning, and though no words were
said we knew we were each others for
all times. She was too true to at
tempt any coy evasion. All things
she did she did in her own perfect
manner, but love with her was holy,
and could see how intensely, how
grandly she loved me.
I finished my lunch and started at
once to where she resided with q
friend, the wife of general officer, high
IN command on Grace street, when
my attention was caught by seeing
Captain Roberts pass hurriedly from
the room, and l caught his whisper tc
a negro who stood near the door, his
oil-skins cleaning with rain, for it was
a wild, gusty evening and night had
closed in as I sat there buried ir
delicious musings. I heard him
say: -. ..s.
Jump on the box at once,
L paid no heed to this, especially as
cordially hated the man and never
believed him true at heart to the
cause.
This was the second night before
Mcclellan began his rearward move
lment. In fact, q large part OF his
heaviest munitions had already
been sent towards the ''gunboats.'
AS the door closed behind the mar
heard him say in what struck mi
as an unnaturally loud voice:
He's at the front. Let's drive
and the rest was lost in the dasl
80 ~ II n . 20