The Irish standard., 1891-04-18

stretched in deep slunaber. woke not
| with the tu1nult around them.
| Having dressed, he walked up and
| down the narrow room, tortured and
agonized by sad reflections. Suddenly
! he saw a group of horselnen arrive ut
whose approach the pic'1ets were ON
| the alert and the guard at the gate pre-
sented arms. The sound Of voices be-
| meath him informed hira that the party
occupied the room below his own; 50
| he strained his ear to catch the current
| of their m;rmured conversation. The
next minute his door was unlocked and
an officer entered, bowling politely as
he advanced into the middle OF the
| room. ttft
'sWill you have the goodness to follow
me this way?''
Charlie had barely time to ask into
whose presence he was about to be
ushered, when, with a smile OF strange
meaning he opened door and intro
duced him into a spacious apartment.
| Although he had seen at least dozen
! horsemen arrive. there were but three
/ present One of these, who sat at
small table near the window, never
lifted his head on his entrance, but as
siduously continued his occupation.
The one, however, on whom Charles
! attention was especially concentrated
stood with his back to the open tire
place, sternly contemplating his ap-
| proach.
'sWhat is your rank, sir?" he asked,
in tone of command.
''Captain of infantry" was the sullen
reply.
s'What was the Federal force under
arms yesterday"
II do not feel able to give you any in
formation, sir, as to the number or
movements of our army" Fulton said,
respectfully, yet firmly.
1.-THE devil! Do you know to whom
you are talking and what you are say
inc, sir? Smith, do you hear the fell
low?''
Eyes, SIR the other replied. And,
if you will permit me to deal with him
will have the information out OF him
;; before he is ten minutes older, General
Bragg"
'Ah, you rascal, I believe you,' the
superior smiled, graciously: "but I'm
not going to trust him to your gentle
catechism.
Had you dispatches?'' he added, turn
ing to Fulton, who preserved All obstl-
nate silence, ON seeing which ne ad-
dressed the officer who had brought the
prisoner in: "Were any dispatches
found on him when he was takeQ?"
''No, sir; nothing was found Oh him
except this locket."
l,Is, at na t,pal1-
tiful features of Mary LascelIes. AN
other of my Lady fantasies hapless
victims-take the prisoner back to his
quarters.'
''Come along,'' said the good-humored
officer, as he strobe from the roorny with
Charlie following.
''Have they given you any grub to-
dayf' he asked, as they reached the
prisor, chamber.
mot a bite nor sup; but am not
hungry" was the doleful confession
"Pshaw, man! cheer Uphill go below
and send you something,' and, true to
his word, his departure was quickly fol-
lowed by substantial meal, which
Fulton, notwithstanding his troubles,
did ample justice to.
LHCiJ CsbAlt: CAttIUSi VI gu AAA'o SAAAI
stamping Of horses without, and Charlie
saw the squadron Oh the move,
''Hy Jove! you are in luck, my boy,"a q
manly voice cried, as his door opened,
and the officer who had commanded his
guard the previous night made his ap-
pearance.
GLOW sop Charlie asked, weari]y.
ssWhy, there's no batch Of prisoners
to send to limbo, SO I've orders to con-
duct you to recruiting station at Muir
freesboro, where yon won t get half bad
quarters, can tell you, The General,
too, is we'll Impressed with you, and
means to let you down easy, so keep a
stiff upper-lip and hope for better fort
11He.''
Fulton's next quarters were in a
large, roony building, which had once
been private residence of no mean
proportions. but which was now occu~
pied by the military, partly as a recruit
ing office and partly as a hospital for a
few convalescent officers, whose wounds
for the time incapacitated them for act
i've service. His chamber faced the
grounds of a handsome mansion, ten
anted evidently by persons of position
in society, for Charlie spent many
weary hour watching gay groups of
ladies gathered on the broad verandah,
or toiling with the needle on soldiers
supplies in the handsome rooms, the
windows of which were almost always
open.
He had been offered parole, and had
refused, decision which did not lower
him in the estimation Of his generous
captors
And now the gayest season IN all the
year in the South was approaching, the
Christmas holidays, and Charlie could
| see that his fair neighbors were making
lavish preparation for the coming
festivities.
Charlie happened to mention this to a
young officer, who often fingered after
a visit Of inspection to chat with the
prisoner
'Bah! My dear fellow, it isn't only
for the holidays they're decorating, but
| tonight that pretty girl in blue, leaning