The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-06-06

Charlie Fulton's absence from his post
had not caused CONSERVATION among his
comrades and intense distress to his
father. None, however, but Major
Hopkins and Frank Besant had attrib-
uted suspicious motives to his disap-
pearance, and you may be assured that
they kept their own counsel, Jealous of
their comrades honor and mindful of
their Colonel, whose heart they knew
would be broken if his boy fell into dis
grace, so it was generally accepted tltat
he had ridden farther than was prudent
and had fallen into the tolls of the en-
emy. But the Major and Frank had
drawn the worst conclusions, especially
when the latter learned from the pick
cts the direction the absentee had taken
when he started on the journey from
which he had never returned. Besant
hoped against hope, but Hopkins vowed
that he had sold himself body and soul
for pretty face, and had gone over to
the enemy.
''He always had preposterous ideas
Of Southern chivalry," the Major said,
land it only wanted the witchery Of
! this woman to tip the scale of his un-
balanced mind and land him headlong
in ruin," supposition the younger man
had not the courage to controvert.
1t can readily be imagined, then, how
his heart beat with renewed hope when
on the afternoon of the 3d. while a
fearful storm was raging, which will
never be forgotten by those who
shivered meath its blasts, an old colored
man crept into camp, anXiously in
quiring for him. He bore a letter
written on a cr,lmpled leaf of paper
and inclosed in an empty rife cartridge.
shell, which the wary messenger had
carried in his mouth for security's sake
and which he gravely assured Frank he
would have swallowed If he had been
caught by the enemy.
Hastily unfolding it, Besant read the
penciled lines:
q. "FRIEND FRANK! 1 bave been for some
weeks prisoner. This morning they moved
me from MurfreesborU to mill four miles
down the river from your camp. We are only
under q guard of eight men and q sergeant,
besides some invalids, who won't count in O
scrmmage. You and dozen boys of the
Fourth might readily effect a rescue If you
think worth the risk. Bragg has given or
ders for retreat at daybreak, so If you don't
hurry It will be oil up with your unfortunate
friend CHARLIE FULTON"
Rewarding the faithful negro beyond
his widest expectations, Frank hurried
to the Major with his glad tidings, bu'
to his surprise his senior evinced NJ
especial signs of qualification.
"You are little too sanguine, Frank
my boy" he said, gravely, "but though
we are relieved of the pain of believing
the young man Is voluntarily absen
from our ranks, the onus yet remains
on him to prove how innocently he fel
into captivity. You see, now the Colone
is wounded, the command of the regi
ment devolves on me for the time being
and considering the responsibilities o
my position, do not for the life of mi
see how, If you brought him back
knowing what l do know, have an,
other alternative than to place hin
under arrest and court-martial him."
ooh, sir, surely you would not pro
ceed to such extreme measures"
, 81 am afraid l should, Frank, and, /
I did, it would go far to kill his poo
4 father, who now lies In a very crttica
. condition. guess we had better lie
? this young fellow paddle his own cano
for a time-a dose of Libby prison vii
o go long way to ameliorate his high
a flown sentiments on Southern chivalry
'That is not spoken like Major Hop
8 kins."
8 "Nor Is 1t spoken by Major Hopkins
y but by the acting-Colonel OF a regiment
l. whose fair fame shall never be staine
r while l command. If my own dea
d son were here alive to-day, and he ha
T done what Charles Fulton has, wou1
:, order him under arrest without On II
y stant's hesitation"
Frank was awed to silence by tn
It Majors earnestness.
"You see, Besant," the older ma
y continued, "I am In possession of fact
concerning which you know nothing"
l, A spark of intelligence flashed
Franks brain.
IT "And your informant, sir, was jaime
LawsonP" he asked eagerly.
70 " If SO, what then2"
N ''Only, sir, that you are condemnin
it a man of honor on the word of as baf
a scoundrel as ever lied to forward h
70 miserable ends" was the hot reply.
IL ''That may be, but even an invetera'
IS, liar may speak the truth, If it suits h
Is purpose"
le "Granted, Major; but are you quit
sure that the truth did suit his purpoi
Of in this instance?"
For reply the Major took from h
ro poclret-book torn piece Of paper, {
is which was some writing In pencil, al
le handed 1t to his subordinate, with ii
10 remark:
tn 81 am committing no breach Of con
l. dence In showing you this. Do "
recognize the hand that penned tn
treacherous scrawl?"
Frank read the lines eagerlyi thC
contained brief but suocinct desert
ton of Buell's position at Nashvin
were addressed to Miss Lascelles, al
were signed, "your devoted frien
hA C.F."