The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-09-28
Soldiers 8uoeet.
Hardly a Romance.

Ire lSldHu WOulu De slSuUtu ult htAJ
day if all went well, and the great
steamer rushed through the water as if
she were as anxious to reach her pier as
those whom she bore were to be at home
again. A little party of men sat by u
smokestack telling stories The play of
the moonlight on the waves had turned
the narratives into rather sentimental
channels, and the judge, giving way to
the influence of the "lovers' lamp" told
the following story:
"You know | was colonel in the
Union army in the war. Well, early in
the struggle l was ordered to Louisville,
where l reported to General Don Carlos
Buell.. Instructions were given me to
go into camp with my regiment about
six miles south of the city. The place
chosen for the encampment was the
lawn Of fine country place, the home of
one of Kentucky's blueblooded old fam.
lilies. The owners were known to be in
strong sympathy with the south, so we
had no compunctions about disfguring
the grounds by making our temporary
home on them.
"On arriving at the farm l and some
of my officers rode up to the house to
arrange for such food as we could get.
We found two young women, pretty as
pictures, awaiting us on the broad We
randa. They had seen the preparations
for pitching the tents, and were evil
IDENTIFY not pleased. dismounted, made
my best bow and explained that the ext
gencies of war compelled us to camp on
their lawn. | assured them that the
soldiers would inconvenience them as
little as possible.
"The two listened to my little speech
with looks of anger, and the taller one
snapped out: You shall not camp on
our place. The last time Union soldiers
were here we didn't have cream for our
coffee for two weeks and we don't pro-
pose to stand it again
1--WE soldiers, accustomed to pretty
rough fare, could not help laughing al
this, and the flush on the faces of the
women grew hotter. l fastened tC
apologize and to say again that we
would be as considerate as the necessi
ties of war permitted. Then we rode t
our tents.
1.-The next morning visited the house
again to see about getting some provi
sions. The young women were still
naughty, but l did my best to softer
their antipathy. did save them mucl
annoyance and they could not help being
grateful. Somehow L found occasion t
visit the house daily, and sometimes
managed to conjure up a second pretex
before bedtime. At the end of a weel
the sisters regarded me more as an indi
vidual and less as Union officer, for
studiously avoided referring to the war
Once or twice the elder one told m,
with flashing eyes what would happier
to our men when they met Confederate
force on the battlefield. Her brothe
was captain in General Humphre,
Marshalls army, and she warned M
against getting within rifle shot of hi
regiment.
1--WE got on swimmingly on the whole
however, and l confess l grew NOR
than little fond of the spirited girl
In little while the order came to NOV
y, Il
commonly sad when l rode up to tn
house to tell the young ladies goodby
| imagined there was slight sign o
emotion in the elders pretty face whel
l told the news, but it disappeared al
most instantly. Holding out her hant
to me she said frankly: 'Goodby, colo
mel. | am really sorry to see you &c
nj
Please avoid my brother. You nigh
get into trouble
II laughed. Would you like to Sc
your brother | asked.
ooh, yes. Why do you ask she said
puzzled.
"'Well, I'll send him to see you then
1t was her turn to laugh, and she sal
mockingly, You'd better look out whe
he's in the same county with YOU
rode away, the tones, but not the words
ringing in my ears.
mot long afterward my regiment wa
in eastern Kentucky. One night two c
our men brought in prisoner. He ha
carelessly wandered outside his line
and been captured. A handsome youn
fellow he certainly was, with the beal
ing of a cavalier. What is your name
/ asked him.
"Captain -, of the - Kentucky
he replied.
II was all excitement, but | tried t
speak in calm tones. DO you live abou
six miles south of Louisville?' l asked
to make assurance doubly sure. II
said with some surprise that he die
The next day arranged that the pri'
oner should be paroled. said that
knew his family and would vouch fC
his honor. He was allowed to go HON
after giving the usual pledge. merel
explained TO him that had met his si
, tiers, and asked him to tell them thu
Colonel -, of the - Minnesota, ha
sent him. He said he would, and starte
for Louisville"
There was silence for time. FINAL
some one said, "Well?'
The judge had been looking out owe
the ocean. He turned toward the speake,
II suppose you married the sister, WEI
: on the man.
Its odd that every one who hears tn