Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-11-04
IT LACKED ROMANCE.
A War Story Which Would BE Improved
by u Little Fiction.


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 smokestack, telling stories The
play Of the moonlight on the waves had
turned the narratives into rather senti-
mental 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 was ordered to Louis
vile, where ] reported to Gen. 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 a fine country place, the
home of one of Kentucky's blue blooded
old families. The owners were known
to be in strong sympathy with the
south, SO we had no computations
about disfguriug the grounds by max
ing our temporary home on them. On
arriving at the farm, and some Of my
officers rode up 10 the house to arrange
for such food rs we could get. We
found two young women, pretty as
pictures, awaiting us on the broad
veranda. They had seen the prepare
tons for pitching the tents, and were
evidently not pleased. ! dismounted,
made my best bow, and explained that
the cxigencies 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
"We soldiers, accustomed to pretty
rough fare, could not help laughing at
this, and the flush on the faces of the
women grew hotter. ! fastened to
apologize and to say again that we
would be as considerate as the necessities
of war permitted Then we rode to our
| tents.
1.-The next morning l visited the
house again to sec about getting some
provisions. The young women were
still naughty, but l did my best to
soften their autipathy. did save them
much annoyance and they could not
help being grateful Somehow, found
occasion to visit the house daily, and
sometimes | managed to conjure up a
second pretext before bedtime. At the
end of a week the. sisters regarded me
more as an individual and less as a
union officer, for | studiously avoided
referring to the war Once or twice
the elder one told me with flashing
eyes what would happen to our men
when they met a confederate force on
the battlefield. Her brother was a
captain in Gen, Humphrey Marshall's
army, and she warned me against get
ting within rifle-shot of his regiment,
| 1--WE got on swimmingly, on the
whole, however, and | confess | grew
more than little fond of the spirited
| girl. In little while the order came
to move on to eastern Kentucky, and
| felt uncommonly sad when | rode up tc
the house to tell the young ladies good.
by. imagined there was a slight
sign of emotion in the elders pretty
face when told the news, but it dis
appeared almost instantly. Holding
out her hand to me, she said frankly
'Good-by, Colonel. | am really sorry
to see you go. You are not so bad
for Yankee. Please avoid my brother
You might get into trouble
81 laughed Would you like to sec
your brothcr?' | asked.
oh yes, Why do you askF she
said, puzzled. ...
"'Well, I'll send him to see you, then,
1t was her turn to laugh, and she said
mockingly: you'd better look ou'
when he's in the same county with YOU
rode away, the tones, but not the
words, ringing in my ears.
Not long afterward my regiment was
in eastern Kentucky. One night two
of our men brought in prisoner. He
had carelessly wandered outside hi
lines and been captured. A handsome
young fellow he certainly was, witt
the bearing of a cavalier. What il
your name? | asked him.
"'Capt. -, of the - Kentucky,
he replied.
81 was all excitement, but tried t,
speak in calm tones. DO you live abou
six miles south of Louisville?' asked
to make assurance doubly sure, He saiC
with some surprise that he did. TIL
next day l arranged that the prisone
should be paroled. said that knew
his family, and would vouch for hi
honor. He was allowed to go home al
ter giving the usual pledge. / mereI,
explained to him that had met his sis
tiers, and asked him to tell them tina
Col. -, of the - Minnesota, ha
sent him. He said he would, and start
ed for Louisville"
There was silence for time. Finall
some one said, "Well?"
The Judge had been looking out owe
the ocean. He turned toward tn
speaker. 81 suppose you married tn
sister," went on the man.
ITS odd that every one who hear
the story should ask that" the judg
said. mo, never went back to Ker
, lucky and never saw any of the famil
again. / married Minnesota girl"
There was silence again for time
but all thought: "What disappoin
ing end for romancer-N. Y. Tribun,
A Fine Point.
He had stopped in the cigar store
I invest a nickel in couple of Rankt
. doros, and he noticed in the case, cart
n fully enveloped in gold foil, a ne
: brand of smokers.