The Portland daily press., 1892-06-07

all, sir, but under the circumstances /
have no objections to answer reason
able question, if it is asked in a gentle
manly way But you act as if military
prisoner were a criminal"
''And, sir, no doubt that many of them
are, SIR growled Winder, 'Ebut 1 am
willing to believe that you are an excep-
ton, for Miss Campbell is of that opin-
ion" and the old man laughed as if he
had said something pleasant.
He then turned to Lieutenant Bowen
and sold, Il understand, sir, that you
can prove that Captain Campbell, now
under sentence of death at Camp Dick
Robinson, is entirely innocent of the
crime of which he was convicted"
AS yet Bowen did not know the cap
tain's reason for getting him to write
out a statement of his capture, and it
was not until the evening before that he
learned of Campbell's position. Now
the memory Of the wrong he had suf-
fered at the hands Of this man asserted
itself in his blazing eyes and forceful
manner:
mo, Campbell could not have killed
8 man in the heart Of Kentucky On the
date stated, for the Internal scoundrel,
to my own certain knowledge, was then
down on the Holston. But I'll get even
with him if l ever get out of your
handsr'
This was splitting the fat into the fire
with vengeance. General Winder
compressed his lips and arched his
shaggy brews in amazement, and the
captain, alarmed at the turn affairs had
taken, asked to be permitted to make an
explanation.
'You mean, sir" said Winder, "that
you will tell me how this young man,
Bowen, came to be captured?"
Eyes, sir; I think if you knew that,
you would see that he has reason for
his Indignation against Campbell" said
the captain.
General Winder took paper from a
pigeonhole and handing it to the lieuten-
ant asked;
sis that your writing?"
sit is" replied4the amazed Bowen as
he glanced over the statement he had
written out at Danwille.
''And il is true?"
"True ASA square"
Gwen, copies have been sent through
to Washington. With the manner Of
your capture we have nothing to do at
this, time. We have no charges against
Captain CampbelP-
Nor any record of him as captain?"
interrupted Bowen.
s'Yes, sir, we have, and his sister has
now in her possession his commission
bearing date one year ago. But apart
from your dislike for this unfortunate
man, you are ready to swear that he was
not in Kentucky on the sixteenth day Of
last September
81 am not ready to swear to anything
that viii help him, but if had to testify
itwould be to that effect, replied Bowen.
''l may be that we will give you the
option Of going north to testify to that
effect or remaining here prisoner.
What them"
'"Then, General Winder, would go
north to testify, for I cannot imagine
anything worse than being the forced
guest of the Confederacy."
At this the general laughed; then
Bowen was taken to another room.
No man who has ever served any
length of time in the southern military
prisons can entertain any pleasant recol-
lections Of General Winder, yet those
who knew him best say that naturally
he was q kindly man. He certainly
showed indications of such disposition
at this time. AS soon as Bowen left the
room, the general addressed himself to
Captain Forbes with much more gra-
ciousness of manner. He told him of the
noble efforts of Miss Campbell to save
her brothers life, and confirmed the
newspaper statement that she was then
in Richmond.
''She has reported your efforts in her
brothers behalf, but as yet she is not
aware that you are prisoner" he said
in conclusion.
Forgetting all his trials in the past
and present and remembering only his
love for the brave girl, the captain
asked, where is Miss Campbell now?"
For reply the general rose, motioned
IOr lne prisoner TO follow MIN, then
stepped before door, bowed for the
captain to enter and closed it, himself
remaining on the outside.
II had read of dramatic surprises and
seen some such situations on the STAGE"
said Captain Forbes in describing this
scene to the writer, "but the strongest
of them was weak and tawdry compared
with the scene in which l now found
myself an involuntary actor"
On hearing him enter Miss Campbell
turned her head, supposing it was Gen
eral Winder or one Of his staff. She sup
posed that Captain Forbes was with his
regiment in east Tennessee, and so, al
though he had never been absent from
her thoughts and prayers since their last
parting, she was as astonished at seeing
him as if her father, ten years dead, had
appeared before her in the flesh.
She tried to speak, but could only gasp
"Howard!" as with trembling hands ex-
tended she tottered toward him.
He saw only her helplessness, felt only
L y