Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1893-05-05

unNVfIu Vne ny one the Officcfa
cape down A savofy smell of ham
and eggs greeted The unmdden
guests, and Just NJ the sun was com
Ing mp Aunt Nancy announced that
breakfast was rcndy.
The meal was quickly dispatched
The mass of men was soon IN mo
ton. The vanguard, with the sun
glinting on the steel barrel : the
gums, moved ON over the arch Of q
bridge In dusty road. The cihnk
Of canteens, the steady tramp of
thousands of feet. the dull, monoto.
nous roll Of drum, and the Union men
marched out Of Poinsett on their
way south. Major Brown fingered
at the poinsett mansion until after
the rear guard had crossed the
bridge until the last straggler had
gone Then he babe Miss Roby
goodby and started 10 join the
troops.
Started TO join his troops' Az the
bridge IL bushwhackers sprang at
his horse. The majors sword flashed,
and the leader was under the horses
feet. The animal stumbled over the
PROSTATE man. Smoke puffed from a
pistol, and the horse fell to his knees,
attempted to rise but went down
with a groaD. pinning his rider un-
derneath. The keen sword snapped
over the barrel Of a guerrilla's gun.
The major was taken captive
Back up the road to the Poinsett
mansion the little procession passed.
The major, leaning on the arm Of the
stalwart leader, again faced the broad
front door and again Aunt Nancy
opened it for him. The prisoner
dropped with groan into a chair
and placed his hand on his left leg.
Its broken" he whispered. Miss
Rohy stood amazed in the doorway.
II have come back" the soldier said,
with painful smile, and his cheeks
blanched with pain, "a prisoner. ]
fear that shall have to trouble you,
for my leg is broken. must lie
down"
The men bore their prisoner up
the stairs and laid him on the bed
he had so recently left. The doctor
from the village was called, and the
fracture was gradually reduced
He can't be moved for eight weeks
and probably ten. You can't tell,
sab, g" addressing the major. 1T all
depends on a mans constitution
Leaving one Of their number on
guard the party Of Confederates hur
ried on after other stragglers and to
report their prize. The day wore
slowly away for the major.
In mind he was leading the troops
the hum of bumblebees about the
honeysuckles was the dull rumble Of
the drum; the throb of pulse beats
against the pillow was the steady
tramping of the men. and the meas
ured ticking of the clock in the hall
below the castanet music of the can
teen. Gradually the sounds blended;
the army passed farther and farther
away. The major slept. When he
opened his eyes, bouquet of bright
roses stood upon the stand at the
head of his bed. The sentry paced
back and forth in front of the cur
tain. A door opened and Miss Roby
entered
Seeing the major was awake, she
went to the bedside with the cheer !
of a hospitable heart. The off.
GER was her prisoner, yet he was
her guest. The soft light of day
faded away, and Aunt Nancy brought
a bowl of bread and milk and can
die. The major ate, talked and
slept The next day the guard was
relieved by Miss Roby, who brought !
her book and work. She read for an
hour and then took up her sewing.
The prisoner talked of the north, !
Of Chicago. the growing young city
by the lake; told of his mother and
sister there. Of the great expanse Of
rich prairies; talked of Abe Lincoln
and related amusing anecdotes of the
presidents life and touched his lis
tener's heart with pathetic sketches
Of the great abolitionist's history.
The days rolled on apace. There was
little use for the guard. Major Brown
had given his word Of honor that he
would stay there until taken away
or rescued by Union men-and there
was little hopes of the latter. Pro-
visions were running low. and the
guard was sent away.
July passed into August before the
prisoner was allowed to swing him
,elf about the garden on a pair of
,rutches. The leg got well slowly,
put the war went on, though little Of
he news reached Poinsett.
Then came the days of September.
The cotton fields were tangle with
weeds, the plantation lay in fallow.
The major, in company with Miss
aoby, whom he now called his body
yuard, often took short rides about,
md as the broken limb was finally
'estored sharp canter over the fields
vas common occurrence. Then the
,uard returned with half a dozen SOL
liers To take the captive away To ono