Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-09-01

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81 HAVE TAKEN TWO PRISONERS"
ate army now reduced-had Sydney a
charger of his own, though by his rank
entitled to three.
He, like many other field officers of
infantry, had lately served on foot
everything in the shape Of mount
being required for the cavalry. SO it
happened that when the three friends,
all in mutt, rode out to Claremont that
night, Sydney Temple, ex-rebel and
whilom enemy, bestrode one of Uncle
Sans troop horses, which, however,
being quite unaware of his antecedents,
carried him peaceably and well.
On arriving at the grand old mansion,
his mothers home, the little party dis
mounted, and Sydney, after bidding his
guests hearty welcome, led them, un-
observed, into a dimly lighted parlor
and sent servant to call the ladies.
Presently, the door softly opened;
two elegant women, looking more like
sisters than mother and daughter,
glided in and, not at once in the partial
obscurity noticing the presence of visi-
tors, both clasped son and brother in
their arms.
Affectionately returning their en-
braces Sydney, after moment or two,
gently disengaged himself and, at the
same time turning up the lights, archly
said: Mother, you know the war is
over, but yet have taken two prisoners,
whom l will trust to your tender mer-
cies. In case you may have forgotten
4harr oil 1Drrr - Cp,NA II 81,
and Lieut.. Ainslie. Sylvia, you must
remember your old schoo1boy acquaint-
ances, 1 know"
"Ah, Sydney, this is too bad of you'll"
said Mrs. Temple, as the lovely woman
greeted the blushing young officers
with cordial warmth, chow could you
even imagine that we had forgotten
your dear friends? Let me welcome
you to Claremont with all my heart,
gentlemen. And, Capt. Leslie, accept
now the deep gratitude we owe for the
life of son and brother so gallantly
saved by you"
''Oh, madam" stammered poor Her
bert, you overwhelm me. The merest
stranger could have done no less that
day at Opequan."
''We must suppose that every true
soldier would have felt the impulse,
captain" rejoined the lady, but how
many would have acted with sufficient
promptitude, when the delay of an in
slant meant death?'
Then, turning to Fred, she graciously
added: 'And you, too, I must congratu-
late, Mr.. Ainslie, not only upon your
own honorable record, but also upon
the noble conduct of your sister, of both
which subjects have heard more than
you, perhaps, imagine"
1t was now the young lieutenant's
turn to feel embarrassed and he blushed
furiously under the kindly regard of
the ladies, while ingenuously replying:
"My sister has indeed acted nobly, Mrs.
Temple, as have thousands of other
northern women, but yet l may venture
to say that their devotion has been fully
equaled by that of their southern sis
ters. /, too, with low bowl have heard
something of sacrifices made and loving
labors performed by even the fairest
and most tenderly nurtured of your
countrywomen."
''Ah, yes, Mr.. Ainslie," modestly said
the beautiful Sylvia, "all have done
their duty, and, when the present bit
terness of defeat has passed away, this
fact alone will unite the north and
south as never before, simply through
the deep sympathy and admiration
which the women Of each section must
charish for those of the other"
''Not to mention another extremely
probable fact" mischievously observed
p
tion society will naturally include the
men"
THAT is foregone conclusion" said
Capt. Leslie. mo doubt the ex-war-
riors of both sides will continue to raid
their late enemies territory and carry
off lots Of prisoners, but never of their
own sex"
And so, in the exercise of polite for
bearance and mutual respect, hosts and
guests were soon on terms of pleasant
intercourse.
Most of the servants at Claremont
were colored people or the children OF
such, manumitted by the late Judge
Temple on the birth of his son, and al
though each and everyone of them had
faithfully assisted their mistress in min
istering to the needs of distressed con-
federate soldiers, nothing could exceed
the loving assiduity with which all now
waited upon the household guests-who
had been battling, as they well knew,
in the interests of their own race.
NANNY" Rose, the old family nurse,
aptly voiced the sentiments of the whole
staff when she said to Sylvia, that first
night: "Oh, bress de Lawd, honey, dot
Use libed ter see dis dayl Use real sorry
fur de souf, but, same time, Use mighty
proud oh de norf', an ole marse he's jes
gloryin' in Hebben dis mint cause OBJ
de Emancipation what he allus prayed
mought cum ter de poo culled folks
sum day. An, Miss Sylvy, we'se all
goin' ter treat desc lubly young gem
plemens, what young marse haz brought
home, ies bu'ful!'
THAT Is right, nanny" Miss Tenn
pie replied; "they are brave men, who
have fought gallantly for their own
cause as we did for ours. The God of
battles has decided, and, however much
our pride is humbled, we must believe
that all is for the best"
For one whole week the young north
erners enjoyed the hospitality of their
southern friends, and during these happy
days 1t might have been noticed that
while Herbert generally paired off with
Sydney or Mrs. Temple in their walks
and boating excursions, Fred Ainslie was
invariably found by the side of Sylvia
and, to judge by the bearing of the
singularly attractive pair, no one could
have guessed that they had so lately
been sworn enemies.
May % and 23, there was held at
Washington a grand review of the two
principal armies of the republic, and
very shortly thereafter ''the boys in
blue" were mustered out and dismissed
to their homes, amid the grateful plaud-
its of their countrymen.
According to promise, Sydney Tenn
pie accompanied his old schoolfellows
on their homeward journey, which took
them first to Philadelphia, Herbert