St. Paul daily globe., 1893-06-11
A BIT OF WAR ROMANCE.

I'm MaSOn, SdlQ Inc uldu VI
soldierly bearing, when the drummer
had finished yarn, land am also SOL
der or was in the late war between the
states. | was a general Of brigade In
tine Union army, and saw some OF the
romance as well as the reality or war."
There was more reality than ro-
nance about 1t, wasn't there" queried
the drummer.
Rather smiled the soldier. but it
made the romance only the more de-
lightful. | remember on one occasion
when we were down in Georgia, where
most of the officeseekers come from
now, | was out one morning with
couple of orderlies, riding along hill
side road, which just ahead of us met
another coming up from the valley. AS
we rode slowly along l heard the sound
OF "a horses hoofS on the road below and
the clanking OF saber. None
where near that locality, and
/ felt sure that some stray Confed was
coming that way, and we went ahead
till we could command view of the
road below, and in minute q Confed-
crate officer in brand new uniform,
bright trappings and fine sword came
by OIL beautiful horse. He was hand
some fellow, and, all unconscious OF his
danger, was WhiStling merry air. VI
course we must capture fiin, but how to
do it was question at first, but we soon
settled on a quiet little ambuScade, ana
in five minutes more we had him COW
cred and he threw up his hands. a
more creStfallen prisoner L never saw
than that young fellow, and felt sorry
for him, but [ could do nothing but take
him along. I'VE hadn't gone far until he
got next to me, with both orderlcS rid
ing some yards in advance, and he gave
me sign. | recognized it Oh the spot"
1--we are Masons,' he said, and l
want to tell you my story. know Hve
got no business over here, practically'in
your lines. but Pm not on a mission of
war, but one of love and peace. You
see how Pm tricked out in all the best
I've got'-and he smiled consciously
and blushed-'and IeXpected to be mar
ried this afternoon. The girl is waiting
for me now, and don't YOU think it IS
pretty hard on her for me to be in this
fix? | had no idea your troops were so
near or | should have slipped in in the
night and got out again, but it's zoo late
to talk about that now. You've got me
anu her heart will be breaking while |
am shut up in some prison, and it won't
be much satisfaction to you, will it?'
"Bv Georgep" went on the general,
with moistened eyes, lit stirred the
blood within me as | listened to that
od-looking fellow and thought of the
dear girl waiting for him.
"'Hod on minute said ], there's
turn IN the road yonder. and when the
orderles get out of sight ii you are
willing to take the risk, suppose you
take it,"
"He shook my hand silently, and the
tears and smiles came together AS the
orderlies turned the bend the young
man turned his horse and started back
down the read on a dead run. gave
him a good start and then | banged
away at him with my revolver and WELT
after him, but took the wrong road at
the forks, and my orderlieS came after
me as fast as they could. l guess we
must have chased back along that road
for two miles more, but we didn't find
that confounded rascal anywhere, and
the orderlies never suspected that l had
anything to do with letting him get
away. At least, they never mentioned
it in my hearing," and the general
smiled.
"What became OF him at last?" asked
the drummer.
about four months after that | was
holding a town in TenneS5ee," con-
tined the general, land in that town was
the rankest old fire eater L ever saw. He
was courtly old chap, but bitterer than
gall, and utterly beyond reconstruction.
He wouldn't speak to bluecoat, and
there were times when it was necessary
t. put him under guard for his own
safety. He was too Old to be dangerous,
but occasionally he talked so we had to
threaten him. One day was startled
almost out of my wits by his coming
into headquarters. He was white with
suppressed feeling, but he managed to
tell me that there was lady at his
house, a very near and dear relative, his
only daughter. in fact, who wanted to
see me that evening at o'clock. He had
been very 10th to come to a Yankee, he
said, but she insisted so that he was com
PEELED t6-dO it, and then he bowed and
went out like all old king with his
crown gone. There was no explanation,
and told the provost marshal about it,
and said | was going up myself to see
what it meant. He was sure there was
a trap laid for me, and did not want me
to go at all, but | told him Southern
hospitality did not betray people, and |
would 90. l went, and as l passed
through the gate and grounds to the
fine old mansion l saw the shadowy
forms of my bluecoats all about as silent
as ghosts. 1t was plain the provost
marshal was ready to settle matters If
anything happened to me. However,
never let on, but went in and the old
man met me at the door, grimly directed
me into the large, old-fashioned parlor.
ana stamped off down the great hall. |
went in, and very beautiful young
woman of twenty-five, Isnould say, met
me halfway across the room.
".You are Gen. --P she said, ques-
tioningly.
II bowed.
land may l inquire why l have
been asked here?' said, without TAX
ing the chair which she gracefully |
passed me. You see, | was half-un- |
easy, and didn't know what might hap |!
pen.
"She smiled.
81 understand she said, and stood
before me.
"rhen she told me of the young Off
Ger had permitted to escape.
but what has that to do with this !
vlsit?' l asked, for somehow l didn't |
catch on.
"'I am his wife, she replied, blush
ing, and he told me if it ever were pos
sible to see you l must do so and tell
you for both of US how grateful we are
for your kindness
"Then began to grasp the situation.
and | almost fell into the chair she had
offered me, and as she talked to me |
never was so glad Of anything in my
life as that l was Mason and he was,
unless it was that had had the oppor.
tunity of doing favor for so charming
woman.
''For half an hour she talked to me,
and then called in her father, much
against his will. but as she told him the
whole story, and her pretty eyes
sparkled and her cheeks reddened, his
fine old face grew softer until at last
the tears came, and as she finished he
rose, and coming over to me took both i
my hands in his, and after shaking
them silently he said: 'D-n me, sir,
there isn't a Southern gentleman in all
this sunny land who shouldn't be proud
to be such Yankee as you are