San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-01-25

| d SJItb4lSCi W yOu1 NSAA' DeSiN"AAi HA1
Miss Bessie Westchester-"
Relation of Howard Westchester,
formerly of the artillery" the old sol
der asked, quickly.
''Yes, sir; his youngest child" Miss
Bessie replied, with meekness of bud
ding saint.
"We were tent-mates in Mexico, my
child" the veteran returned, warmly.
1--WE rode into the Belen gate side by
side"
81 am 50 glad!" the girl cried, frankly.
"That emboldens me; though your I'M
failing courtesy and kindness are too
well known to prevent any Baltimore
girl asking favor at your hands"
ANY favor, my dear young lady,"
the general began, warmly, checking
himself suddenly, to add: that is, any
In reason"
The girl raised to his large, lustrous
eyes, humid with piteous observation
| as she said:
mot in reason, but in common hui
| manity, | ask this one, Gen. Baldwin,"
| Never before had the petted belle
striven to throw so much of glamour
into her glance on favored partner in
the dance, or best parti at watering
place, as now was given that gray
haired old soldier.
"Well, miss, think you may safely
ask" he answered, with kindly smile
and lifting his plumed hat. ''You do
not look as if you could ask anything
very dreadful"
''Then can we not have permission to
give these poor fellows bread and
coffee during their halt?" Spite of her
trained tact, the woman's lips trembled
with anxiety as they formed the plea.
"Um! There should be no communi-
cation between prisoners and citizens"
the soldier answered, gravely. "Leni-
ency has been SO. often abused of late,
that issued very strict orders"
But you can stretch them a little,
just this once" she pleaded, eagerly.
my dear young lady," the answer
came seriously, almost sternly-"who
can tell but the simple kindness might
be abused again? fear must"
But were your daughter, instead of
your old comrades" she urged, quick
ly. ''If you had a son-there!'
81 had one son." the veteran said,
slowly, but his lips trembled-"a gallant
boy, who sleeps at Cemetery Hill"
He turned his face aside; but the
chance shot had gone to his. heart.
Turning calmly to the girl, he added,
gently:
For his memory-for that of Mexico
Il will grant your request. Lieuten-
ant, order the captain of the guard"
''He is here, sir" The junior passed
to the rear as the captain halted,
saluting grimly, with a scowl with any
thing but l1indliness in it towards his
charges, as the general said:
Captain, instruct your guard detail
to permit the ladfes-only the ladies'
to serve food to the prisoners during the
halt"
my orders are very strict, general"
the officer demurred, from my colonel,
in writing"
LET me see them, SIR" Very differ
ent was the tone from that the veteran
had used to the girl (Which is your
regiment, sir?"
Hundred and til Indiana, sir
Col. Funl,itt," the captain answered,
extending paper drawn from his belt.
Casting his eye over it, the general
muttered to himself:
''Ah! thought SO; never been to the
front!-Um! my own orders" Then he
hastily penciled across the paper: "Ab-
rOgated for thirty minutes, at Baltimore
only, at 8 a. m, December s, 1861
Baldwin, major general, commanding"
Handing it back without a word to
the guard commander, he turned again
to the girl, with lifted hat;
81 grant your request, Miss Westches-
ter-for memory's sake and your own.
Thirty minutes will be allowed, to the
ladies only"
''Oh, thank you'll thank you so much,
generalr' the girl cried; and the little
hand went up warmly to the tall sol
dier's. He tore off his right gauntlet
and took it gently in his own, as he
stopped from the saddle, and added,
lower:
at is scarcely discipline, Miss Bessie;
but it can do no harm; and your own
honest face, your fathers name, guar
antee me that II will not be abused"
A scarlet flood dyed the girls face,
and her eyes fell beneath the grave, fa-t
therly regard of the old soldier, as he
released her hand and moved slowly on.
Then she few to the sidewalk to give
the joyous tidings to mother and friends,
not emitting another meaning glance at
Evan Fauntleroy. /
AS Gen. Baldwin's eyes turned to that
group of waiting men and women, they
encountered glowing pair of black
ones fixed steadily upon him, their own
err standing directly behind Mrs. Gilmor