The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-21


Billy was getting along. hut what was my
surprise to see standing before the tent into
which he had been moved the Identical
cause of all the trouble. the fiendish Helen,
forked feathers and all. and holding her
horse by the bride.
80 yOu are here, are you? You =" But
propriety and rage together choked my Ut
terance.
"Oh. my God, my Godv' cried the girl
wildly, "have l caused this? 1t just
dawned on me when a wounded soldier
came to the house last night and told US.
What can | do. what can L do ?"
You can go lowell, to Richmond. You
stole that paper You are spy. You
have caused brave young boy to get him
self killed and"
But terrific rattle of musketry to the
left OF us broke off the dialogue. The
road to the left. and come down on our
flank like a whirlwind without notice.
The colonel, however. was complete SOL
der. and he had three regiments of Vir-
ginia mountaineers, the finest riflemen in
the world. who, clad in dlrt-coIored gray.
when skirmiShing could hardly be seen
compared with the black sllhouettes that
the Union soldiers made on the field. Or
derlDg one regiment to form to the left
and rear and double line OF skirmishers
TO hold the front he drew off his little
army in perfect order, and, posting the
D
pike ran, threw out his line to left and
right on The steep activities and presented
front that the enemy only approached
once.
So quickly did all this happen that before
could take one look at Billy and mount
my horse, our skirmishers came by us,
facing about and firing as they retreated.
Ihey had struck the tent and put it In
wagon, but there lay Billy and the girl
kneeling by him. The next instant the
long line of Federals came forward, shout
ing and firing. The wagon and the
surgeon and the ambulance dashed
off at gallon. and. leaping on my
horse. l turned his head to the rear. He
needed no further mint, but rushed down
slope on run, across a little slash and
scram bled up tho steep hill. where our line
was reforming, just in time TO avoid the
reopenlng fire of our own men.
Our young commander, who was as cool
and wary in retreat as he was rash in at
tack, retired slowly before the Federal
force and allowed them to occupy their
former post at Fayette. but 10 September
he captured it with nearly all the garrison,
for which he was made brigadier-gen-
eral.
All this time Major Aston had not been
heard from, except that some Of the cOun-
try girls who had relations in the Federal
lines heard lurid story of the wrath of
OIO Wutu uo DiS uduRukcT
at field hospital nursing rebel. The
newly-made general had ignored Billy's
unfortun ate slip. as he considered that il
had precipitated the campaign that re-
suited to his own benefit.
As the first snow of December came over
the southern range of the Alleghenies and
began to spread It's desOlate white mantle
over the beautiful region known as
"Burke's Garden" General Loring was
sitting in his tent RECALLING some of his
staff with tales of his travels in the East,
as he loved to do, and he was in the
midst of description of the seraglio that
was the scene of Don Juan's adventures
aud explaining that the walls were decor
ated with the colored illustrations of
Byron's poem, when an orderly entered
and announced that two deserters ha0
just come in.
Very WELL" said the general, "bring
them in. As | was saying, there on two
walls are these pictures of the favorite-
what's her name?-Zuleika. and Don Juan
and johnson at the camp of Suwarrow
with the girl in disguise"
Here they are, general" said the or
DERBY. and throwing back the flaps of the
tent he pointed to two ragged nd detected
uniforms. one young man with thin, IN
kempt hair and beard, the other boy in
equally forlOrn habiliments relieved by
blanket closely drawn around his shout
ders.
We'll, who are you and where did you
come from?" asked the general. posing
himself to discover some important piece
of Information.
Slowly taking off his ragged cap and put
ting back his uncombed hair the elder
stranger said in low. deprecating tone:
General, don't you know Billy?"
The general was subject to sudden fits
of anger. and perhaps thinking that his
dignity, which he held with extreme mill
tary precision, was being trifled with, he
said In deep base voice, like the growl of
tiger:
BILLY who?"
Another short pause and the tattered
stranger said with comicallv sad attempt
at a smile:
''Blll Aston"
the general rose slowly, and, approach
ing his former aGjutan t-general, took him
by the shoulders and turning him around
examined him critically. Then, thinking
OF the contrast between the wretched
object and the former brilliant ornament
OF his staff. be burst into laugh that was
echoed by the other officers n they took
hold of Billy and alternately embraced
and banteEed him.
Take him out and wash him and be
particular about it, and then, Billy, I'll
shake hands, said LOring. But see
here, who's that other onef"
uC OhlCI Ouc lOOk6u moro DltlInI
and abashed than Billy, and with bowed
head avoided the inQuisilive chances bent
upon him.
Then Billy. putting his arm around
his timd companion, said with the first
touch Of dignity and courage that he had
mustered:
This is my wife. Miss Helen Manson,
who saved my life and gave me my
freedom; but thousand times more than
that she gave me herself"
AT this pathetic turn of the scene old
Lorlng. who was a bachelor and the soul
of gallantry. rose, and, tenderly putting
his hand on the young ladv's head, said
My dear young lady. this is really the
most beautiful thing have ever witnessed
in all my travels in the East or in ou1 own
country, and | am proud to have part in
ii. Let an old fellow give you his bless
ing, and I'll be your father until-well, I
expect to catch your real father. but will
forgive him everything for your sake"
And tenderlv conducting the disguised
bride to the door of the tent he directed
one of the staff to call female servant
and hitch up the HEADQUARTERS ambulance
to take the couple to private house
near by.
1t wonld be impossible for me to do JUS