The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-06-02

~5{B
WITH RIFLE AT HIS HEAD HE sURREN-
DERED.
Unlike his old self was struck 10y the
fact that he was not communicative, and
he shut up like a clam whenever any refer
encr was made to his capture How he
was captured ! subsequently learned from
another officer Of his regiment, but as
wanted to retain Captain Morton's friend.
ship ! never asked him for confirmation
of tine story. Here it is:
When General Burnside advanced into
easU tennessee and seized Knoxville, Cap
tain Morton, with his troop, was sent up in
the direction Of Bristol to see that the
enemy did not rebuild the railroad bridges
in that direction and at the same time to
give notice Of any force that might be de
tached from Lees army in Virginia and
sent down that way.
Captain Morton was as fearless a man as
ever sat a horse and as susceptible a one as
ever felt his heart beating faster in the pres
euce Of a beautiful woman.
In his dealings with men the captain was
the embodiment of force and common sense,
but with pretty girl he was as weak as a
shoru Samson.
Men WHO KNOW lueH own WedhuSsS III
this way should religiously keep from all
entangling alliances with the fair sex; but,
curiously enough, they are the very fellows
who court most assiduously that danger
which they are so powerless to resist.
The houses in that part of east Tennessee
were not very luxurious or inviting at that
time, but near the place where the captain
was to be stationed till driven or ordered
back he was not long in discovering a resi-
denca of the better class. 1t was about 800
yards from the place near the railroad
where his men We're in camp, and it was its
air II comfort and prosperity that induced
him to go up there soon after his arrival
ana ask if he could be accommodated with
board and lodging, for which he was will.
ing 70 pay during the indefinite time OF
his stay.
There were a number of black servants
about the house, but its only white occu
pants were a middle aged matronly lady.
Mrs Herndon, and her daughter Jennie,
the latter one Of the prettiest girls the cap
tain had ever seen.
In reply to the captains request Mrs.
Her1don said:
My husband and two sons are away at
this time" The captain suspected that
they were in the southern army, but that
was so usual as not to perpleX him for a
moment. Il shall be glad to accommodate
you if in return you agree TO give me and
my daughter protection and keep your
men off the place at all times"
Norton glanced from the sweet face of
the mother TO the beautiful face Of the
daughter, and there was, or at least so he
thought, such a pleading expression in the
fine brown eyes Of the latter that he ac.
cepted her proposition at once.
EIaJed with issuccess and madly in love
with the young lady-it was far from being
his first experience in this way-the cap
tain went back to his camp and issued an
order to his men in accordance with the
agreement he had made with Mrs. Hern.
don.
Il haven't had so many soft billets dur
ing the war" said the captain when tell
ing mis- lieutenants of his good fortune,
that l should throw this one over my
shoulder"
The lieutenants winked slyly at each
other and said Certainly, captain. You're
quite right. We'd do the same if we had
the chance" and no doubt they would.
Morton moved up his effects, not very
cumbersome, to the fine house on the hill,
and with true southern hospitality he was
made Immediately at home
He sang well, and Jennie Herndon played
well, and both gave an exhibition of their
musical accomplishments in the parlor
after supper that evening.
Then, as afterward, Mrs. Herndon left
her daughter and the Yanke officer so much
alone that the latter construed her thought
fulness to mean that he would not be OBJ
jectionable as a son-in-law.
If these ladies had favored the UnioI
cause, they would have declared themselves
at the outset. Yet from first to last they
refrained, with well bred thoughtfulness
from saying anything about the war.
A paa aynapiApsa1 and lasg l.
man than Captain Morton could not hav,
resisted for long the destinations of thai
beautiful, sweet voiced girl. Morton mad,
no effort to do so. The genuine thing wa
altogether too delightful for anything lik
prudence.
He was charmed at first sight, but befor
aweek was out he had entirely forgotten
lovely girl he was half engaged to up il
Cincinnati and was insanely in love witt
Jennie Herndon.
The post near the railroad bridge was no
an onerous one. Ten days passed withou
the appearance of a graycoat on the sur
rounding hills, and this immunity, witt
the condition of the captains heart, le'
him to believe or at least to hope that thi
state Of affairs might continue indefinitely
To please Jennie-what would he not d
TO please herY-he now went off with hel
every afternoon on long horseback rides
Encouraged by his success, on one of thes
ride he declared his love and asked for he
HAND.
She did not seem surprised, but told hin
to come back after the war for her answer
and as she persisted in this the captain hat
TO b. satisfied.
The fourth of these rides was the las
Captain Morton ever took with Jenni
Herndon She had always been his guide
and 20 that he was with her he cared no
where she led
On this ride and about five miles from
the house Jennie dismounted on the edg
of a dense clump of trees and told the cap
tain chat her saddle grth needed tighten
ing.
He sprang down to assist her, and was II
the act Of pulling up the buckle anothe
hole when he heard the clicking of rifles
and the next instant he was surrounded b.
an officer and a dozen armed men in gray
and with rifle at his head he surrendered
- Without needing the prisoner the Con