The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-21
THE FAIR CAPTIVE.
Wartime Romance i'm Which True Loves Course
Met Some Difficulties.

let me read you chapter to beguile
weary hour. just here where the leaves
are we'll thumbsd and withered rosebud
is the bookmark 20 the tender episode
And placing his cigar on the corner OIL Ine
table, cooking his hat on one side ana his
feet upon the rail of the summer piazza
the amiabe and gallant ex-Confederate
hero began the tale that follows.
l shall never forget the day Billy Aston,
whom we thought dead. came BACK
through the lines. He was not the gay
boy he had been the year before, when he
=: came from Paris to join the army, and
couldn't get rid of his foppish airs; but
be was the same glorious fellow, with
more sense and dignity after his terrible
trials. l never shall forget that zine May
morn" as Billy called it, in the spring of
20, when we went to take Fort Fayette
and didn't do it. This is a jolly fine piece
of luck" said Billy, that the general
should order us on this expedition. I've
got the sealed orders for McCansland.
But if this doesn't turn out something I'll
forswear the tented field and go back to
Paris and turn diplomat again with Slidell
and De Leon and all those fellows. I've
given old Mars fair chance, and thus far
a
like Achilles, Anthony and Cleopatra.
Charley OMalley and all that sort of
thing, the way we read OF war in books,
and love along with it. But say. old man,
you are chief of the staff mess this month,
but I'm chief of the staff and Captain Bull
luck. l want to know what particular
delicacy is TO comfort the stomach of
hero besides salt bacon and corn bread?
It's l O'clock now"
Most noble Anthony or O'Malley, pre-
pare to be surprised. Two ebony slaves
have been on scout and they return with
rich spoils, among which are pea fowl,
patriarchal gander and the rarest piece OF
game that ever graced the bag of Nimrod-
an Opossum. And last but best. canteen
of applejack."
- Bob. you are always wise, but now you
are inspired. Let US pour llbatlon TO the
gods, even if Mars is failure. and then
we'll see the cook. | KNOW Savarin by
heart and l could make an Irish stew of
opossum If we lad some macaronl la
Dublin"
The next morning Billy and 1 started to
join McCansland. whose brigade lay in
camp in Raleigh County. thirty miles from
Fert Fayette. 1t was a pleasant little
campaign. the route lying through the
picturesque mount ain region along the
beautiful New River that traverses the
southwest section OF Virginia. Our cav
airy was in the enemy's rear and we pro-
posed to attack the front If circumstances
were favorable. The country girls always
received Us with enthusiasm, for Billy
would whistle gem from his operate
repertoire and accompany himself on the
piano. an accomplishment as artistic as it
was eccentric. BE could execute the most
intricate cadenZa that ever made prima
donna's tour de force. and if the girls did
not take to classic music we would sing as
a duet, Her Bright Smile Haunts Me
Still" a favorite song of the day.
The fifth day, on Sunday afternoon. we
came up to the FEEDER al picket, and through
. our glasses could see the boys playing
cards under a tree, while the sentry lazily
: swung his carbine in his hand and sang
"When the Cruel War Is Over" little
thinking what different sort Of game was
about to be played.
Billy and l took three scouts around
: through the woods and took up the planks
in the bridge over a little creek, and then
fred eff four pistols. at which signal our
advance guard charged the picket in front.
They were surprised and overpowered,
and come scampering down the Hill with
our fellows after them yelling like devils.
We caught five of them on the bridge, and
one of them said. as he scrambled out of
the trap: Now, Johnnie, don't be hard on
. US. I've got a canteen full of applejack."
We saw three girls on the porch of
pretty farmhouse near by waving hand
kerchefs TO us by way of applauding this
little adventure, and as there was nothing
more TO be done bnt to wait for the main
column to come up Billy and | went up to
the house and were received with wild
enthusiasm.
One of the girls had disappeared, but
the other two dragged her out, struggling
and bluShing.
''Oh, Pm so scared she cried. 81 was
coming from church when a man came
running down the road and said the rebels
were coming"
You big goose" said one OF the girls.
The rebels are not going TO eat yoa up"
She's our cousin said another; but
she's Union girl--AIiss Helen Manson"
I'D be a Union man." said Billy. in
one respect for her sake. You hold her.
young ladies. while | make her prisoner
Of war"
And encouraged by the applause of the
two other girls he seized the blushing
damsel and tried to kiss her.
Served her right said the others.
"She's just putting on to make believe
she doesn't like it,"
We enjoyed pastoral lunch of butter
milk, cold bread, honey and cold mutton,
klnd-looking old matron presiding.
Then we gave our musical matinee" and
Billy played the interlude that introduces
the climax he said soto voce. Now, Bob,
when L howl on the high G you give EN-
that barytone cr0ak on T sharp and We'll
gather the crowd"
W uiu. AhC Olu Aduy eyes were SUI
: fused with tears and the girls were all
:raptures. Then Billy sang his translation
=. of Henry of Navarre's song to Gabrielle
and ne pushed his firtations with an ardor
equal to that of the gallant monarch who
: left the fghtEfor his kingdom tn win his
% mistress with song and Lutte 1t was as
tehishing to sea how little the young lady
: disguised her qualification and how boldly
she encouraged her admirer
This beats Achilles and O'Malley."
whispered Billy to me as he led the young
lady out into the garden bower for tete-
a-tete.
: We heard the drums of the fort in the
distance beat the long roll, and Billy and
Helen came out of the bower. one all
smiles and the other all bushes.
:. :: Helen was only a country girl, but one
-:tllat courtier or poet might have gazed
.:Qn with rapture. Her pretty head was
crowned with little soft felt hat. saucily
3: cooked on one side and the tail feathers of
a, pheasant set i'll front, like the forked
plume of Mephisto Her oval face was
framed in a mass of curling auburn hair
-. that matched her cleaning agate eyes and