Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-03-01

YOU AXE GEN. -
that locality, and felt sure that some
stray confed was riding that way, and
we went ahead till we could command
a view of the road below, and in min
ute a confederate officer in a brand new
uniform, bright trappings and fine
sword came by on new beautiful
horse. He was handsome fellow, and.
all unconscious of his danger, was
whistling merry air. of course, we
must capture him, but how to do it
was a question at frs, but we soon
settled on quiet little ambuscade, and
in five minutes more we had him COW
cred and he threw up his hands. A
more crestfallen prisoner ] never saw
than that young fellow, and felt sorry
for him, but | could do nothing but
take him along. We hadn't gone far
until he got next to me, with both order
lies riding some yards in advance, and
he gave me a sign. recognized it on
the spot.
1--we are masons,' he said, and
want TO tell You my story. know I've
got no business over here, practically
in your lines, but I'm not on a mission
of war, but one of love and peace. You
see how I'm tricked out in all the best
I've got'-and he smiled consciously and
blushed-'and | expected to be married
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 too late to
talk about that now. You've got me
and her heart will be breaking while
am shut up in some prison, and it won't
be much satisfaction to you, will it?'
by George" went on the general,
with moistened eyes, lit stirred the
blood within me as listened to that
good-loolSing fellow and thought of the
dear girl waiting for him.
Hold on minute, said /, there's
turn in the road yonder, and when the
orderlies get out of sight. If you are
willing to take a 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 road on a dead run. gave
him a good start and then | banged
away at him with my revolver and
went after him, but | took the wrong
road at the forks, and my orderlies
came after me as fast as they could.
guess we must have chased back along
that road for two miles more, but we
didn't find that COMPOUNDED rascal any
where and the orderlies never sus-
pected that 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 town in Tennessee, contin-
ued the general, land in that town was
the rankest old. fire-eater | ever saw.
He was a courtly old chap, but bitterer
than gall, and utterly beyond recon-
struction He wouldn't speak to a blue
coat. and there were times when it was
almost necessary to 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 dav | was startled almost out of
INV wits by his coming into headquar-
ters. lie 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 daugh-
ter. in fact, who wanted to see me that
evening at seven o'clock. He had been
very loath to come to a Yankee, he
said. but she insisted so that he was
compelled to do it, and then he bowed
and went out like an old king with his
crown gone. There was no explana-
ton. and / told the provost marshal
about il and said was going up my
self to see what it meant. He was sure
there was trap laid for me and did
not want me to go at all. but told him
southern hospitality did not betrsy peo-
ple and would go. | went, and as /
nassed through the gate and grounds to
the fine old mansion saw the shadowy
forms Of my bluecoats all about as
silent as ghosts. 1t was plain the {
nrovost marshal was ready to settle I
matters If anything happened to me |
However. never let on. but went in 4
and the old man met me at the door.
grimlv directed me into the large. old !