The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1895-11-21
THE TWO CAPTAINS.
BY COL. GEO. II. ROWEEL.

1904, two Heutenants OF our Unl0I
Army sat upon a log near the bank
of the North Anna river. There had
been hard fighting and marching for
| several days, and there was hard work
still TO come, for the enemy was
strongly posted upon the opposite
side of the river, and Grant meant tC
rout them if possible. First Lieuten-
ant Stackpole and Secoud Lieutenant
Pendleton belonged to the same com
pany, and they were waiting for the
coming of their captain, who had
gone on an errand to General Han
cocks quarters.
''Stackpole, what is the matter with
the captain2' Pendleton asked the
question abruptly, at the end of a
prolonged silence. He had lately
been promoted to his present rank,
and had not before been acquainted
with his captain.
"Why do you ask that questions" 2"
returned the first lieutenant.
BECAUSE" said the other. ''he acts
very strangely. Last evening, when
we charged that intrenchment 10y the
mill, it seemed as though he were
seeking his death | have no doubt
that he will get maioF5 straps for
his daring bravery and wonderful sue
cess on that occasion; but to me. know
ing, as | DO, something of his charac-
ter, it really seemed that he was be-
side himself"
Perhaps he was
''Ah, is there
stop, Pendleton."
Stackpole reflected awhile. and
finally he said:
Bill, you are of our mess now, and
will tell you the captains story if
you will keep it to yourself. L will
tell it to you because you are to be
near him in the coming conflict, and
when you know it, you will under
stand how you may stand by to help
him"
Tell me what you will, Tom, and
be sure | will keep it as you would
yourself. | love Captain Clarke, and
| would do much to serve HIM"
George Clarke and | were brought
mp in the same town." commenced
Thomas Stackpole, land we have
been intimate friends from boyhood,
In our town lived n girl named Ellen
Darrel. Her father died when she
was mere child, leaving property
enough SO that the widow, by economy
and care. was above the danger of
want. Ellen was one of the fairest
girls | ever saw, and those who knew
best thought her pure and good.
Upon my soul, | think a more beauti-
ful girl never lived, and when George
Clarke was accepted as her lover. we set
Rundown as the most fortunate man IN
town. But they had loved each other
for a long time, though so quiet and
modest had been their demeanOr that
the fact was not generally known un-
til he had openly asked Mrs Darrell
for her daughters hand You know
enough of Captain Clarke to know
how he must have loved that girl. He
fairly worshipped her, and she in turn
am sure, loved him with her whole
heart But there was a dark cloud to
come.
"One day a man calling himself By
ron Beaumont came to our place, and
put up at the hotel. He was a tall.
dark bearded fellow, somewhere about
thirty years of age, and evidently a
! SOutherner. He was not a fair faced
man, like George Clarke, but be was
most emphatically a handsome man,
and moreover, he had a bold dashing
way with him, backed up by magni
ticent form OF massive strength and
physical beauty, which women are so
apt to admire. He took room at the
hotel, but sought not to become ac-
qualnted with any OF our people
When he went out in the daytime he
generally rode off alone upon horse
back, and when he walked, it was in
the evening. At the end of a week it
leaked out that Beaumont had visited
| Mrs. Darrell's house several times.
Clarke heard of it. and asked Ellen
| what it meant. The girl tried at first
to evade the direct point at issue, and
the only plain answer which her lover
could gain from her was, that Mr.
Beaumont had business which she
v ttS IlCl tIl lIbtIA " blN tllSt. DNlI I1IG
man who loves as George Clarke loves
was nat to be 50 easily satisfied tie
watched for himself, and saw Byron
Beaumont enter the widows house
late IN the evening and afterward he
saw Ellen with him upon the piazza,
shaded from the moonlight by trel-
Used vine, where they sat and talked
for long time.
''On the following day George call
ell to see Ellen Darrell. and his manner
| frightened her. 1t would be nonsense
for me TO tell you how the two acted,
Or what they said. Ellen declared
that she had done nothing wrong, and
yet she plainly showed that she cared
for Byron Beaumont The meeting
was a stormy one stormy on Clarke
| part, while Ellen seemed stricken with
| fear and terror. George left her lying
prone upon the lounge, sobbing and
moaning. and utterly unable to speak.
| and when be went away he thought
he might never see her again. But
when. on the next day. he came to re
fleet, he concluded that he would see
her once more. He was not yet will
ing to believe that she could be false
TO him. 80, when evening came again
he found himself near to the house
where he had passed so many blissfuI
hours. but instead of entering at once
he passed around into the garden. and
as he oame near clump OF ounce
trees. he heard voices, and in a nom
ent more he saw Ellen Darrell leaning
upon the bosom of Byron Beaumont
lie heard words of endearment pas:
them; he saw Beaumont imprint kis:
upon the girls lips, aud then in /;
frenzy of utter madness, lie sprans
forward sud confronted them. Beau
mont, without waiting to hear a word
dealt the intruder q blow with hi
DnwarflI fist that felled him tn III,