The San Francisco call., 1897-11-07
HOW MARGIE SAVED
THE COLONEL.

TT was just at the close of fierce skir-
l mish in the Civil War. A Pennsylvania
Infantry regiment was on one side; on
the other was Louisiana regiment. The
Federal troops were beaten back and were
on the retreat. The colonel of the Penn
sylvanians was wounded. His comrades
stopped at a farmhouse and begged that
he might receive good care.
Marge vas the ten-year- old daughter of
the colonel of the First Mississippi Regi-
ment of Infantry. Her mother was dead
Her father had brought her to this farm
house.
inward came the Louisiana troops, and
they surrounded the house, having motto d
the Pennsylvanians go in there, and they
thought to pick up few prisoners. Major
levin entered with a detachment of men
and there saw Colonel Wallace, the Penn
syivanian.
At once Major Lewin's brow grew black.
He recognized in Colonel Wallace the son
of a man whom his family had bitterly
disliked, and who bad wronged them in a
land transaction.
Colonel Wallace. looking up, knew the
ma ior just as promptly.
''Is this man able to be moved?" thun-
dered the jor.
He is" answered Colonel Wallace,
proudly, without giving any one chance
to speak first.
Five minutes later rough ambulance
was on its way 10 Southern prison, and
in it was Colonel Wallace.
Little Margie did not believe Colonel
Wallace wien he said that he was well
enough to be moved.
He shall not go to prison." she said to
herself, but how was she to prevent?
Already the ambulance was some dis
tance from the house, and the prison was
only FIVE miles away. But between the
battlefield and the prison was creek
spanned by a low bridge. Above the
bridge was 4 reservoir. She would throw
open the escape gate of the reservoir, the
water would rush out and sweep away the
bridge three miles down the road, and the
ambulance could not cross to the prison.
II was daring plan, but it worked out
just as she hoped it would. Margie had
no thought but to tell the truth. She told
the soldiers that she was the guilty party,
and they took her before the colonel of
the Louisiana regiment.
Why" said the colonel in surprise.
"are you not the daughter OF Southern
officer?'
Yes, sir; my father is Southern
colonel like yourself"
This Northern man, is he friend of
yours?''
mo, sir.'
"What then; you do not mean to say
that you are little traitor to our cause?"
mo. sir; but the Northern colonel did
not tell the truth wh en- he said that Re was
able TO be moved l know that he
Is fainting now"
A sound of approaching horses
was heard. Faint at first, it grew
louder, and in a short time the
First Mississippi Cavalry appeared.
This was the regiment of which
Margie's father was the colonel. At
the head of it was her father.
Brave little girl she was. She ~
stood boldly by her &C. and de-
Nh cared that it was shame
nm, to move a man so badly
Then Ler father
TNM1. mounted his horse,
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go too?' hb
pleaded Margie. M
guessing shrsYdly where
her father was going. ~
Yes, come"
The colonel swung his little
daughter to the saddle and rode