Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-04-26


Union officer.
Then. recalling her forgetfulness. she
presented Captain Wager Trenholm to
Lieutenant Ledyard Oakman of the
Union army The Confederate officer
extended his hand
Happy to meet you, lieutenant! |
learned few days ago of your misfor-
tune and also of your good fortune in
being quartered at the home Of General
Eldridge
There can be no question of my
good fortune A son and brother could
not have been treated with more kind
ness than l.
(which is all a matter Of course,
wherever this family is concerned New
ertheless. have come to inform you
that you are no longer a prisoner.
.'How is that. captain3'
The big. handsome soldier laughed
heartily
II have become so accustomed to be-
ing taken prisoner that it is growing
slightly monotonous. fell into the
hands of party of your folks the other
day Through Tim Masters and Jim
Ackers. two of our scouts. word came to
your people that You were staying at
the house of General Eldridge. as a
wounded and paroled prisoner While
it may not have been strictly en- regle.
the situation was so peculiar that an
arrangement was made by which | was
paroled and set free under the pledge
that | should make the agreement
known to you. and that upon your ar
rival within the Union lines the ex-
change would be completed and we
could both straightway set to work to
cut each others throat-begging your
pardon. .Adele-with our aforetime vigor
and honesty.
That. then, was the simplified situa-
tion The exchange, so far as Captain
Trenholm was concerned. was complet-
ed All that remained was for Lieuten-
ant Oakman to get back to his own
lines, which might prove easy or impos-
sible. Usage required that he should be
provided with an escort. but in the gen.
eral turmoil and confusion that was
difficult. if not wholly out of the ques-
tion.
But the captain in bis breezy way
suggested a solution
"l will give you letter. signed by
myself. certifying that You are Union
officer who has been regularly exchanged
and is therefore entitled to safe conduct
to your own lines am sure the pres
entation of that document to whomso-
ever stops you will be sufficient to clear
the path
"You are entitled to an escort. add
ed the Confederate. land it Is quite
likely one will be furnished you. re-
gret that. inasmuch as | have ridden
the last ten miles alone. it is out Of my
power to aid you. but | am sure you
will find my letter all that is needed in
the way of passport. You will re-
main with US a few weeks until fully
recoveredY'
MANY thanks. captain. but l am
now fully recovered.
Miss Eldridge. who was looking into
his countenance. remained silent
Strange that she did not unite in the
request of her friend! 1t would have
made no difference in the decision of
the lieutenant. but he felt pang Of
disappointment at this evidence Of her
indifference.
But why should she feel otherwise 7
She was a native Georgian. with her
heart bound up in the triumph of south
ern independence The man at her side
was her hero Their tastes, hopes, as
pirations. pl gers. dreams and longings
were the same The other had been
sheltered at her home: but, all the same
he was an enemy
1t is Tue fashion for the story writer
to make the wounded Union officer win
the heart of the fiery southern girl, 1t
was done many time but not always
What warrant had | for any such
grotesque hopper Lieutenant Oaknan
asked himself But for the coming of
his rival he would never have confessed
even to himself that he had ever held
such hope "She and her 1Aother felt
a pity for me That's all This fellow
is an Internal sight better looking than
l. He's Confederate He gained her
love long ago. and-bahl' he added in
the acme of self disgust What mon
umental ass am making of myself
And he ground the bud to pulp un
der his heel
After the happy meal was finished
the captain. overfowing with high
spirits. moved to stand at the side OF
the room and wrote with many flour
ishes the Letter whose nature has already
been made known Folding it up, he
addressed it in his large round hand.
ITO whom it may concern-greeting.
There. he added in his genial fash
ion. II am sure that will prove coat
of armor even if not quite in accordance
with the usages of war
Many thanks 1t cannot fail me,
replied the lieutenant accepting the
document which he placed securely in
an inside pocket of his coat after which
ne resumed his seat and the conversa.
tion went on Mrs. Eldridge and her
daughter beamed with pleasure. while
the captain was entertaining in the
highest degree
Oakman joined in the jest and
smiles. but it was all forced. for he
plainly saw the captain reach out and
take the willing hand of the young lady