Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-09-20

ludlcrous scene thrusts itself on my
memory amid the volleys. the shouting
of orders, confederate yells, turmoil
death. While we march northward to
attack the confederates on the east
river, within sight, but out of range,
marching in parallel line with us, is
the force we left on the west bank.
They can't trouble us, for the bridge
is several miles below and held by Will
ton, and the only shots we fire at them
are gibes. We come upon the enemy
we are going to attack, advancing to
meet us. Two lines of battle-theirs
the smaller; short, sharp fight;
Snaffle to the rear; surrender. And all
this while across the river stands the
force that has beaten us, looking on
with no power to assist their COM
rades. On a stump stands their COM
mander, gesticulating, swearing, shak-
ing his fist at us, brandishing his
saber, shouting like mailman.
Then we hurry back to the bridge,
where we find Wilton fighting the adj
vance of the force on the west bank.
With the assistance of two captured
guns, the general leads us against the
advancing foe, and, falling upon it like
thunderbolt, puts it to rout.
But who is this pursy, red-faced,
wild-eyed little man squirting towards
the general, every corkscrew curl shak-
ing like the spring OF n bird-cage? 1t
is Snaffle. Some momentous question
is on his mind.
"G-g-g-general," he began, before
coming fairly within hearing, ''w-w-
will you have the k-k-kindness to ex-
plain how the d-d-devil it was that
w-w-we were not b-b-bagged instead of
the enemy? W-w-we did everything
w-we could to get ourselves into q
t-t-t-trap. 1t seems to me that plan of
campaign w-w-was the most tiff"
He tripped on his is and could get no
further.
Major" said the general. in the soft
voice he could assume when he wished,
"our success is due to your marked
ability in getting into their rear"
There is another scene which oc-
CURED after all was over, and when the
general and 1 We're riding into the yard
of the plantation. The sun was at our
backs, and shining directly on the front
of the house, flooding it with bright
light. Looking up at the "spook win
dow" as Walter had named it, there
again-was it human, or was it a
dream? l refined in my horse and
stared wildly at it. Surely could not
be in my senses. 1t was the same face
had seen before, but now, with the
light full upon it and with more time
to see it, it was plainly that of young
girl. She could not have been more
than II years old. AT first I thought
her Margaret Beach; but she was not
Margaret; besides being younger, she
was radiantly beautiful; at least, SO
she seemed to my youthful eyes. But
the strangest part of it is yet to come.
Her long black hair was streaming over
her shoulders, SO that knew, be she
ghost or flesh, she was woman. And
yet-mirabile dictu!-her attire was
that of a confederate officer.
General, look, quick!"
"What is it?"
",The face at the window"
AS spoke the Stats were turned.
II see no face"
1t was on the tip of my tongue to
tell him what had seen, but il he
doubted my statement that / had seen
simply face, how could expect him
to believe that had seen girl dressed
in confederate uniform? Such an ap-
partition could come only to a diseased
brain. For once prudence came to
me, Heaven knows how, and re-
Trained.
Perhaps was mistaken" ! said.
The general looked at me curiously,
but said nothing.
But what had seen-if indeed it was
real-brought horrible confirmation