Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-08-23

Liz sGuCldA OAuCl " IuSStiOA lSI
and report to him was load upon my
mind. To pry into the secrets of girl
about my own age, to cross-question
her, to extort from her what she did
not care to tell, seemed to me no proper
duty for gentleman and soldier.
Several times during the evening
nerved myself for the work, and as
often put it off. AT last, fearing that
the girl would go to bed, sent word
by one of the negroes to know if She
felt well enough to see me. l was bid
den to the living-room, where l found
her seated on a lounge, anxiety de-
picted on every feature of her face.
Taking possession of a table. in the
center of the room, produced my pa
per and sharpened my lead-pencil.
What are you going to do?' she
asked.
81 am going to ask you a few ques-
tions."
"Who ordered you to do that?"
1.-THE general"
1.-THE replies are for him?"
"Yes."
''Well, go on"
began my work with all the embar-
rassment of young lawyer making
his first examination of witness.
"How long have you known the gen.
eral?"
do you ask that for his or for your
own information?"
Realizing my mistake, I bent my head
down to the paper to hide my confusion.
"Never mind that question" said,
"I'll ask you another"
"Well?"
"Who is the lady upstairs-that
pleasant woman with sweet voice?"
my mother" She looked pleased
at the compliment paid to one she loved.
1 fancied had made mistake in show
ing interest, and scowled, in order that
she might, after all, consider me un-
sympathetic.
as your mother union?"
Confederate"
"H'ml Now want you to tell me
whose was the face at the window up
stairs"
She made no reply.
I'm waiting"
glanced up at her from the paper.
From her expression judged that
might wait for an answer till the crack
of doom.
took out my knife and sharpened
my pencil, though had sharpened it
q few minutes before. wanted time
to think.
"Are you union or confederate7"
I asked the question because could
think of no other: did not doubt she
was confederate.
"Union."
"Union?" 1 smiled. What bare
faced falsehoodl "Why, if you are
union, what is the use of all this search
ing, your concealment of facts, and all
that?"
"You have done the searching, NOT
l."
| 1 glanced my eye over the paper on
which was taking notes. I had GER
tainly not distinguished myself by the
value of my questions OF the informa'
ton had elected. How could show
such document to the general? Like
most people who are untitled for wha1
they undertake, put off till tomorrow
what could not do to-day.
81 will not show this to the genera.
till morning." l said. by that time
l trust, you will have made up you
mind to make full confession"
what am to confess?"
made no reply to this, keeping up a,
unbending mien as possible, though
somehow could not but feel that tn,
girl saw through the gauzy mantle o
severity had donned. and knew full
we'll that was an inquisitor of clay
But what was to do with her owe
night? pondered awhile, and thel
said:
give me your parole not to leave thi
house, and you may sleep where yol
like without guard"
. What is parole?"
Word of honor. Do you promise p
Certainly"
Very well. Now you may go wher
you like inside the house; only remem
Der you have given your promise no
!, to leave it,"
With that she left me, and heard he
go upstairs and enter her mother
room.
. 1 determined to sleep in the house
occupying the room where had ques
toned her, using the sofa for bed
Having stationed man in the hall
shortly before midnight 1 threw m,
blanket on chair to have it ready TO
II the chill Of the early morning, unbuck
led my saber and pistol-belt, pulled OF
|, my boots, tossed my forage-cap on tn
table-in short, made the preparation
for bed of soldier in the field. Then
having blown out the candle that light
ed my room, lay down.
} But slumber would not come. Eithe
the sentry in the hall must strike
match to light his pipe, or a dog in tn
: yard must be moaning, while the hal
clock licked loud enough to awaken tn
, Seven Sleepers-disturbances tina
would not have troubled me had it no
been that my head was full of Margare
Beach and her singular surrounding,
: However, at last fell asleep.
Suddenly awoke. The light in tn
hall had gone out, and could hear tn
sentry snoring. There was creakin
on the stairway. Some one was comin
down, pausing at every step. Strainin
| my eyes, saw dimly human figur
standing on the lowest step, which wa
directly opposite my door. Then it dis
appeared.
Rising quickly, stepped softly to tn
door just in time to catch sight of some
one moving toward the rear of tn
house. I followed. A door opened, an
the figure passed through. Catchin
the door before it closed, looked int
kitchen. A stove door opened, an
the freight plainly revealed Margare
Beach about to burn a paper. spr1a
forward and pinioned her in my arm.
"Sentryl" yelled at the top of M
voice.
The sentry came stumbling along i,
the dark.
Bring light"
Running back to the hall. he returne,