The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-28

north was postponed and not abandon-
ed.
But Bob, With a soldiers true instinct,
saw In the few words of the dispatch
an end to the hopes of the south, and
later in the day. when the news Of the
fail of vicksburg reached the town, his
cup OF bitterness was filled to overflow
Ing.
That evening witnessed the parting
of the young people, and Bob hurried
back to his regiment. not to proudly
parade with It up Broadway, bur to en-
gage In the many battles fought In
front of the Confederate capital, and to
see the ranks of his comrades decl-
mated until that last day in April
1895. when but the remnants Of once
magnificent body of men surrendered
to the conqueror. Grant.
Marion In the far-off Georgla village
anxlously awaited the news OF each bat
tie, ana as the dispatches from the
front, highly colored as they were to
cover the reverses which the army was
sustaining. were at last plain enough
to betray the true state OF affairs, she
became more of rebel than ever, and
when the news of the surrender Of Lees
army reached Washington. she was
nearly heart-broken, and was consoled
only in n measure by the return from
the front of Bob. who came home
wearing a tattered uniform of gray. on
the shoulders Of which were a eolonePs
epaulets,
About month after Bob's return he
was sitting on the veranda Of the Lam
bert residence engaged in conversation
with Marion and her father. when a
neighbour who had served through the
war In Bob's regiment came gaIlopIng
up to the door, and in voice husky
with excitement asked for few mln-
utes' conversation with the Kernel"
Speak right out, Jones'" said Bob,
there's no need of secrecy here"
"well. you see, Kernel" replied the
man, II don't mind the young lady
here or the doctor hearing what I've got
to tell you, but don't want anybody
else to hear, as 1t might be tenpta-
ton to emf
LET us go into the house suggested
DR.. Lambert
After all had gone inside and the
farmer satisfied himself that there were
no other listeners, he turned to Bob,
do you know where President Davis
Is, Kernel?"
Bob answered that he thought the
President had escaped and was at the
time on his way to Europe
"wen. he aln't escaped, and he amt
on his way to Europe: he's within ten
miles of this place ut this very minute,
and unless somebody does something to
help him and his poor wife and her sis
ter, right soon. they'll all starve to
death, and that right in the midst of
usens who are posing as his friends"
was tn startll e announcement.
Marion gave HIT. cry, the doctor
looked at tn man II amazement. and
Bob gasped. "Yot don: mean it?''
yes. do mean 1t +" answered the old
soldier. and it's as likely as not that
those poor people amt had mouthful
to eat to-day"
Bob learned of the man the exact To-
cation where the presidential party
were encamped. and told his informant
that all possible would be done to min
lister to the wants OF the unfortunate
President and his family.
At nIghlfan he had pair Of horses
Of DR.. Lnmberts harnessed to a Hight
wagon laden with food. blankets and
such other articles as he thought might
conduce to the comfort of the refugees
and set out for the camp.
About midnight he reached the place
and there found the late President Of
the ConfeIeracy, his wife and her sister
sleeping In small a tent with u few
members of Kentucky regiment OF
cavalry standing guard,
Bob made his GRAND known, and one
of the soldiers aroused Mr.. Davis. who
came out Of the tent and gracIously
welcomed him.
In the course Of the conversation tina;
followed the ex-PresIdent made known
the great advantage 1t would be TO his
party II guide, well acquainted With
the topography Of the country could be
found who would consent 10 lead his
party to the coast, where 1t was expect
ed that the Shenandoah would be Ir
waiting to convey them abroad.
Bob hesltated but a moment; no one
knew the country between that place
and the coast better than he: no one
was better qualified to aid his faller
chief than he, and after brief though
as to whether his parole given at Ap'
pomatox would he broken. he offered hi
services, which were gladly accepted.
It was arranged that Bob SHOULD
drive home that night, secure nm add
tIonal supply Of provisions and return
before daybreak, when the journey t.
the coast would be begun.
He left the camp and had driver
nearly half the distance when he fan
cled he heard sounds Of horses feet II
his rear; he paused moment, only lont
enough to satisfy himself that his I'm
aEinatIons had not played him tricl
and that number Of horscmen wer,
coming along the road at a rapid gal
lop