The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-07-27
CHAPTER NII-Continued.

She heSltated ana resumed nagglng
the earth with her parasol.
UNLESS what?" he asked gently.
1T becomes necessary for you to go
earlier. 1t is growing late. Let us en-
ter the house.
He sighed. for there was much he
wished to say, but could it interest her :?
He rose to his feet and walked by her
side across the lawn to the porch in
front Of the mansion. Both were silent.
He was on the point of making COM
monplace remark when she started
with the exclamation:
why. what surprise
A tall bearded man in the faded uni
form Of a Confederate captain came
hastily down the steps and hat in hand,
strobe across the lawn. Catching the
miss in his arms. he warmly embraced
and kissed her. The faces of both
glowed with delight and for a brief
minute they remained oblivious of the
presence Of the wondering, chagrined
and-shall it be systematically tortured
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! l
learned few days ago of your misfor-
tune and also of your good fortune in
being CHARTERED at the home of General
Eldridge.'
no
good fortune. A son and brother could
not have been treated with more kind
ness than l. .
(Which is all matter of course
wherever this family is concerned. New
ertheless, I have come to inform you
that you are no longer prisoner
GLOW is that. captain?'
The big, handsome soldier laughed
heartily.
81 have become so accustomed to be-
ing taken prisoner that it is growing
slightly monotonous. I 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
1t may not have been strictly en- regle.
the situation was so peculiar that an
arrangement was made by which I 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 simplifed situa-
ton 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 Oh 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-
ton.
But the captain in his breezy way
suggested a solution.
II 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. l 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-
greet that. inasmuch as I have ridden
the last ten miles alone, it is out of nv
power to aid you, but an sure you
WIKI find my letter all that is needed in
the way OF passport. You will re-
main with US few weeks until fullv
recovered?'
MANY thanks. captain. but I am
now fully recovered.
Miss Eldridge, who was looking into
ms countenance, remained silent.
Strange that she did not unite in the
request Of her friend! It would have
made no difference in the decision of
the lieutenant. but he felt a pang of
disappointment at this evidence of her
Indifference
But why should she feel otherwise?
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, prayers. dreams and longings
were the same The other had been
sheltered at her home; but, all the same,
he was an enemy.
1T is the fashion for the story writer
to make the wounded Union officer win
the heart of the fiery southern girl. It
was done many time, but not always.
'What warrant had for any such
grotesque hope?" Lieutenant Oakman
asked himself. But for the coming of
ais rival he would never have confessed
even to himself that he had ever held
such a hope. ''she and her mother felt
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-bah!" he added in
the acme of self disgust. "What mon
umental ass am making of myselfp
And he ground the bud to a pulp un-
dor hoo1 *94S