Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-11-22

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persed or captured. In that ease tbs
game would not be WORTH the candle.
He looked at me, surprised that /
should dare to instruct him as to what
course he should pursue. Then he
amazed me by asking: "Whnt would
you do with her?''
II would put her ON her parole of
honor not to escape, and let her do as
she likes within the limits of the planta-
tion.''
"A sp-: parole!"
IF you will parole her, general, I will
be responsible for her with my head"
''You would lose your head"
I am a natural gambler; it is many
year since have staked penny, but at
that time I was considered the best
poker-player in the brigade.
II will wager" was beginning.
mo, no, lieutenant; I'm not in the
habit of gambling with my staff, and on
such subject. Take her parole not to
escape or aid the confederate cause, and
I hold you responsible for it's keeping.
If she breaks it, will dismiss you from
my staff, try you by court-martial for
neglect of duty, and enforce the sever
est penalty the court will inflict."
'Done," cried. II accept the terms"
went straight to the house, and in a
few minutes was with Miss Beach.
II have an important announcement
to make to you. The general has decid-
ed magnanimously to take your parole
to put you on your word of honor to
do nothing that will aid the confederate
cause, or to escape"
I pronounced the words with some
thing of a fourish-for was delighted
as we'll as proud to have accomplished
the feat of gaining the generals assent
to my plan-and waited for her reply.
She stood for awhile looking down at
the floor in deep meditation.
ut is not the generals magnanimity
that grants this parole: it is yours
"That doesn't matter. Even though
I may have suggested it, the general is
still the one to act. In order that you
may understand his generosity, I must
remind you that the ordinary course to
pursue in the case of spy caught as
you have been is to try him by drum
head court-martial and hang him at
sunrise the day after trial."
els that the way it's done?" she
asked, blanching.
sit isl
''What am I to do?"
sat down at the table and wrote:
II, Margaret Beach, in consideration
of being relieved from confinement I'M
der guard, promise not to aid the con-
federate cause or attempt to escape"
She seized the paper eagerly, read it,
and signed it with impatient haste.
Her action impressed me with the sus-
picion that she only wished to get
chance to save herself by fight. But I
had gone too far in the matter to re-
treat; indeed, were it not that shrank
from her disgrace, would have hoped
she would go. took the paper to the
general, who declined to read it.
AS I turned to leave him I remem-
bered that had had no opportunity to
speak of having again seen the face at
the window.
general, little circumstance &C.
Cured to-day which suppose I should
report
What is it2''
81 saw that face again."
"When?"
During the fight I got turned
''Was it your horse that was turned,
or is it your head that is turned?"
got turned round" I went on, color
ing, but depressing my anger, "and,
looking up at the house, saw the face"
"Indeed!'
In the single word he contrived to
throw world of irony. 'You have not
told me-" he added, whether this face
belonged to an old man, young man,
or boy"
ITO tell the truth, general, couldn't
tell you whether it was man or woman"
There was curl of the lip that would
have made me insubordinate had I
dared to be so. "Lieutenant," he said,
shave you ever had any severe illness?"
mo, general"
"Any accident? Did you ever fall
from your horse and light on the top of
your head?"
mo, general"
swell, if hear any more of that face
I'll send you north on an indefinite
leave to recover your health in a gov
eminent hospital. You may CO.,
turned and left him. For the first
time it occurred to me that perhaps,
after all, the face at the window might
be the creation of my own fancy.
I selected a good man and directed
him to occupy the room had sleptin on
the night of our arrival at the planta-
ton. He was to go there after all were
asleep and remain awake all night. IT
unusual occurred he was to
call me. I chose a room on the second
floor, and, after the house was still,
went upstairs and to, bed.
My room was at the front of the
house. I could hear the burial parties
still at work, and see through a window
the flare of the torches on the leaves of
the trees. The mystery of Margaret
Beach, the uncertainty Of her fate, had
by this time so excited my brain that
could not sleep. No sooner would
drop off than a volley outside would
awaken me. and the knowledge that It
was fired over some poor fellows grave
was by no means conducive to the re-
turn OF slumber. However, oblivion
came at last.
At midnight was brought back to
consciousness by the man had placed
below, standing over me with Lighted
candle.
"Lieutenant!" .
tWell?" =:
''The young girl has gone"
"Where?" "I' :..'-