The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-07-20
THE PRINCETON UNION: THURsDA AZ july 20 1890

sS
picking off stragglers. Some Of them
are in this neighbour
"Thay are and mean to pay you a
visit.
'sBut am already prisoner. Z g
"'And yet confined in no prison.
The words meant a good deal. Lieu
tenant Oakman felt that the most chiv
alrous enemy would have been justified
in Directing to the privileges he en-
joyed. ....... .@... -@-' 4.
''Miss Eldridge could I have carried
out my wish l should have left this
lovely home several days ago.
She had resumed her gouging of the
earth at her feet, and for a minute
seemed absorbed in the progress she
was making Then again she turned
her face sideways and asked with
bright smile
"Why?'
The officer would have been spitted
before telling all that was in his mind
81 am entirely recovered from my
wound and could have gone before this.
Instead I am in the unworthy position
of an ablebodied soldier lingering in the
rear when his country needs the service
Of every one of it's sons.
She did not respond until she COM
pleted digging ragged orifce little
farther in front of the hem of her dress.
Then, still surveying the tiny pit. she
said:
"Not your country. but your Sec
tion."
mo, allow me-mine-your country
for such it is and shall be to the END of
time"
How many southern girls would have
permitted these words to pass unrebuk-
ed? To the majority, it would have
proved the spark to the powder maya
zine
Suppose he had uttered them to Miss
Hartman? But no-the supposition
was incredible.
He was frightened by his own temer.
ity and looked questioningly at her.
The gouging Of the pointed wood haG
excavated symmetrical orifce in thu
dirt. Several grains were flung over the
toe of the Cinderellalike shoe. She firt
| ed them off and continued digging, al
| if prompted by definite purpose. He
face was grave, but she remained 81
: lent.
"Have my words given offense? p
asked the lieutenant with pang of sci
t reproach. while studying the perfec
profile before him.
3 "No. could not respect you wer
8 your sentiments different"
r What superb creature she was
true daughter of the south and wit
e the chivalry of Saladin or, what was tn
r same, of General Arthur Eldridge him
f self
!, He wanted to say thousand things
g bpt dared not trust himself to utter on
n of them. His voice, his looks his mar
d ner would betray the truth, and tina
d would be worse than hundred deaths
d She was still leaning slightly forward
plying her diminutive spade, but sh
now stopped. sat upright and locke
toward him.
''Lieutenant, let US not touch on thu
q theme. It lies too close to the bleedin
% hearts Of the south. am glad you hay
= recovered from your wound and what
say to you was suggested by my mott
>. er, not by myself. y
"a All we'll and proper enough, but Lie
n tenant Oakman wished she had n,
q told him.
le He bowed, and she continued:
ic II am soldiers daughter and kno
the risk you incur in attempting
a. thread your way through our lines.
J. is impossible on foot. and you have I
\ horse.
as He again inclined his head.
D. 'Then why not disguise yourself?'
le ''That seems hardly feasible, al
you forget that am on parole
a. ''But when your life is in peril yt
j. are justified in escaping Leave to n