Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-10-07
PAROLE

V.
" PAROLE
Turning my horse over to an order
". I hurried to the house to discover
That had become of Margaret Beach
Il hoped she had gone. What was my
disappointment at finding her on the
verandal
~You here2"
-Yes; why not7'
~why, I thought perhaps. inasmEach !
as your neck was in a halter, VOC might |
take advantage Of the scrimIDage TO set
away"
~How could II The gate was
blocked
Not while we were following the
enemy"
~The sergeant put n sentinel there
rs soon as you left" 10y
.sNonsenscl Why do you try to de-
celve me? You did not wish to leave
OF you would have found n way"
An expression of pain passed over
her face which could not understand
She sat down; placed myself beside
her Below us IN the yard men were
sarine for the wounded, and when all
were. removed, burial parties began
spading by the light Of torches, inter
xsng the dead where each had fallen
We could hear the men talking and see
their diInly lighted figures, while every
s1oy. and again a torch was held before
an asien face, body was lifted into
his grave. we could hear n sound of fall
ing earth, then a funeral voiley- i
vas continually thinking that the girl
Beside me might within a day or two be
nut into her own grave-not an honor
able one, but that of q felon- Margaret
vat alternately looking at the grave
aicrers and averting her face, fnsci-
mated yet repealed by the grim sight
~Strange condition, war" / said
~H0rTible." .--.as--s-..'~-
She looked so wretched that 1 coult
not refrain from resting my hand for !
moment on hers She did not Withdraw
II. though something told me that i
was no dawning love that led her 4
have il in mine, but n craving for sym
patty, for some friend on whom to lean
I tried to speak TO her eneourngingiS
hut there was something so grewSona
IN the ashen faces of the dead. tn
torches, the clods falling on the uncoi
xued bodies, that too was filed WIT
gloom and remained silent
An orderly rode up TO the gallery Wit
an order for me to report to the genera
leaving my companion, went to hii
nj once, and found him pacing befoI
his tent, while Walter was engaged
szSing down the names of the prisci
ais. who were being paroled to so
1heir homes, for we had no force
guard them, and they nearly all lived
Tennessee AS came up the gener
looked at me eagerly.
~You sent for me. general"
~Yes. Miss Beach-where Is She7N
I'm the house"
He could not conceal n look Of diSs
POintment.
~Ten her to get ready for a 5Ournel
he said.
-Shan inform her where she Is
gog"
ITO Gen. burnside"
1T would be hardly safe. !" veHtur'
40 send her under guard OF less tn
n hundred men, and ] supposed ,
wished to keep the command togeth
BESIDES. her guard might be either q
Yersed or captured. In that case
game would not be worth the candle
He looked at me, surprised that
should dare to instruct him as TO w
sourse he should pursue Then
amazed me by asking: What NO
you do with her?"
II would put her on her parole
honor not to escape, and let her dc
abe likes within the limits of the plaI
xs0n-"
"a spyi parole!"
IF you will parole her, general. L
he responsible for her with my head
"You would lose your head"
am a natural gambler; fits mai
year since have staked a penny. 81
that time I was considered the
Roker-player in the brigade
~ will wager" was beginning
40. no, lieutenant; I'm rot in
habit of gambling with. my stan, an
such a subject. Take her parole nj
escape or aid the confederate cause
hold YOU responsible for its keeV
II she breaks it. 1 win dismiss you
nv stan, try you by eOurt-martis
neglect of duty. and enforce the 5
Rsa penalty the court VIII fndict-
'sDone," cried. II accept the TEL
went strnight TO the house. ans
lew minutes was with Miss Beach.
rs : ~ have an important announce
10 make 10 you. The general n2A
a5 aagnnnimously to take your !
to put you on your word OF hos
90 nothing that win aid the eoxfeE
eanse, OF TO escape
- J. S-chnuDcse. the -NoEds VIII
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