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

:, lcopyrieht 1898. BY up. uppincou Col
r e.
=. - Iu.-CoNTINUED. ~.
Going downstairs, we took our seats
ut the table. Looking over the scant
meal--we had Jared much better by
foraging on the country, the country
faring less sumptuously because we
foraged on it made up my mind that
Iwould look elsewhere for a dinner,
But I maintained sufficient politeness
to eat what was set before me, especial
ly as had not been urged to quarter
myself with my hosts.
Are there no others to join us?' I
asked.
Mamma prefers to keep her room."
Il presume the person saw at the
window upstairs has the same prefer
ence. Would you mind forwarding an
invitation?"
A slight pallor spread itself over her
face. regretted my words, and deter
mined not to spoil our breakfast by
again touching on that which would
pain her, so turned my remarks to or
binary topics. She listened to all I said,
but I doubt if her mind was moment
off her critical position. My curiosity
at last got the better of my resolution.
Tell me-" said, in q tone to invite
confidence, chow did you dare carry
those plans, knowing that if caught you
would be liable to death penalty?"
She shuddered, but made no reply.
Ibid you realize what you were do
ing?"
Still there was no answer. Why will
women be dumb when they have great
deal to say, and garrulous when their
words are worthless? I got up from
the table, crammed my hands into my
breeches-pockets, and stalked back and
forth. Presently stopped and faced
her.
Haven't treated you kindly?"
"Very."
'Then confide in me. Tell me what
all this means"
what do you wish to know
"You have declared yourself to be
union girl, yet you are captured with
information in your possession evident
~ destined for the confederates. I
would expect another to tell any false
hood essential under such circum-
stances, but somehow you are so
young, so apparently guileless. Give
me chance to"
She extended her hand and grasped
mine with a look of gratitude. II thank
you, but you can't help me-"
There was something so decided in
her withholding of confidence that I
gave up the effort to gain it.
Il must send you upstairs now, but
before you go want you to forgive
me-
''For what?"
Being your jailer.''
''You are only doing your duty. and
doing it as considerably as possible"
''And you don't detest me for it?"
ION the contrary, I like you.''
I called the corporal of the guard, and
she was conducted to her room.
l was no sooner away from her than |
I was vexed at the sympathy 1 had |
shown. What reason had 1 to interest |
myself in this young confederate, who |
had doubtless been selected for her !
work on account of her capacity for !
lying? WANTED to get out into the air
and pull myself together, so L called |
for my horse, mounted, and sent him |
flying down the road. I passed Maj.
Snaffle's two companies, watching the
pike half mile below, the major
stretched on fat rail, doing, some of
the men playing cards, others sitting
on the ground in groups, all doing
their best to pass the time. They gave
me an inquiring glance, but. I rode on,
without word, till I reached an emf
nence from which I could see long
way ahead. Then I pulled up to enjoy
the view.
The pike stretched southwark, a |
straight white line, fanked by alternate
openings and woods upon which the
sun cast it's early morning rays; the air
was pure and the sky a deep azure.
Happening to cast my eyes on a point
where the road was lost behind the
woods, suddenly a horseman shot into
view. Distance prevented my distin-
gushing who or what he was, though
the clear dry atmosphere through
which looked enabled me to see him
distinctly. He was followed by half a
dozen others; then the head of a mount
ed column came into view. AS they |
drew nearer the clouds of dust pre-
vented my discovering whether they
wore the blue or the gray, but the sun
shining brightly on flag they carried
showed me plainly the stars and bars
~ tho oonfodorataS
dashed back at a gallop, drawing
rein at Snatfle's tent to give him warm |
ing. Snafde, a short, fat, red-faced
man with corkscrew curls, could never
get, through sentence without stutter-
ing, except at giving the word of COM
mand, when, strange to say, his orders
came clear and regular as shots from
repeating rifle.
''Wh-wh-at's up?"
"Johnnies, lots of them, down the
road, coming right along"
"Ive only h-h-h-andful Of men,"
"And I've only guard"
II tell you what, lieutenant bet
ter man than Snaf1e ever drew saber
-''you go back and get ready to run,
and I'll take my little command and
make show on the road up there. |
When you're ready, send me word and
I'll fall back. Then maybe we can get |
,,re in+ r.ovino IN tho 4 40 orl - |