Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1899-06-02

conduct you for few miles after which
you must rely upon your own discre-
ton and the assistance of heaven.
''You are the general and | the pri-
vate: therefore it is mine to obey May
I.ask when l am to inarch?"
1.-The sky is clear and the moon at its
full. do not know whether that is an
advantage or not You will start while
the night is young unless
She hesitated and resumed naggine
the earth with her parasol.
''Unless what?' he asked gently.
lit 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 Il 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 dawn Catching the
miss in his arms. he warmly embraced
and kissed her. The faces of both
glowed with delight and for brief
minute they remained oblivious of the
presence of the wondering. chagrined
and-shall it be Fundamentally tortured
Union officer.
Then. recalling her forgetfulness. she
presented Captain Wager Trenholm to
lieutenant Ledyard Oaklnan of the
Union army. The Confederate officer
extended his hand.
Happy to meet you. lieutenant!
learned few days ago of your misfor-
tune and also of your good fortune in
being quartered at the home of General
Eldridge.
'.There can be no question of my
good fortune. A son and brother could
not have been treated witk more kind
ness than l.
(Which is all matter of course.
wherever this family is concerned New
ertheless. have come to inform you
that you are no longer a prisoner.
''How is that. captain2
The big handsome soldier laughed
heartily.
81 have become SO accustomed to be-
ing taken prisoner that it is growing
slightly monotonous | fell into the
hands of Il party of your folks the Other
day Through Tim Masters and Jim
Ackers, two of our scouts. word came to
your people that you We're staying at
the house of General Eldridge. as a
wounded and paroled prisoner. While
it may not have been strictly en- regle
the situation was SO peculiar that an
arrangement was made by which | 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 e1-
change would be completed and we
could both straightway set to work tc
.cut each others throat-beggin2 yon
pardon. Adele-with our aforetime vigor
and honesty.
That then. was the simplified situa-
tion. The exchange. SO far as Captain
Trenholm was concerned was complet-
ed All that remained was for Lieutep-
ant Oakman to get back to his own
lines which might prove easy or inpos-
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 ISOLATION
Il 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 am sure the pres
pntation 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-
gret that. inasmuCh as | have ridden
the last ten miles alone, it is ont OF my
power to aid you but | am sure you
will find my letter all that Is needed IN
the way of a passport You will re-
main with Us few weeks until fully
recovered
MANY thanks, captain. but l am
now fully recovered.
Miss Eldridge. who was looking into
his countenanee remained silent
Strange that she did not unite in the
request of her friend. 1t would have
made no difference in the decision Of
the lieutenant, but he felt pang of
disappointment at this evidence of her
Indifference
But why should she feel otherwise
She was a native Georgian with her
heart bound Mp in the triumph of south
ern independence. The man at hsr side
was her hero Their tastes, hopes. as
p;rations. prayers. dreams and longings