Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-07-28

"Are you better?"
"Has anything happened?"
"You have been overstrained."
"Not that. What has occurred since
since I haven't known anything2"
Nothing. You We're unconscious
only for q moment"
She seemed relieved. steadied her
while she rose, and supported her into
the house, where placed her in charge
of negro woman, who took her to
her room.
The generals order to question her
and report to him was a load upon my
mind. ITO pry into the secrets of girl
about my own age, to cross-question
her, to extort from her what she did
not care to tell, seemed to me no proper
duty for gentleman and soldier
Several times during the evening
nerved myself for the work, and as
often put it off. AT last, fearing that
the girl would go to bed, I sent word
by one of the negroes to know if she
felt well enough to see me. 1 was bid
den to the living-room, where found
her seated on lounge, anxiety de-
picted on every feature of her face.
Taking possession of table in the
center of the room, produced my pa
per and sharpened my lead-pencil.
what are you going to do?" she
asked.
81 am going to ask you few ques-
tions.''
"Who ordered you to do that?"
"The general"
"The replies are for him?"
"Yes."
"Well, go on"
began my work with all the embar-
rassment of young lawyer making
his first examination of witness.
"How long have you known the gen.
eral2"
"Do you ask that for his or for your
own information?
Realizing my mistake, 1 bent my head
down to the paper to hide my confusion.
"Never mind that question:" said,
"I'll ask you another"
"Well?"
"Who is the lady upstairs-that
| pleasant woman with sweet voice."
"Nly mother" She looked pleased
at the compliment paid to one she loved.
| I fancied had made a mistake in show
ing interest, and scowled, in order that
she might, after all, consider me I'M
sympathetic.
us your mother union?"
confederate"
/ NJ VIZ, 10 oil r,,a
whose was the face at the window up
| stairs"
She made no reply.
"Tm waiting"
glanced up at her from the paper.
From her expression I judged that
might wait for an answer till the crack
of doom.
l took out my knife and sharpened
my pencil, though had sharpened il
a few minutes before. wanted time
to think.
"Are you union or confederate?"
I asked the question because could
think of no other: I did not doubt sh,
was confederate.
"Union."
"Union?" I smiled. What bare
faced falsehood! "Why, if you arr
union, what is the use Of all this search
ing, your concealment of facts, and al
that?"
..You have done the searching, no
T."
glanced my eye over the paper OF
which l was taking notes. had Ger
tainly not distinguished myself by TIL
value of my questions or the informa
ton I had elected. How could shov
such document to the general? Lik
most people who are untitled for wha
they undertake, I put off till tomorrow
what could not do to-day.
II will not show this to the genera
till morning." said. "By that time
l trust, you will have made up you
mind to make full confession"
what am to confess?"
made no reply to this, keeping up a
unbending mien as possible, thong
somehow could not but feel that tn
girl saw through the gauzy mantle Q
severity 1 had donned, and knew ful
well that l was an inquisitor of clay
| buG Will was / W uO WltIl uer Owe
night? l pondered awhile, and the
said:
"Give me your parole not to leave thi
house, and you may sleep where 70
like without a guard"
what is parole?"
sword of honor. Do you promise
Certainly"
Every well. Now you may go wher
you like inside the house; only remen
Der you have given your promise ne
to leave it,"
With that she left me, and heard he
go upstairs and enter her mother
room.
determined to sleep in the hous
occupying the room where l had que
toned her, using the sofa for q BET
Having stationed mat in the hal
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