The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-03-30
"Do you doubt iny7''
II can doubt nothing you say, but
mt
"You doubt me all the same"


shall have served your purpose. Do a
You choose about donning the uniform
Of Captain Trenholm.
II accept your offer, and words fai
me to express my gratitude.
"Then oblige me by not hunting TO-
the words. You will need guide, ant
there is the real trouble - she sale
thoughtfully, ''for there is no extra
horse for him. Suppose l let Rastu.
conduct you for few miles, after which
you must rely upon your own discre
tion and the assistance of heaven"
'Yon are the general and l the pri.
vate; therefore it is mine to obey May
ask when l am to marchg''
"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 nagging
the earth with her parasol.
"Unless what?" he asked gently.
''1t becomes necessary for you to 20
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 j?
Herose 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 surprised
A tall, bearded man in the faded uni
form of Confederate captain came
hastily down the steps and, hat in hand
strobe across the lawn. 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 Oakman of the
Union army. The Confederate officer
extended his hand.
Happy to meet you, lieutenant I
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 with more kind
ness than l..
(Which is all matter Of course,
wherever this family is concerned. New
ertheless, I have come to inform you
that you are no longer prisoner. :"
"How is that, captain?"
The big, handsome soldier laughed
heartily.
81 have become so accustomed to be-
ing taken prisoner that it is growing
slightly monotonous. I fell into the
hands Of party of your folks the other
day. Through Tim Masters and jim
Ackers, two of our scouts, word came to
your people that you were staying at
the house of General Eldridge, as
wounded and paroled prisoner. While
it may not have been strictly en- reggie,
The situation was so peculiar that an
was made by which was
paroled and set free under the pledge
hat l should make the agreement
1nown to you, and that upon your ar
ival within the Union lines the ex-
'hange would be completed and we
ould both straightway set to work to
ut each others housekeeping your
'ardon, Adele-with our aforetime vigor I
nd honesty"
That, then, was the simplifed situa-
ion. The exchange, SO far as Captain q
trenholm was concerned, was complet- q
d. All that remained was for Lieuten- 9
mt Oakman to get back to his own t
mes, which might prove easy Or impos-
lble. Usage required that he should be '
rovided with an escort, but in the gen
raj turmoil and confusion that was d
ifficult, if not wholly out of the ques- II
on. o
But the captain in his breezy way II
lggested solution: c.
II will give you letter, signed by a
lyself, certifying that you are Union ST
flcer who has been regularly exchanged G.
nd is therefore entitled to safe conduct h
your own lines. ! am sure the pres p
,tation Of that document to whomso-
'er stops you will be sufficient to clear tt
10 path. re-
"You are entitled to an escort add
the Confederate, land it is quite bt
kelly one will be furnished you. re. st
ct that, inasmuch as l have ridden hi
o last ten miles alone, it is ont of my II
wer to aid you, but l am sure you ht
i'll find my letter all that is needed in ne
Q way of a passport. You will re- dc
ain with us few weeks until fully be
covered2'
MANY thanks, captain, but am CD
" fully recovered pl
Miss Eldridge who was looking into tn
countenance, remained silent. j.
range that she did not unite in the ~
lnest Of her friend 1t would have "'
.de no difference in the decision Of ,,,
0 lieutenant, but he felt a pang of n
at this evidence of her W
Inference. pe
But why should she feel otherwisei ool
e was a native Georgian, with her &c
art bound up in the triumph Of south =. "
, independence. The man at her side !"
s her hero. Their tastes hopes, as $500,
ations, prayers, dreams and longings M'
re the same. The other had been ~,
ltered at her home; but, all the same, ~
was an enemy. w.
L Is the fashion for the story writer
make the wounded Union officer win
heart Of the fiery southern girl. II =,
s done many time, but not always. Gra
What warrant had for any such and
tesque hopeP" Lieutenant Oakman L
ed himself. But for the coming Of = =
rivsl he would never have confessed