Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-08-04
PAROLE.

V.
PAROLE.
Turning my horse over to an order
~, I hurried to the house to discover
what had become of Margaret Beach.
hoped she had gone. What was my
disappointment ut finding her on the
veranda!
"You here?"
eyes; why not?"
"Why, I thought perhaps, inasmuch
as your neck was in a halter, you might
take advantage of the scrimmage to get
away"
"How could II The gate was
blocked"
mot while we were following the
enemy"
"The sergeant put sentinel there
as soon as you left"
Nonsense! Why do you try to de-
ceive me? You did not wish to leave
or you would have found way"
An expression of pain passed over
her face which could not understand.
She sat down; I placed myself beside
her. Below us in the yard men were
caring for the wounded, and when all
were removed, burial parties began
spading by the light of torches, inter
ring the dead where each had fallen.
We could hear the men talking and see
their dimly lighted figures, while every
now and again torch was held before
an ashen face, a body was lifted into
its grave, we could hear sound of fall
ing earth, then funeral volley. l
was continually thinking that the girl
beside me might within day or two be
put into her own graye-not an honor
able one, but that of felon. Margaret
sat alternately looking at the grave
diggers and averting her face, fasci-
mated yet repealed by the grim sight.
Strange condition, war" said.
"Horrible!'
She looked so wretched that I could
not refrain from resting my hand for a
moment on hers. She did not withdraw
1t, though something told me that it
was no dawning love that led her to
leave it in mine, but q craving for SYM
patty, for some friend on whom to lean.
I tried to speak to her encouragingly,
but there was something 80 grewsome
in the ashen faces of the dead, the
torches, the clods falling on the uncof-
fined bodies, that too was filed with
gloom and remained silent.
An orderly rode up to the gallery with
an order for me to report to the general.
Leaving my companion, went to him
at once, and found him pacing before
his tent, while Walter was engaged in
taking down the names of the prison.
ers, who were being paroled to go to
their homes, for we had no force to
guard them, and they nearly all lived in
Tennessee. AS came up the general
looked at me eagerly.
"You sent for me, general"
"Yes. Miss Beach-where is she?"
"In the house."
He could not conceal look of disap-
pointment.
"Tell her to get ready for journey"
he said.
"Shall I inform her where she is to
go?"
To Gen. Burnside"
1t would be hardly safe" ventured,
ITO send her under a guard of less than
hundred men, and I supposed you
wished to keep the command together.
Besides, her guard might be either dis
persed or captured. In that case the
game would not be worth the CANDLE"
He looked at me, surprised that l
should dare to instruct him as to what
course he should pursue. Then he
amazed me by asking: what would
you do with her?"
II would put her on her parole of
honor not to escape, and let her do as
she likes within the limits of the planta-
ton"
"a spy! parole!"
IF you will parole her, general, I will
be responsible for her with my head"
"You would lose your head"
/ am q natural gambler; it is many a
year since have stalSed penny, but at
that time was considered the best
poker-player in the brigade.
II will wager" was beginning.
mo, no, lieutenant; I'm not in the
habit of gambling with my staff, and on
such subject. Take her parole not to
escape or aid the confederate cause, and
l hold you responsible for It's keeping.
II she breaks it, will dismiss you from
my staff, try you by court-martial for
neglect of duty, and enforce the sever
est penalty the court will infict."
Done" cried. "Iaccept the terms"
Invent straight to the house, and in q
few minutes was with Miss Beach.
II have an important announcement
to make to you. The general has decid-
ed magnanimously to take your parole
Ito put you on your word Of honor to
do nothing that will aid the confederate
cause, or to escape"
I pronounced the words with some
thing Of fourish-for was delighted
40 well as proud to hava accomplished
the feat of Eaaniak the generals asAant