Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-10-04

ton ut her act, but | did not listen /
1t. Turning on my heel, left the roor
and the house and in another momen
was galloplng away.
My regiment was moving on roat
leading northward and to the east o
the main pike, so | was obliged to rid
across country to rejoln. Large armie
necessarily move slowly, and, although
| IN this instance we had entered upol
| forced marches, | knew that ! hat
| plenty of time. | was riding leisurel!
through a lonely road when | heart
the sound of horses hoofs behind me
l had become so used to being huntet
by my old enemies that ! instinctively
drew rein and my revolver at the same
time and, facing about, awaited tn,
coming of friend or foe. My pursuel
turned bend in the road but a short
distance from me and suddenly came
in sight.
"Helen Stanforth! What in the
world brings you here?"
She drew rein and sat with flushed
cheeks. her eyes looking anywhere ex.
cept on me. Her horse was FESTIVE, the
TWO making picture by no means
quiescent.
II am not satisfied"
with whatY
"rhe manner of your leaving the
country"
''Do take with me what does not be.
long to me"
You are going with our enemies"
! was puzzled. She knew that | was
Union officer and that my duty lay
with the departing army. Besides, to
remain in the country after its reoccu-
patton by Confederate troops would be
as much as my life was worth. | was
more than puzzled; l was irritated
smarting as l was under her recent
treatment.
This is not what dissatisfies you," /
said.
81 spent my time rescuing a renegade"
II see no occasion for you to come
after me to hurl that taunt anew. We
parted half an hour ago. l supposed
never TO meet again. Now you must
needs
She paused and bit her lip.
i had often noticed a great show OF
picket firing on the part of an enemy
just before abandoning his lines. Some
how the thought gave me an inklins
of what was passing in Helen's mind
rode up close beside her and, laying
my hand on her horses neck. stroked
1t for moment till had quoted him
Meanwhile my eyes were fixed on Hell.
ems, that were CHANGING about wildly,
as If endeavoring to find some means
Of retreat. Bending forward without
a word, put my arms about her and
drew her to me. Her head sank slow
ly. at last resting on the embroidered |
leaves that denoted my rank.
Sweetheart, love you, and believe
you love me-"
There was silence, save the rum
ling water of the creek anu the chat
ering of the birds in the trees beside
he road. The touching of our lips,
er heart beating against mine, stray
trands of her hair falling over my
iNIt til' III iltl vs.,
new warmth to my heart even today.
It last she suddenly disengaged her
elf and, as though ashamed of her
turned her horse to move
way. | caught her and held her long
nough for one more embrace, one long
arting kiss, then l let her GO As she
alloped down the road l called after
er:
You forgive me for threatening YOUR
rother, for trying to compel you TO f.
eg for his lifeT' ,
NO"
"Pll come when the Union is saved"
when the Confederacy is acknowl-
lged," and she shot around the bend
ut of sight.
II believe" I unused, as l rode on,
there is no inconsistency, no incongrl-
Y, that does not enter into the com
Osition of woman"
We met again n year later, shortly
afore the battle of Chickamauga, and
gain when Hood was marching
,ainst Thomas at Nashville, but it
as not till after the surrender at APP
)mattoX that she consented to a I'M
n that was to be simultaneous with
lie reunion of the states.
One important fact has always re-
aimed n secret between me and my
ife. have never ventured to confess
her that during the war performed
lie act of secret service. In overhaul
" nv DanprS she one d1y came upon
document got up in red and black
k in the form common in the army.
whats all this about?" she asked.
Gallant and mertorious services in
@ capture of Huntsville, Decatur and =
ephenson Junction. | thought that ..
hen the Yankees surprised Hunts
lie you were Mt our house."
That" | said. taking the paper ana
etending to scrutinize it. "Oh, that
as for capturing rebel"
What rebel?'
hesitated, then prevaricated. Don't
II remember the scene in which your l
other bore on important part:"
DO you mean to call drawing your
stol on an unarmed man a gallant
d meritorious act"
oh, they complimented everybody
, everything during the war. But |
served the encomium. for | captured
other rebel more rebellious than
ur brother"
Who was that?''
put my arms about her and kissed