Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-10
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II. J l.
You can al least give me some sort ~
trial.
Reckon | can refer the matter To
headquarters" he replied, fixing fifs
eyes on Jaauelinc.
II WIS delicate scale that balanced
life and death in wartime and often
required only a feathers weight to
turn it. 1t had been turned for the
time and turned effectually The guards
We're ordered back, and the captain
sauntered away with my accuser, who
eSpostulated as they passed out of the
house on to the gallery. Pulling a
cigar out of his pocket, Captain Beau.
mont sat down in rocking chair and
began to smoke as TRANQUILITY as if moth.
ing had happened, listening composedly
to the rufiian who was trying to get
him to shoot me. But Beaumont was
now as difficult to move, as impees
turbable. as he had been before irates
and JaycoX at last went away disap
pointed. He gave me malignant
glance before going, which said plainly
I'll fix you yet"
The captain continued sitting whefa
he was, his head resting on the back oE
the rocker, looking dreamily up at tha
waving branches Of large tree sen
against the blue sky. Supper wad
ready, and Jaqueline, taking rose
went out and, fixing it in a hnttonhoA
Of his coat. led him into the dining
room. Before passing out Of sight she
turned and gave me meaning glance
accompanied by wry face at her conb
panion. As the captains back wab
turned it was safe for me to indulge y
a smile. Indeed. fear could hardU
have RETAINED had bis face been 10,
ward me. This little Jaqueline waA
certainly unique.
While they were at supper I was de-
liberating upon the situation. 1t waa
evident that my old enemies had eithen
stumbled upon me or had learned Of
my presence in north Alabama and
were bent on my destruction. 1t was q,
desperate case. was an officer in tho
Union army, within the enemy's linesa
in citizens dress and in that enemy,A
hands. l was bounded by men wh4
would not scruple to use any means "a
get me In their power. If did not eHa
cape from the Confederates, / should
hang; ii did escape. l should be mursi
dered.
Presently JaQueline and the captaisf
came out from the supper room, Jacques
line in advance, the captains eyes fixed
on the pretty figure before him. Jaques
line was very graceful. very dainty
Der every motion was charming. Sh&
was 60 light On her feet that she seema
ed scarcely to touch the ground Though
she walked, she danced. while her cye4
danced with her body, her hips wesrins
perpetual smile. Once she took tw4
or three steps, turning half AROUND I'd
mere suspicion Of dance, 9 deliciouAa
tantalizing BIT, like sip Of rare wine
"I'd like to meet 20 In ballroom,
remarked the captain Ianguidlv. 4
"Why so:"
"Yo' would dance beautifully, HS5d
make a charming partner -sai--
II can sing.s /.
"Can your
Eyes. and play. One day I was play,
Ing Ginger's banjo behind the baln.
Papa called. so Ginger, stop that in.
fernal twangtng!' Wasn't It funnyg''
She laughed. The captain laughed.
laughed. There was something very
catching about the little mink that nes
ther of us could resist.
She drew an armchair close beside
the sofa on which was lying and ina
sisted on the captain seating himsalf
In 1t. He demurred, but Miss JaCR
would have it SO, and the man who
half an hour before had ordered me
out to be shot was sitting by me as
though we were excellent friends.
Jaqueline seated herself in rocker di.
rectly in view of both myself anA tina
captain and, rocking vigorously all the
while, chatted like a magpie. The can,
tain settled himself within his coms
Portable seat, asked permission ia
smoke and, finding that he had tyuS
one cigar, insisted on my smoking il
OF course refused. but he was too
innately well bred to smoke it himseIf
without another for me. Miss Jack
solved the problem by standing beforH
him with lighted match till he WAC
forced to Yield
Then from without came the jingf9
OF banjo. JaQueline caught the
sound and stood listening. her heaG
poised on one side, her eyes sparkling
as though forgetful of everything SAYS
the music. ~
CHATS The Bonny Blue FIagwsa
she exclaimed, and she hummed thA
words in sweet though by no means
strong voice. As she went on she SANG
rather than hummed, becoming morS
and more animated, keeping time hM
patting her foot on the floor. glanceG
at the captain. He was looking at hef
admiringly, the charm enhanced ed
hearing war song dear to every Cons
federate soldier given with SO much
spirit by such an attractive creatures Is
Suddenly the music stopped. u
Don't you like music?" asked JaqU@
line Of the captain. Il DO: I love it.S
II like 1t when warhled by such aW
tractlye Inns ~ rer,lipd tha nff7hnf