Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-05
CHAPTER XIII.
TIE UNION SAVED.

WI
E were entering the city All that
Iii we could have wished for was ac-
complished. The whole territory
was surprised and defenseless, and a
hundred miles Of railroad fell into our
hands. Machine shops, rolling stock in
abundance, telegraph and all other
paraphernalia for operating the line
We're among the trophies. and on the
morning after the capture the men who
had been employed under the direction
of the Confederate government went
to work for the United States.
And now followed q rest for three
months. a longer stay in one place than
any l experienced during the war. 1t
would have been the most delightful
had it not been for my estrangement
from Helen Stanforth. Though | was
welcome at her fathers house, though
the family apparently became attached
to me. though Jack and Buck loved me
as l loved them, Helen remained OBJ
durate. In vain I sought to soften her
by those attentions with which men
seek to entrap a woman's heart. She
ence. was to her a renegade to the
south, an objectionable offender.
! reported the case of Captain Stan
forth to the general and secured from
him a parole. which enabled him to di-
vide his time between his fathers
house and the Rutland plantation with
his fiancee Jaqueline, who soon nursed
I, IL rs 10; IN
was brought to Huntsville under guard
and I interested myself in securing for
him an early exchange, which, after
hearing of Jacks engagement, he was
extremely anxious to obtain. He was
passed through the lines to Chattanoo
ga. vowing that he would give his life
to the Confederacy if he could find 4
Yankee bullet to assist him. He was
too manly and chivalrous to cast the
slightest blame on Jack for his disap-
4 pointment.
| One morning I took my friends from
| Mr.. Notwithstanding Helen--into
| headquarters and introduced them to
| the general He was aware of our
\ coming and had directed that the out
! luWS SuOulu De UIOuSHI UeLole ILL 1T
| the same time.
Are these the men?' he asked.
Yes general" l replied.
To an officer of the guard he said:
"Take them away. l don't wish to see
any more of them"
Jaqueline, who had heard these
words once before, when they were
applied to me. and consequently knew
what they meant, turned pale. She
begged the general to spare them. He
shook his head.
Impossible They are the browning
| barharity of war"
"But. general, that one" pointing to
Captain Ringold, he helped us"
"Ah! / had forgotten that" Then,
| turning to Ringold:
IF set at liberty, how long will you
require to get out of my lines"
II will go at once"
1 go and if you are seen about here
after tattoo this evening you will fol-
low your men,
The reprieyed man sprang toward
Iaqueline, seized her hand and kissed
\ I. from IElS lDODleul l AIN Il SllaHSee
man." he said to her. land your bright
eyes and kind heart have done it, Ii
another moment he was gone.
Captain Stanforth was soon exchang
ed and before leaving to join his regi
ment was united to .Jaqueline. The
wedding took place at the Rutland
plantation. The groom did me the
honor to request me to act as his bes'
man, Jaqueline doubtless having infu
enced his choice. l gladly accepted
hoping that, since Helen was to serve
Us first bridesmaid our being thrown
together might heal the breach be
, tween us. Ten minutes before the cere
, mony Jaqueline was stunning Gin
gers banjo and ten minutes after She
} had become q bride was standing or
the rear gallery tossing presents to {
, crowd Of black people below, whose
!, upturned faces indicated the adora
ton in which they held their youni
= mistress.
y was disappointed in my hope tina
the festivities would thaW the obduxat