The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-01-16

II reaching that place, to be told that
q wounded lieutenant answering his
description had been exchanged and
forwarded to- Richmond. It was not
much trouble for me to get through the
lines, but at Richmond I could find no
trace of him. I did not know what to
do and like a crazy man wandered
from camp to camp and place to place
searching for him. At times 1 was al
most starved. It was only last March
saw a boatload of exchanged men
come up the James, most of them too
weak to hold gun. Mr.. Horace was
the second one to stagger down the
gangplank, and If had not caught
him he would have fallen. He had
been in Camp Douglas all that time.
He went twice to the front and was
twice ordered back to the hospital.
Then came the surrender, and we
started for home without ratiOns or
money. We crossed the country by slow
stages, getting food and shelter from
Kentucky, but at times Mr.. Horace
gave out and said he could go no far.
Their. Then would tell him that had
lowed to bring him home alive or
dead, for Mile. Estelle was waiting for
him. BE would smile and say, Then,
God give me strength; come on and
we would march again. At Louisville
he borrowed small sum of money,
and we took passage on the steamboat
City of Memphis for Red River Land
Ing. We arrived there this morning in
time for the mail hack, and here we
are"
"God bless you, Leon, and repay you
for your noble DEVOTION" exclaimed
Estelle, weeping in sympathy and
thankfulness.
"God will bless him." Father Grhe
said authoritatively.
"A truer heart than Icons beats not
in the breast of any man, whatever be
his color or station, and his comfort
and advancement are especial charges
on my life and fortune" Oakfell added.
"Mr. Horace" Leon protested, you
owe me nothing. Remember, you stood
by the poor negro jockey when all the
world and all the law were against
him. Only be my friend and adviser.
and will be content
1t was touching to see Odette's hon.
est, cOmely face flush with pride as
Icons narration proceeded and her
bosom swell when his praise was spo-
ken by the grateful hearers.
"Este1le," said Horace, stroking her
head lovingly, lin the long, dreary
nights of Imprisonment l have dream
ed OF this and awakened to wish had
died while dreaming"
"And I, too, have dreamed Of this,
she softly answered, ''but thought we
had died and met in heaven"
The click of latch drew the eyes of
the group on the veranda to the gate
Evariste, who, to avoid the sun and the
meeting of acquaintance, had ridden
through the swamp instead Of along
the bayou road, entered, slamming the
gate behind him, and started briskly
up the walk with a staggering air.
Estelle blanched. The priest frowned.
Horace smiled and sat up in his chair.
Evariste had almost reached the veran-
Eda before he recognized his brothers
countenance. He stopped suddenly, an
expression of CONSERVATION came over
his features, and, uttering an inarticu-
late cry of terror, he turned and ran to
the gate, leaped upon his horse and sped
like one pursued by demons. His flight
was not slackened until Quillebert's
house was reached, where Laure stood
in the doorway as if expecting him.
He drew rein, flung himself from the
saddle and, his eyes starting from his
head, whispered hoarsely:
''Where is Quillebert?'
"Gone to Marksville to sell this place
to DR.. De Roux," Laure replied, with
q calmness wholly unruffled by the ex-
citement under which he labored.
'EHow soon will he returnY'
mot before o'clock tonight. Come
in and tell me what has happened"
He followed her into the house and
exclaimed:
"Laure, have seen ghost!'
"Ycu have not. You are not of the
kind that see ghosts"
II tell you have seen my brothers
ghost"
"You have not. 1t was your brother
himself"
''Then he lives? He has come backY'
Evariste cried in agony.
eyes. I sensed he would
'And l." groaned Evariste, "foiled,
detected, exposed and beggared, r.
"Have come to me at last, as knew
you would" Laure finished his SEN
tence with the assurance of one who
viewed result Of her own designing.
She threw her arms around him in
sudden burst of passion and pressed
him unresisting to her breast, hungrily
kissing his clammy brow and whisper
ing: 1T is fate, Evariste. Submit"
.
The listlessness of early Sunday
morning was unbroken until the dust
of the road began to be stirred by the
faithful going to the 10 o'clock mass
a ho 40 IN