News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-01-15


She turned away from me with con-
tempt
! Fortunately at that moment | espied
| little Ethel looking at me wistfully
and, taking her up, hid my face and
my anguish in her tresses. Then. look
ing up, | saw that Jack was waiting
for me, and going upon the veranda,
took both her hands in mine.
"Yo're the only Yankee in the world
want to see" she said enthusiastical-
ly.
"Golly" cried Buck behind me- Turn
ing, | saw what had surprised him
| the guerrilas riding by as prisoners.
| They had been conducted to Shelby
vile by the company of cavalry which
had captured them and were now
part of the procession of men and
horses hurrying by. Captain Ringold
looked up at us with a melancholy
stare He caught sight of Jack, and
shall remember to my dying day the
SID took in his eyes as they rested for
moment upon hers.
The advancing army moved rapidly
on and was soon a mingled mass of
| guns and horses in the distance. The
sun touched bayonets and flags flashed
for an instant, then were lost in turn
in the road. The region which had so
suddenly been enlivened relapsed into
Ghe quiet of the country.
Jaqueline begged me to go into the
house. | declined. Mr.. Stanforth add
Cd his invitation.
THANK you, Mr.. Stanforth but I
r2t:st rejoin my regiment at once. This
| IS no time for me to be absent"
You shall come in long enough to
drink one glass of wine to show that
you are our friend" | saw that he
would be, not only hurt, but, with his
strong southern impulse. angered if |
refused. and | reluctantly consented to
spare a few minutes to pledge my for
mer host.
entered the house supporting Jack
and was turning into the library,
where | had passed my time while
wounded, when Jack guided me into
the parlor opposite. Helen left us and
Went into the library. Lib came in
bearing a decanter and glasses.
! drank to the host and the assembled
| company, promising that during the
occupation by the Union forces would
use my inhuen$e to gain them every
favor and protection. | had drained
my glass aud, setting It down, was
about to go out to mount my horse
when Helen came out of the library
and crossed the hall, hand in hand
with an officer in Confederate uni
form His forehead was bound with a
handkerchief, he walked with difficult
ty and, | judged, had been severely
wounded. Jack sprang forward and
seized the other hand.
Major Branderstane," said Helen,
my brother"
Great God! Before me stood-my en-
envy!
AS at night by a flash of lightning
one may see for an instant a landscape
distinct in all it's details, so | saw again
the events of the night of the massa-
ere. There were the flashing shOtguns,
the soldiers coming down the hill, a
figure with garments streaming in the
wind running to me for protection
And now before me stood the man with
the smoking pistol. Involuntarily put
my hand to my revolver.
Il am your prisoner, sir" he said
quickly. you do not need your weap-
on"
Helen's eyes flashed "Would you
shoot an unarmed man?"
Jack, mute with terror, staggered to
the gray clad figure and chung to it,
her expressive eyes bent on me, a min
gled flame of reproach and wrath.
My hand rested on my holster.
moved not. spoke not, but stood star
ing at the group that stared at me.
This man. whom | had been hunting to
KILL whom Helen had stimulated me to
pursue. against whom she had even
voluntarily pledged herself to aid me
in my revenge, had now suddenly ap-
peared as her brother.
81 was wounded" said the officer,
"at Fort Donelson and was brought
here to my fathers house. am unable
to endure the fatigue of fight there
fore am compelled to surrender"
Captain Stanforth. | have been
hunting for you for months"
"MeY
"You."
"What for?"
A hush came over all, as if about to
listen to a sentence of death.
ITO kill you"
There was a brief murmur among
those looking on, then they stood
breathless, waiting for the next scene
in what promised to be a tragedy.
Only Helen knew what my words |
meant. | saw a spasmodic culver pass
over her as | had seen death touch |
comrade who had been shot in battle. |
Then, gathering her forces, she stood |
still, her face denoting the smothered |
fires of a volcano.
MAY ask, sir" said the officer, pale
but calm, why you desire my deathF
1.-THE wrong, the brutal wrong you
did"
| know not why some demon of bar |
barism should have come to me at this |
critical moment when of all others |
should have shown genteness and |