The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-07
BY JOHN HABBER TON.

tary post and they would remind US OF
this when anything I'm the house seemed
TO them 10 lack proper attention or when
they invited US TO sit down with the fam
lily TO dinner or supper. which they as
sured us was not what they would have
given us I'm other days. They got so
many compliments, however-some awk-
ward but all honest-on the skill OF
pretty hands and heads that don't doubt
one OF them told the truth when she said
to me I'm burst OF confidence that she
was more than half glad that the house
servants had run away and given her
and her mother "A chance to have things
just as they wanted them. Some OF these
southern girls asked innumerable ques-
tions about the duties and diversions OF
our mothers and sisters, and they heard
enough 20 make them open their pretty
eyes In wonder.
But all this had nothing 10 do with love.
AS was natural 10 suppose, and as we
, afterward learned each OF the girls was
already engaged to some good or bad
fellow In the Confederate army. Their
hearts were already disposed of. so they
could laugh at all would be suitors and
break hearts cheerily with the sublime
consolation that they were weakening
the enemy I'm one OF his most vulnerable
points. Their manner was as proper as
that OF any northern girl. as the more
they proposed kiss at the door. The
experience Of one OF these fellows was
quite interesting 10 every one but himself.
He was so handsome that he had made
great havoc among feminine hearts at
home and had come TO regard himself
as irresistible. He asked a little Vir-
ginian, pretty enough TO break the heart
OF an anchorite, for a kiss, but she re-
piled:
only Confederate lips can ever touch
mine"
One day when this man had been on
post the relief found his place vacant.
although there was no sign OF bloodshed
or a struggle. AS soon as this was re-
ported at the reserve a squad was sent
out to look for him.
Inquiry was made at every house on
the road. and at one we learned from
the heartbreaking beauty just referred
TO that he had stopped there two hours
before and announced that he was de-
serting TO the Confederaey.
Almost half a year afterward the rear
guard Of one OF our scouting parties was
harassed for the last two miles OF It's re-
turn by shots from q small mounted
force. which scattered and took to the
woods whenever We turned and attempted
To charge them. Our commander ar
ranged a strong ambuscade OF the adj
vance. with a view of capturing the en-
tire party and this hidden force suddenly
surrounded them when they were directly
In front OF the house in which the little
beauty lived. There were only a dozen
Of the enemy. and they quickly saw that
their game was up. AS we approached
them they recognized the inevitable and
ceased fighting. but one man Inc gray
suddenly drew a revolver. fred three
shots I'm rapid succession at the house.
then pointed the weapon at his own
breast, fired and fell from his saddle. We
were upon them In a moment, and under
the cap OF the man upon the ground we
saw the face OF our handsome deserter.
He gasped before he died that he was as
loyal as ever.s He had deserted In a wild
desire 10 kiss that girl Now. seeing her
at the window, he had fired 10 kill her
and hoped he had succeeded Then he had
killed himself rather than be shot as a
traitor.
He had missed the pretty mark he had
aimed at. The girl was unhurt except
from a severe scare. We had lost more
than 20 men most unaccountably from
that post, all OF them violent admirers
OF that very girl. Somehow her fathers
house was burned TO the ground that
very night / hope the pretty girl es-
capped. but we were told she did not. Not
one OF us attended the funeral. II would
be hard to tell how many lives on both
sides were lost thereafter as the result
OF those two deaths.
War Is hell!"