Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-06-26
CHAPTER XIII.
THE UNION SAVED.

CAUGHT the troops just as they
were entering the city. All that
we could have wished for was &C
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
were 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 a rest for three
months. 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 estrangemcnt
from Helen Stanforth. Though l was
welcome at her fathers house, though
the family apparently became attached
to me. though Jack and Buck loved me
Ms l loved them. Helen remained OBJ
durate. In vain sought to soften her
by those attentions with which men
seek to entrap a woman's heart She
would not even treat me with indiffer.
ence. l 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 parole, which enabled him to d.
vide his time between his fathers
house and the Rutland plantation with
his fiancee Jaqueline, who soon nursed
him back to health. Captain Beaumont
was brought to Huntsville under guard,
and 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 II he could find
Yankee bullet to assist him. He was
too manly and chivalrous to cast the
slightest blame on Jack for his disap-
p0intment.
One morning I took my friends from
Mr.. Stanforth's-excepting Helen-into
headquarters and introduced them to
the general He was aware Of our
coming and had directed that the out
laws should be brought before him at
the same time.
Are these the menu" he asked.
Eyes. general" replied.
To an officer Of the guard he said:
take them away. 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
barbarity Of war;"
But. general, that one." pointing to
Captain Ringold. ''he helped u.s."
"Ah! l had forgotten that" Then,
turning to Ringold:
IF set at liberty, how long will you
require to get out Of my linesY
II will 60 at once"
"Go. and II you are seen about here
after tattoo this evening you will fol-
low your men,"
The reprieved man sprang toward
JaQueline. seized her hand and kissed
I. From this moment am q changed
man," he said to her, "and your bright
eyes and kind heart have done it." In
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 best
man. Jaqueline doubtless having infiu.
enced his choice. !, I gladlyf accepted
hoping that, since Helen was to, serve
as first bridesmaid, our sbeing 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 a bride was standing on
the rear gallery tossing presents to
crowd of black people below. whose
upturned faces indicated the ad0ra-
ton in which they held their young