Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-11
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|U4e <TH HE IN! NORTH pr! III
RANDALL PARRISH

exclaimed. springing to the ground beside
ne. I've actually been praying for week
your service told me you had pulled
through but everything is in such confusion
that TO hunt for you would have been the
proverbial quest after a needle in a hay
stack You have been paroled. Them
Yes, I'm completely out of IL at last
answered. feeling to the full the deep SYM
pathy expressed by his face. 1T was Bit
ter pill, but one which had to be taken
Il know it, old fellow and his hand
grasp on mine frightened warmly. "Or
course I'm glad. there's no use denying
that, glad we won; glad the old Union has
been preserved as our fathers gave 1t to
u.s. glad slavery on this continent has
passed away forever. and so will you be
before you die. Yet l am sincerely sorry
for those who have given their all and lost
God knows you fought a good fight fought
as Americans only can. even though II was
in a bad cause. That is the pity of it; such
heroism. such sacrifice. and all wasted. II
you have been beaten there is no disgrace
in it, for no other nation in this world
could ever have accomplished it. But this
was case of Greek meeting Greek. and
had the money, the resources and the men.
But, Wayne, l tell you. / do not believe
there is today spark of bitterness i'm the
heart Of fighting federal soldier. We
Fought you to a finish because it's in our
blood; we whipped you because were
compelled to in order to preserve the Union,
but we'd share our last cent last crust.
with any grayback now. / know ] feel as.
in need"
Il know. Cation I said-and the words
came hard-"your fighting men respect us.
even rs we do them. 1t has been sheer
game of which could stand the most pun
ishment and the weaker had to go down.
| know all that, but. nevertheless. 1t is n
terrible ending to 50 much of hope, suffer-
ing and sacrifice"
Yes, he admitted soberly "you have
given your all. But those who survive have
wonderful work before them. They must
lay anew the foundations; they are to be
the rebuildels of states You were going
homer"
1 smiled bitterly at this designation of
my journeys end.
Yes, If you can SO name few weed
grown fields and vacant negro cabin I
certainly shall have to lay the foundation
anew most literally"
''Will you not let me aid your" he ques-
toned eagerly. Il possess some means.
and surely our friendship IS sufficiently es-
tablished to warrant me I'm making the
offer You will not refuse?"
Il must, | answered firmly. "Yet I do
not value the offer the less. Some time 7
may even rem nd you of II, but now prefer
10 dig, as the others must | shall be the
stronger for it. and thus sooner forget
the total wreck"
For few moments we walked on to-
Gether in silence, each leading his
horse. j could not but note the contrast
between us in dress and bearing Victory
and defeat each had stamped its own
wayne he asked at length glancinr
1urtVely at me rs if to mark the effect
Of his words. did you know that Mrs.
Brennan was again with us?"
The name thus spoken set nv heart 10
instant throbhing. but / sought to answer
carelessiy Whatever he may have sur
missed, 1t was plainly my duty to hide our
secret still
Il was not even aware she had beap
away"
''Oh yes; she returned north Immediate
iy after your last parting, and came back
DO Go
tives of the officers have come down of
late, knowing the war to be practically at
an end. that our camp has become like n
huge picnic pavilion. 1t is quite the FASH
ionable fad just now to visit the front
Mrs Brennan accompanied the wife Of
one of the division commanders from her
state-Connecticut. you know"
There was much | longed to ask regard
ing her. but / would not venture to fan
his suspicious In hope that 1 might turn
his thought l asked. And you: are you
yet married?'
He laughed spontaneously. NO that
happy day will not occur until after we
mustered out Miss Minor is far too
loyal a Ffrginian ever to become my wife
while / continue to wear this uniform.
BY the way Mrs. Brennan was asking
Celia only yesterday if she had heard any
thing of you since the surrender"
She is at Appomattox. then?"
NO, at the Headquarters Of the Sixth
Corps only few miles north from here
And the mafOr?"
Cation glanced at me- peculiar look in
his face but answered simply:
Naturally l have had small intimacy
with him after what occurred at Mountain
View, but he is still retained upon Cen
eral Sheridans staff At Mrs. Brennan's
request we breakfasted together yester-
day morning. hut believe he is at the
other end of the lines today"
We sat down upon bank, our conversa-
ton drifting back to their uneventful ride
northward and later to our experiences
during those last weeks of war. I have
n sf
must have made while resting there.
each holding the rein of his horse. our
animals widely differing, in appearance
as ourselves. Both were typical of the two
services in those last days. Cation was at
tired in natty uniform. fieckless and well
groomed, his linen immaculate, his but
tons cleaning. the rich yellow stripes OF
his arm of the service making marked con-
trast with the blue he wore and the green
he sat upon I, on the other hand, was
haggard from. hard sleeplesS service and
insufficient food. my shapeess old SLOUGH
hat and dull gray jacket torn and disfig-
ured, the marks of rank barely discern
ible.
But his manly. hopeful spirit reawaken-
ed my courage and for the time / forgot
disaster while listening to his story OF
love and his plans for the future HIS one
thought was of Celia and the northern
home so soon now to be made ready Tor
her coming. The sun sank lower into the
western sky. causing Cation to draw down
his fatigue cap until its glazed visor al
most completely hid his eyes. With buoy-
ant enthusiasm he talked on. each word
drawing me closer to him IN bonds OF
friendship But the time of parting came.
and after we had promised to correspond
with each other ] stood and watched while
he rode rapidly back down the road we hao
traversed together. AT the summit of the
hill he turned and waved his cap, then
disappeared leaving me alone with Ediths
face more clearly than ever torture 10
my memory of defeat-her face. falr, smli-
ing, alluring, yet the face of another man
wife.
ITO be concluded Monday