The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-01-28
PRISONER
TO a GIRL

General Grant. and on this particular
day | had approached what | thought
was an abandoned farmhouse that l
might set drink of water from the
well. The front door stood partly
open, and that was one of my reasons
for believing the place was deserted.
AS reached the door | looked in and
saw furniture and at once realized that
some one must be living there. I was
heSitating what to do when the door
of an inner room opened and a girl
about twelve years old stood before
me. She was poorly kad. and hands
and face were not overclean. but her
eyes shone with intelligence. and her
expression was pleasing.
What do you want?" she asked aft
er we had surveyed each other for
minute.
something to eat, and | will pay
YOU for it" | replied. "If you will give
me the gourd will get drink Of wa
ter"
But father is away, and l am all
alone. and you are Yankee"
well. what of that? | shan't hurt
you"
Size looked me over from head to
foot and no doubt wondered how | got
there ana what my errand was. | lean
ed against tie door and smiled at her.
but the pleasant look left her face. and
she frightened her lips Is if she had
come to some decided conclusion about
something. | thought she was going
,I,:I
slowly said.
You will find Il gourd ut the well,
and win got You something to eat"
went nUt and satisfied my thirst
and thea rC-CntcrcI the house and sat
down 1T the rude table in the kitchen
whereon the meal WAS served. She
brought nc some milk and some corn
bread and cold meat
l tried my best as | ate TO engage her
in ConvcrS0IiJn, but she either an
swCrcd in moMoSyllables or not at all.
She knew all about the war, young as
she was. and. being southern born, it
was not to be expected that she would
give NE very cordial welcome. l
could and did make allowance for this,
and uncommunicative l ceased to an
hoy her with questions. When my cup
was empty she took it down cellar to
refill it. | heard her moving about
down there and heard her ascend the
stairs, and though she did not immedi-
ately reappear, did not raise my eyes.
a minute later. however, she spoke,
and my eyes lifted fast enough. She
was standing in the door between the
kitchen and the front room, and she
had Il shotgun levcled at my breast
from Il distance of only ten feet.
yankee. you are my prisoner
What do yoa meanT' | asked rs 1
rested an elbow on the table and stared
at her in surprise.
Just what | said. sir. You are my
prisoner, and if you don't do just as
say ! will shoot you. Stand up
Don't be foolish. child" l said as
l stood up and smiled at her. THAT
gun isn't loaded, and even if it was you
would not dare to fire 1t off. Put 1t
away ana hand ne the milk. | am 60
iug to give you the silver half dollar
when am through eating"
THE gun Is l)adci, and I'll shootw
she exclaimed. though her voice be-
traycl that she was somewhat fright
cncd. "Do as | tell you or l will fire,
80 into the pantryr'
My revolver was in Its holster I'M
der my coat, and | knew that the girl
would fire II ! made a move to get it.
1t was absurd to let a child like her
make me prisoner, and yet l was
forced to realize that she was as danger
Gus as Il man--pcrhaps more So The
result was that | backed up to the
open door of the pantry, and as she adj
yanced upon me | stepped into the lit
tie room, and she closed the door
and fastened it with Il button.
Ny idea was to escape by the Win
dow before she could get out ana
, around the house, but l found the
opening n small one and barred from
the outside. could not have escaped
that way had been alone in the house.
| Drawing my revolver, | fired through
J the door and made threats. but the
girls voice vas ir}r and determined as
she answered 100:
'If you l!3r again viii shoot through
| the door, and there is big load OF
! buckshot in tic gun
/ l coaycd and ATTEMPTED to brihe, but
she refused TO hold any conversation
with me. hoped that she would leave
! the house TO get help. in which case a
/ couple of kicks would have sent the
| old door flying, but she sat down in the
kitchen to act as guard until some one
should come along.
1t was almost noon before any one
arrived, and then 1t was n squad of
! Confederate cavalry beating up the
! country in search Of Federal scouts
and spies. They were passing the
house when the girl called them in,
and as the sergeant opened my prison
door and commanded me to step forth
seven or eight others had their car
bines leveled at me. They 3oked and
guyed me not a little and had much to
say in praise of the girl.
| was taken to Lees headquarters to
be questioned and Inter on was sent to
| Rtrbmand where waQ confined IN