Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-09-15
ARCHES DILEMMA,
BY DONALD CHAMBERLAIN.


Van yalkenburgh. descendant from
old Carrot Van valkenburgh. who
owned farm ut the time of the Rev.
olution in what is now the middle of
In the ranks went down into Virginia
to help preserve the Union.
Arches regiment one afternoon.
skirmishing through little aristocratic
Virginia town. encountered brigade
OF Confederates which gave tlrem a
fire that disabled most of them. The
rest scattered and ran back as fast
as their legs would carry them. Archie
among the runners. Mounting pretty
white fence that inclosed a flower
garden. he climbed into the branches
of cherry tree. The leaves as well
as the cherries were thick, and be was
well hidden The Confederate COM
mander. fearing an ambush. ordered a
halt. leaving his pickets within a few
hundred yards of the fence Night
came on and left the soldier up the
tree
Marches had been long and fighting
frequent Archie was tired hungry,
sleepy and ragged. In climbing the
tree sharp broken limb had removed
what remained of the seat of his trou-
sers. but he didn't mind that so long
as he was safe from capture. Finding
two parallel branches near together.
he stretched himself between them
and Went to sleep.
In the morning the bright sun awak-
ened him, and he found that all APP
pearance of war had vanished Di-
rectly beneath him was girl pluck
ing roses. Archie was not afraid of
girl: he had danced and lrted with
too many of them in New York. But
he remembered the missing seat of his
trousers and kept quiet Unfortunate
ly the girl looked up and saw him.
She was about to shrek when
Archie dropped directly before her
Doffing his hat and bowling very low.
as was the custom with swells in those
days. he said:
Pardon me for coveting your cher
ries. | was hungry"
Are you one of ours?" was her first
question. His uniform was so dilapi-
dated that she couldn't tell whether it
was Confederate or Federal. Besides,
she was ratified.
II am not one of yours" he replied
II wish | were"
What do you mean"
Il refer to the cherries and the
roses"
"Ohr
If l were cherry. you could eat
me; If rose, you could wear me in
your hair"
Her fright vanished. What a hand
some ragged. dirty man!
"You are my prisoner" she said.
Delighted to be mad~ captive"
II mean it. A single word from me
would call number Of people"
'Please don't speak it,"
II order you to turn and walk before
me to the house over there"
Archie remembered the missing seat
Of his trousers. He paled slightly.
Would you mind my walking back
wardy' he asked humbly.
'Backwardw
Eyes; you look awfully fierce. I'm
afraid you1l shoot me-"
The girl smiled. She held her arm
toward him. rose in the hand.
You see." he said. taking the rose.
facing you | can disarm you"
Its all the weapon have. You
are in no danger. Now turn about and
move forward or I'll call"
A crisis had come.
Wont you please walk before me?'
Certainly not. Do you suppose !
wish to be murderedT
And don't wish to be crucified."
II would advise you to do as say.
Really you are a very nice. ragged.
dirty Yankee Ike you. and II you
win do as say before any one comes
I'll take you home and hide you"
Here were two horns of dilemma
on the one hand. avoidance Of going to
Libby prison: on the other. walking be
fore pretty girl with an exposed
shirt tail. The blood Of generations Of
swells revolted at such an ignominious
situation.
"Neverr' he said at last.
you don't mean that you fear an
unarmed girl? How can you Yankees
expect to conquer our men If you are
afraid of our girls?"
eff you we've a man. you might
march me anywhere. I'm unarmed."
ABOUT face-marchw
II mutiny. Excuse me. ! must mu-
tiny"
"Oh. you do? Well. If you continue
to- There. your obstinacy has cost
you your liberty. That's my father
coming. He'll call out sufficient men
to arrest you. and they'll send you to
Richmond. can't protect you"
A gentleman came up and. seeing his
daughter taking with disreputable
looking man. kSitted his brows.
Father, said the girl. Where's
Yankee. He hid in this tree when our
boys drove his people of yesterday