The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1909-07-21
ARCHIE $ DILEMMA,
By DONALD CHAMBERLAIN.


Van valkenburgh. descendant from
old Carrot Van yalkenburgh. who
owned farm at the time Of the Rev
olution In what is now the middle OF
New York city. left his millions and
In the ranks went down Into Virginia
to help preserve the Union.
Arches regiment one afternoon.
sklrmishIng through little aristocratic
Virginia town. encountered u brigade
of Confederates which gave them
fire that disabled most Of them. The
rest scattered and ran back rs fast
as their legs would carry them. Archie
among the runners. Mounting pretty
white fence that lnclOSed u flower
garden. he climbed IEio the branches
OF cherry tree. The leaves aS well
rs the cherries We're thick. ard he was
well hidden The Corfcderate com.
mander. fearing an ambush. ordered a
halt. leaving his piclrts within 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 be didn't mind that so long
rs he was safe from capture. Finding
two parallel branches near together
be stretched himself between them
and went 10 sleep
In the morning the bright sun awak'
ened him. and he found that all MP.
pearance OF war had vanished. III.
rectly beneath him was girl pluck.
ing roses. Archie was not afraid Of
girl: he Ind danced and Glrted 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.
DofinG his hat and bowling very low
as WAS the custom Eith swells In those
days. he said:
Pardon me for coveting your cher
ries. was hungry"
Are you one Of ours?" was her first
question bis uniform was so dIlapi.
dated that she couldn't tell whether I,
was Confederate or Federal. Besides.
she was ratified
Il am not one of yours" he replied.
u wish were"
What do you mean?"
81 refer to the cherries and the
roses"
"Ohr'
III I were cherry. you could eat
me: II rose. you could wear me in
your hair"
Her fright vanished. What hand
some. ragged. dirty man!
you are my prisoner" she said.
Delighted to be made captive"
81 mean It. a single word from me
would call number of people"
Please don't speak it"
'I 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
ward:' he asked humbly.
Backward"
Yes; YOU look awfupy fierce. I'm
afraid you'll 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 l have. You
are in no danger. Now turn about and
move forward or III call"
A crisis had come.
Won't you please walk before me:"
Certainly not. Do you suppose
wish to be murderedT'
And l don't wish to be crucified."
81 would advise you to do as say.
Really you are a very nice. ragged.
dirty Yankee. Ike you. and II you
win do rs say before any one comes
III take you home and hide you"
Here were two horns Of a 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 ignomlnIous
situation.
"Never.~ he said at last
You don't mean that you fear an
unarmed girl? How can you Yankees
expect 10 conquer our men II you are
afraid OF our girls"
III you were a man, you might
march me anywhere. I'm unarmed."
About face-march!
y mutiny. Excuse me. ! must mu-
tiny"
"oh, you Go? Well. II 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"
y gentleman came up and. seeing his
daughter talking with 4 dlsrcputable
looking man. knitted his 5rows.
Father" said the girl. here's
. EaDlynn 10 IN L, ,l,t., - II -