The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-07-13
ARCHIE DILEMMA,
ay DONALD CHAMBERLAIN.

by DONALD CHAMBERLAIN.
Copyright. 1903. by American Press Asso-
ciatlon.l
When the civil war broke out Archie
van Yalkenburgh, a descendant from
cid Garrett Van valkenburgh. who
owned farm at the time Of the Rev
oIution in what IS now the middle Of
New York city. left bis millions and
IN the ranks went down into Virginia
to help preserve the Union.
Arehie's regiment one afternoon,
skirmishlng through a little aristocratie
Virginia town. encountered q brigade
OF Confederates which gave them
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 a Netty
white fence that incIosed a lower
garden, be climbed into the branches
OF a 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 few
hundred yards OF the fence Night
came on and left the soldier up the
tree.
Marches had been long and lighting
frequent. Archie was tired. hungry,
sleepy and ragged. In climbing the
tree a sharp broken limb had removed
what remained OF the seat Of bis trou-
sers, but be didn't mind that SO long
ais 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 be found that all APP
pearance OF war had vanished. Di-
rectly beneath him was a girl pluck
ing roses. Archie was not afraid Of
a girl: he had danced and firted with
too many Of them in New York. But
he remembered the missing seat OF bis |
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 with swells in those |
days, he said;
Pardon me for coveting your cher
ries. was hungry
Are you one Of ours21 was her first |
question. His uniform was so dilapi- |
dated that she couldn't tell whether 1t /
was Confederate or Federal Besides,
she was ratified.
Il am not one Of yours he replied.
Il wish werep
what do you mean?'
II refer to the cherries and the
roses"
aOhF'
@If / were q cherry, you could eat
me; If a rose. you could wear me in
your hair"
Her fright vanished. What hand
some. ragged. dirty mani
"You are my prisoner" she said.
Delighted to be made captive"
Il mean It a single word from me
would cali a 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
Ok his trousers. He paled slightly.
would you mind my walking back
ward p he asked humbly.
'BackwardE
Eyes: you look awfully fierce. I'm
sfraid you'll shoot me-
The girl smiled. She held her arm
toward him, a rose In the hand.
You see" be said, taking the rose,
facing you can disarm you"
Its all the weapon 1 have. You
ire In no danger. Now turn about and
move forward or I'll cal"
A crisis bad come.
won't you please walk before met"
"CeFtainly not. DO you suppose
wish to be murderedY'
And don't wish to be crucified"
= weald advise you to do as | say.
Really you are very nice, ragged,
iirty Yankee. ! like you, and If you
win do as | say before any one comes
IN take you home and hide you"
Here were two horns of dilemma
N the one hand. avoidance Of going to
libby prison: on the other, walking be-
ore pretty girl with an exposed
shirt tail. The blood of generations of
wells reyolted at such an ignominious
situation.
"Neverr' he said at last
''You don't mean that you fear an
girI7 Flow can you Yankees
Expect TO conquer our men If you are
Ifraid Of our girls?"
III you were a man, you might
march me anywhere. I'm unarmed."
about face-marchp
4 mutiny. Excuse me. must mu
inyp'
"oh. you do7 Well, If you continue
o. There. your obstinacy has cost
'ou your liberty. That's my father
oming. He'll call cut sufficient men