Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1911-08-23
A LIT TIE
REBEL
BY ALBERT TUCKER KENYON
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.


Murfreesboro, Tenn, l was a cap
tain in the -th Ohio regiment Of that
army. One morning while was off,
Ger Of the picket post deployed on
either side of the turnpike leading di-
rectly south a young girl of fifteen or
sixteen came to, me and asked me to
let her go through the lines to her
home, which she said was about a
mile down the pike. told her that !
had no authority to do SO, but if she
would go to headquarters very likely
she would get pass.
She said that she had been to head
quarters, but the general was busy
and she was pressed for time. She had
come up to town to get some medicine
doctor had prescribed for her moth
err who was at the point Of death.
She looked so distressed. turning a
pair of heavenly blue eyes upon me
beseechingly, that | was sorely tempt
ed to disobey orders and let her go
through. War is very hard on the
people of the country where the ar
mics are contending. and | confess
had no stomach for that part of it.
The girl saw was weakening and ex-
ercised all her persuasive faculties
upon me.
while l am waiting here she
walled. wringing her hands. mother
may be~dying."
The brutality of keeping her under
| the circumstances was little more
than could hear. 1t was several miles
back to the town where were the army
headquarters, the girl looked tired,
and two or three hours would neces-
sarily be consumed if forced her to
go there to make another application
for pass.
"Can you see your house from here?"
| asked.
You can just see the chimney over
the hill. There it is. on the right side
of the turnpike"
I'll go with you"
l expected an outburst of gratitude.
Instead she threw up her hands in
protest.
Not for the world would l get you
into trouble. \ Confederate vedette is
stationed on the road right in front of
our house. You would be captured"
Her unwillingneSS to implicate me
enhanced my desire to serve Der. but
it also tended to add to my uncertainty
as to what to do My orders were to
let no one go beyond our line who did
not have a pass. To disobey such an
order would render me liable to a very
severe punishment. But was young
and full of chivalry. Would it not be
better for me to take the risk upon
myself than keep this poor girl from
carrying medicine to her dying moth
er? My offer to accompany her was
that might be able to state that had
not let her out of my keeping while
beyond our lines. Since it was evil
dent from what she told me as to the
proximity Of the vedette that this plan
would not serve l was at loss to
decide what other course to pursue.
The girl kept wringing her hands
and moaning till she almost set me
wild with indecision between the die
tates of my heart and my duty.
''If let you GO l said to her. land
it is known by my supe:iors l shall
be court martialed and doubtless suf-
fer some severe penalty"
She stood for a moment thinking
then said: Suppose | start 20 run
You follow me and at last give up the
chase"
No. l said. 81 will either let you
go through openly. disobeying orders
or not at ALL
"While you are detaining me you are
Withholding from my mother what
may save her"
We'll" l said at last, "I'll risk it
Go ahead"
She gave me a grateful look. and
, saw in it at the same time something
of pain or regret. l was looking her
straight in the face, on each side of
> which were two puffs such as were
in vogue in women's hairdressing al
:. the time. These puffs were. l believe
usually rolled over something to give
! them their shape. There was a break
: in the puff on one side of the girls
J head. and a thin line of something
white. over which it had been rolled
was visible.
, A suspicion struck me.
lone moment" said
reached for the puff and held on tt
it till l had taken out some crumpleG
white paper. Smoothing it out. I saw
3 on it writing and figures. A brief ex
! animation showed me that it embraced
l estimates Of each division of our Army
Of the Cumberland. giving it's exac
o position.
n '"This is the medicine" said to thu
d girl. that you are carrying to your
o sick mother
o There was no reply. only look O.
!. disappointment and vexation that be-
!, scheme had failed.
g Corporal cried. take this girl il
to general headquarters and this pa
t per also. Say that the girl was trying
| To pot thrO,1oh tho limos with II