Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-06-10

for Claybourne. and Thorpe acted Tor
Waters. We all rode out beyond the
picket line and, choosing an open
space In a wood where we thought we
were not likely to be interrupted. were
about to dismount for the purpose of
settling the dispute when we were
cred upon by concealed Confederates.
We all rode away In a hurry, heading
for our lines. Seeing Claybourne
swaying In his saddle. l rode beside
him and prevented him falling from
his horse. He told me he had been
shot In the side.
Claybourne was obliged to accept
satisfaction from the Confederate SOL
dier who had shot him. for he was
badly wounded and had to go TO the
hospital He was not discharged for
several weeks. In fact he was not
discharged at all, for while he was
under treatment an order came for
our battalion to move forward and
take up a position several miles In adj
vance of the one we had occupied
Claybourne deserted the hospital for
active service. We found no enemy
between US and our new encampment
except small bands. which at once re-
treated before US.
Our battalion enaamped near the
manor house of large plantation. the
occupants of which were C0nfederates
and very bitter against US az invaders
of the south. as they called us. Clay
bourne and I were In the same COM
pany. and noticed on the march that
he was suffering great mental distress.
l forebore to ask him the cause. for
| knew / would receive no satisfac-
ton.
The day after we were settled In our
new encampment Claybourne asked
me to ride with him that we might
form some plan to remove the obloquy
under which he rested on account Of
his mysterious rides and the innuendo
of the adjutant- We emerged from
our camp and rode on for time in 81
lence. Presently from the gate of the
plantation house which we were APP
preaching emerged young girl. When
we met her she fixed her eyes upon
Claybourne with an unmistakable ex-
preston of contempt
looked from her to him. For some
time he did not speak. and when he
did he burst out vehemently.
There is your explanation" he said.
"You, who were born and have lived
north, have no conception Of what we
southern army officers who have stuck
by the dag have suffered and must
continue to suffer. The girl we have
Just passed and were brought up to-
gether as children. We were sweet
hearts In childhood and are today low
ers in youth. for, despite her treat
ment of me, she loves me today. as I
love her. When went to West Point
we were betrothed When the war
came on she wrote me, begging me to
resign and come to fight for our homes
| and our fresides. thought and
thought day after day, week after
week, month after month. could SEQ
no sense, no justification. in breaking
| up the Union. Yet to turn against my
own people was horrible; to give up
| the girl loved was heartbreaking
| knew what I was bound in con-
science and in honor to do, but T.
seemed that I could not do it At last
| decided. And, once decided. my
decision was irrevocable. You will
have no Benedict Arnold among Us
southern men on either side"
! leaned over toward him and threw
my arms about him. Then we rode on
for some time in silence. which broke.
Waters win apologize to you" l
said LIT is not necessary that you
should explain your mysterious rides
even to me. can readily understand
that they were on errands Of love-"
"You are right" he replied. II have
visited my former flancee in the hope
that might win her from the position
she has taken. have failed"
| But how" asked presently, were
| you able to visit this place when II
| was In Confederate handsT
MANY of the officers were former
| playmates of mine, and had no diff
Guilty in getting permission to visit one
| who was known to have been my
sweetheart. know every one about
here. That was the weakness Of my
| position. I repeatedly and secretly
visited the enemy"
| could readily understand all that
my young friend had suffered and
how to gain kind word from the girl
he loved had laid himself liable to a
| charge OF treachery. Even In confid-
ing the matter to me he had parted
with his secret
J AS soon as we returned to camp !
sought Waters and told him that the
explanation he had called for had been
made to me and that was perfectly
| satisfied with It Waters accepted II
as If 1t had been made to him person
ally and offered to go to Claybourne
and apologize, but assured him that
| It was not necessary. All the case re-
| quired was that the matter be drop
] ped.
Shortly after this was transferred
to another branch Of the service and
did not meet Claybourne again till we
met several years after the war was
over. 1 found him very much chang
ed. The position he had taken in re-
spect to the advisability of the seces-
sion movement had been indicated
and terrible four years had become
thing Of the past. The FIRST ques.
ton asked him was If he was mar.
ried.
He told me that he was and when
looked at him inquiringly added: mo
| After the war she relented, but toe