Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-06-06

sy
Claybourue 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 encamped near the
manor house Of large plantation. the
occupants Of which were Confederates
and very bitter against US as invaders
Of the south. as they called US. Clay.
bourne and we're In the same com
pany. and noticed on the march that
he was suffering great mental distress
I forebore to ask him the cause. for
I knew I 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 ap-
preaching emerged young girl. When
we met her she fixed her eyes upon
Claybourne with an unmistakable ex.
procc{op ~ ronfornnf
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 flag have suffered and must
continue to suffer. The girl we have
Just passed and I 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 ]
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 firesides. l thought and !
thought day after day. week after
week. month after month. I could see
no sense. no justification, In breaking
up the Union. Yet to turn against my
own people was horrible: to give up
the girl l loved was heartbreaking.
/ knew what was bound In con-
science and In honor to do. but 1t
seemed that could not do It At last
decided And. once I decided. my
decision was irrevocable. You will
have no Benedict Arnold among us
southern men on either side."
l leaned over toward him and threw
my arms about him. Then we rode on
for some time in silence, which broke.
"Waters will apologize to you." ]
said ut 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" be replied II have
visited my former fancee 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 1t
was in Confederate handsr
MANY Of the officers were former
playmates of mine. and l bad no difh'
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. l 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 q
charge Of treachery. Even In conid-
ing the matter to me he had parted
with his secret
As soon az we returned to camp !
sought Waters and told him that the
explanati tion he had called for had been
made TO me and that was perfectly
satisfied with II Waters accepted 1t
as II II had been made to him person
ally and offered to 20 to Claybourne
and apologize. but ! assured him that
Il was not necessary. All the case re
auired was that the matter Be drop
ped
Shortly after this was transferred
TO another brunch Of the service and
did not meet Clay bourne again till we
met several years after the war was
over. I found him very much chang
ed. The position be had taken In re-
spect to the ability Of the seces-
sion movement had been vindicated.
and terrible four years had become
a thing Of the past The 6rst Ques-
ton | asked him was II be was mar
ried.
He told me that be was and when ]
looked at him inQuiringly added: mo
After the war she relented. but too
late for me Recently have married
n GIRL from my native state. She was
II Confederate sympathizer. but she
understood my position and commend.
I'd me for being true to my convic-
tons"
Many years after I happened to meet
the girl who had turned away lover.
She had never married.