The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-11-14
THE DILEMMA
OF A SOLDIER
A Humorous Episode Of the
War of the Sixties.

olution IN what Is now the middle o
New York city. left his millions ant
In the ranks went down into Virginia
TO help preserve the Union.
Archie's regiment one afternoon
diminishing through little artist
cratic Virginia town. encountered
brigade Of Confederates, which gav'
them fire that disabled most of them
The rest scattered and ran back al
fast as their legs would carry them
Archie among the runners. Mounting
n pretty white fence that inclosed .
flower garden, he climbed into the
branches of cherry tree The leaves
as well as the cherries were thick. ano
he was well hidden. The Confederate
commander. fearing an ambush, order
ed halt. leaving his pickets within
a 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 he didn't mind that so long as
| 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-
! ~, he that oil
pearance of war had vanished Direct
". beneath him was girl plucking
roses. Unfortunately the girl looked
up and saw him.
She was about to shrek when
Archie dropped directly before her.
Dofiing 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 ours?" was her first
question. His uniform was so dilapi-
dated that she couldn't tell whether ii
was Confederate or Federal.
II am not one of yours he replied.
Il wish | were
What do you mean?'
81 refer to the cherries and roses"
"Ohn'
IF were cherry you could eat
me, If 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"
Il mean it, A single word from me
would call 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
of his trousers. He paled slightly.
Would you mind my walking back
wardi" he asked humbly.
"Backward?'
"Yes; you look awfully fierce"
The girl smiled She held her arm
toward him. a rose in the hand.
.'You See" he said, taking the rose,
facing you | can disarm YOU
"It's all the weapon | have. You
are In no danger Now turn about and
move forward or I'll call"
Wont you please walk before me?'
Certainly not. Do you suppose ]
wish to be murdered"
"And | don't wish to be crucitied."
IL would advise you to do rs | say.
Really you are very nice, ragged,
iirty Yankee. I like you, and If you
will do as say before any one comes
I'll take you home and hide you"
Here were two horns of dilemma
IN the one hand, avoidance of going to
libby prison: on the other, walking be.
ore pretty girl with an exposed
hirt tail The blood of generations Of
wells revolted at such an ignominious
ituation.
Never" he said Mt last
"You don't mean that you fear an
harmed girl? How can you Yankees
xpect to conquer our men If you are
fraid Of our girlsT
IF you We're man you might
iarch me anywhere. Pm unarmed"
"About fhce-marchr'
uluIlAigs EAGusp ibc. hiuSi ihu- Z
nyl''
ooh, you do? Well. II you continue
- There. your obstinacy has cost
Du your liberty. That's my father
,ming. He'll call out sufficient men .
arrest you. and they'll send yoI to
/ can't protect you"
A gentleman came up and. seeing his
lughter talking with disreputable
oking man, knitted his brows.
Father" said the girl. here's
ankee. He hid in this tree when our
US drove his people off yesterday ]
ening. l ordered him TO march be-
re me to the house, and he refuses.
Ike him in charge"
'You march TO that house mighty
lex" said the man, cor III
Il viii II your daughter win 70 first"
why sou asked the man, surprised
Look
lie turned his back to the gentleman.
Carey" said the latter go on
cad"
The girl obeyed the order. When she
5 out OF hearing Archie said TO his
ltor Il could have escaped. hut not
thout showing this" taking hold of
shirt tail. ito your beautiful daugh-
You chose Imprisonment because