The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-24
Haveril1 asked him daily if he had

HaverilI asked him daily if he had learned any tidings.
 The colonel and his wife were none the less fond of their southern wards. Gertrude and Robert ElIingham, now that of necessity they no longer stood toward them in loco parents.
 Whatever stern military aloofness the Federal military officer may have felt obligatory upon him was compensated by a new tenderness on the part of Mrs HaveriIl, particularly toward Ger trude, whom she regarded as the 1nno- cent victim of a most unfortunate po- litical misunderstanding This feeling Gertrude reciprocated and equally with out suspicion of resentment
 Mrs. Haverill and Gertrude, as has been intimated, maintained a practical ly continuous correspondence. Ger trude wrote regularly to her Confeder- ate brother, Robert El1ingha1n. Made line West. on the other side of the Mason and Dixon line, also wrote to Robert, her "rebe1'' sweetheart, in a nonparhsan way, which also was quite different from sisterly. Of course, Bob wrote to both the girls, and it would have been highly embarrassing if he had ever got the epistles mixed. Made line answered the copious letters and inquiries of her brother, Kerchival West, as best she could.
 Jenny Buckthorn was heard to re- mark that Captain Heartsease's pen was might1er than his sword, so there must have been some epistolary inter change between these two also when the captain was away from Washing ton As for General Buckthorn, still at home slowly recovering from his wound, and Colonel HaveriH, preoccu- pied with active military rcsponsibili- ties, these two old soldiers stuck dog gedly to their respective duties and kept their own counsel.
 Such was the complicated morgan ised system of grapevine telegraph" :" which in civil war time practically did the service of what in latter days would be called the wireless
 Gertrude had been home in the val ley perhaps a fortnight when she re- ceived the following il1uminaHve epis- tie from her brother:
 Charlottesville, June g.
 Dearest Sister-We have left the valley, I suppose 10 join in the defense of Rich rnond. You know what that means under Jackson. This is the first moment have fouad to write to you since you decided to quit for home I know what you have
 
 came about that you got through as luck fly as you did? Probably not. Now, will tell you. It was all very well for the Richmond department to send you in cer-l tain company by way of Baltimore, but when it came to the pinch at Harper's Ferry influence at Washington had to be brought to bear Whose influence? Gen eraI Buckthorn's. General Buckthorn must have acted at the prompting of some other Federal officer, presumably Colonel H. And how did our dear colonel happen to be so alert in behalf of a couple of southern women travelling at their own risk?
 Washington either on sick leave some confidential mission. He must have moved heaven and earth and even strain ed a point or two of discipline for your sake. don't know the exact circum- stances, but I do know old Kerchfval. God bless himi He can't help it if he is a Yank-
 Now you know what he did for you and perhaps you will understand the ugly look if must have taken for him at Wash inBton when I tell you that your danger ous travelling companion took advantage of the situation to wheed1e the Federal guard at Berryvifle into making thus rescued certain secret service off Ger whom you and know only too well and who Is now back again in the Confed- crate service. What is to come of 1t all don't know, but, sis, be careful Keep this closely to yourself and never forget it.
 When you will next hear from me and what you will hear mortal can predict except that I shall be found in the line of duty. May heaven bless and keep all is the constant prayer of your errant brother. BOB. e-'--=----- ~Ln N<Is "--=Ss==-