The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1912-01-04
A LIT TIE
REBEL
By ALBERT TUCKER KENYON
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation 1911

ing the Commemorate General Bragg a
Murfreesboro, Tenn, was a cap
tain In the -th Ohio regiment Of tina
army. One morning while / was Off
Ger Of the picket post deployed OF
either side of the turnpike leading di
rectly south a young girl Of fifteen Of
sixteen came to me and asked me tC
let her go through the lines to bel
home, which she said was about q
mile down the pike. l told her that
had no authority to do so. but II she
would 60 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
a doctor had prescribed for her moth.
er, 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 I confess ]
had no stomach for that part of It.
The girl saw / was weakening and ex-
ercised all her persuasive faculties
upon me.
while I am waiting here" she
walled. wringing her hands. mother
may be dying"
The brutality Of keeping her under
the circumstances was a little more
than could bear. 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
60 there to make another application
for a pass.
"Can you see your house from here?"
I asked
You can Just SCI the chimney over
the bill. There 1t is. on the right side
Of the turnpike"
I'm go with you"
l expected an outburst Of gratitude.
Instead she threw up her hands in
protest
Not for the world would / get you
into trouble. A 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 her, but
1t 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 q very
severe punishment. But l 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 1t was evil
dent from what she told me as to the
proximity Of the vedette that this plan
would not serve l was at a 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 CO." said to her, "and |
It Is known by my superiors I shall
be court martialed and doubtless sui. |
Ter some severe penalty"
She stood for a moment thinking,
then said: Suppose | start to run.
You follow me and at last give up the
.hase."
NO." l said 81 will either let you
20 through openly. disobeying orders.
" not at ALL"
"Oh. do let me gor' she pleaded.
While you are OBTAINING me you are
from my mother what
nay save her."
WELL" l said at last, TIL risk It.
10 ahead"
She gave me grateful look, and
NV In 1t at the same time something
4 pain or regret. l was looking her
tra1ght In the face, on each side of
which were two puffs such as were
q vogue in women's hairdressing at
he time. These puffs were. 1 believe,
sually rolled over something to give
hem their shape. There was a break
the pun on one side of the girls
cad. and a thin line of something
White. over which it had been rolled,
7as visible.
A suspicion struck me.
Zone moment" said.
/ reached for the pun and held on to
till had taken out some crumpled
'hite paper. Smoothing it out, / saw
q 1t writing and figures A brief ex-
mination showed me that It embraced
st1mates Of each division of our Army
the Cumberland. giving its exact
osition.
'This is the medicine" said to the
LII. that you are carrying to your
ok mother"
There was no reply, only a look of
and vexation that her
,heme had failed.
Corporal" cried, take this girl In
general headquarters and this pa
er also. Say that the girl was trying 3
get through the lines with it."
hen to the girl. you must have a ,
Jared conscience to practice such de- ,
option"
mot at ALL" she replied. 81 WAS :