The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-05-28

pleasant sensations. ! was tempted to
go down and make her acquaintance,
but this might interfere with my OBJ
Ject, SO l contented myself with look
ing at her, admiring her graceful car
rage and the comfort her flowers ap-
peared to give her. They seemed to
be talking to her and she to be listen
ing at what they said.
while enjoying the sight ! heard
clatter of horses hoofs coming up the
valley, and presently horseman In
gray uniform appeared. AS soon as
he reached the lane that led down to
the house he turned into it. Catching
sight of the girl, he took of his hat
and waved 1t, and she threw kisses to
him. DisEnounting beside her. he
clasped her IN his arms.
''Now, | had compunctions at spying
upon two lovers who had evidently
met after an absence. But here comes
In the difference between peace and
war and more especially between
peace and spying. and you must pre-
pare yourselves for the horrid war
part of my story. which am now GO
ing to tell you. Not considering 1t the
part OF a soldier or even spy-for
that's what waste look upon such
sight, I determined to turn away
from the couple. but as | was about
to do SO the young soldier unbuttoned
his coat. took out folded paper, evil
IDENTIFY letter. opened 1t and read 1t
to the girl. Then he said something
to her in an earnest way, whereupon
she gave him her hand, saying some
thing to him. and 1t struck me that
she was making him a promise.
IAN explanation of this scene fash
Ell upon me. He was carrying an I'm
portant dispatch. had informed her of
its contents and she had promised hin
that If anything occurred to prevent
his delivering 1t she would go to the
commander for whom 1t was intended
and deliver 1t verbally. This was my
Interpretation of the matter; but. of
course. 1t was only guess.
THE young soldier remained only
a few minutes with the girl After
having taken her In his arms again
he tried to disengage himself from her
but she chung to him. and it was quite
awhile before he could get away from
her.
''This parting affected me very much.
for was resolved to possess my
self of the dispatch or whatever It
was he carried This could hardly
be done without one of us killing the
other, and it was likely that he would
fail, for he was unaware of my pur
pose, while could follow him and If
necessary shoot him in the back.
"You may think, my dears. that to
harbor such intentions was very horrid
Of me. but you must remember that
bis life or mine was a mere bagatelle
compared with the lives of men com
posing two armies. Besides. there was
the cause each represented.
''The young man having torn him
ing peering after him. | mounted my
own horse and. screened by the trees.
rode down the incline in the direction
he had taken. We had not gone
mile from the house before l overlook
him.
Hearing the clatter of horses hoofs
behind him. he drew rein and turned
He saw me with a carbine leveled at
him and heard me calling on him to
surrender.
HE must have known that to refuse
was certain death to him, for he must
depend on revolver. and he was out
of range, while could shoot him down
before he could come near enough to
me to render his weapon effective
you asked me to tell you of brave
Confederate, and assure you this one
was not only a brave but a noble
man, for rather than be captured with
the dispatch on him he chose death
He made a dash at me. but before be
had come twenty PAGES l shot him.
and he fell from his horse. which went
tearing back in the direction from
which he had come.
1.-THE young soldier was dying when
| dismounted and stood beside him. !
wished that the war was a thing OF
the past, as 1t is for you youngsters. and
was In my own home in the north
engaged in peaceful avocations. wait
ed till he was still in death, then open
ed his coat, took out the paper and
read It.
II saw that it was an order for the
general commanding detached portion
of General Jackson's forces to form a
junction with him that night and be
ready to surprise US at dawn the next
morning.
''Then l forgot everything but the
carrying Of the dispatch ] had cap
tured to my general as soon as posi-
BILE Putting my foot in the stirrun
l swung myself into the saddle anG
rode southwark So intent was | OF
the Importance of what | was dolnG
that | did not think of the girl at thG
house below AS approached it | saw
empty saddle and weeping Historically
with her arms about its neck.
II could not bear to pass her. TurD
ing up the mountain side. struck the
trail by which ! had descended and
reaching the crest. rode into CAM
about 10 o'clock the same night, deliv
ering the captured dispatch to the gen
eral When ] told him the story
have told you he said:
Thanks to you. we have nothing
to fear tomorrow. We will turn in and
sleep soundly.'
THE year that the first Memoria
was celebrated went SOUTH found thu
grave of the young Confederate had
killed and placed flowers upon it |
was no longer in war. but amenable to
the generous, loving influences o.
peace. was standing bare headed
over the grave when the girl | had
seen some years before approached
with her arms full Of flowers. with
drew without saying a word to her
what could have said to her? HAD
not caused the death of the man she
mourned? She could not have realized
that the act was a war duty"