The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-05-28
Private
BanCrOft'S
Foray
A STORY FOR MEMORIAL
DAY
By Captain F. A. mitchell

sssssssssessssseeseseseess
One morning in 1868 Jim Bancroft,
private In the til New York volun-
teer infantry, was one Of long line
Of pickets in Virginia. 1t was the
month of April, but in that climate the
spring was well advanced The pick
cts stood 100 yards apart, the ground
sloping before them, the sun shining
on fields of grain of variegated green,
just starting from the soil. Here and
there was a farmhouse, smoke curling
from the chimney. Through the land
scape white turnpike ran southwark,
but there was no travel on it except
here and there a darky driving
mule cart. No enemy was In sight,
but beyond the slope on a ridge edged
with timber doubtless men In gray,
which, being realistically interpreted,
means butternut. were looking to the
northward
Nevertheless the balmy air, the birds
twittering In the trees, the patches Of
rising grain and the warm sunshine
gave a peaceful hue to the landscape
and seemed to invite the picket for
stroll. Moreover. Jim, having had
nothing to eat for some time except
salt pork and bareback, an occasional
crow or cackles from a barnyard be-
low suggested fried chicken and fresh
eggs.
'Hi, you man on my right" called
Jim, "if you'll cover some of the dis
lance between you and the man on
my left so that 1 won't be missed I'll
make a raid on that barnyard down
there and divide the plumber with you
and him."
"All right" replied the man address
ed, or rather the boy, for most of
those who went out in 1861 were boys.
"Tm with you, but If you're caught of
post you'll get shot for desertion."
Jim hesitated at this, but he was
young, and the young are reckless.
Besides, a cackle of a hen that had
just laid an egg decided him in favor
of fresh food against a shooting for
desertion. He made the proposition
to the man on his left. His two flank
ing pickets moved nearer together. and
Jim, putting his rife in the hollow Of
his arm, started through the long grass
and stubble down the declivity.
The house seemed to be very quiet.
But for the smoke emerging from the
chimney Jim might have considered
that its occupants had left it. He was
laying out a course whereby he might
circle around under cover and make an
assault on the chicken house when
human being appeared on the scene.
A girl about seventeen years old came
out of a back door and threw the ref
use of the mornings meal to the chick
ems. She was not dark complexioned.
like most southern girls, but fair, with
a rose in each cheek. Her hair was
cut square just about her shoulders,
and her dress extended no farther than
the tops of her boots.
There was one thing during wartime
that had a more powerful effect on
soldier boy than food delicacies. Aft
err he marched away from home in
sight of duttering handkerchiefs he
struck a very different scene. The
ceremonies Of military life remained,
but there was none to admire. He saw
men, men, nothing but men, and they
were all soldiers. If there were wom-
en- In the country through which he
campaigned they were hostile to him
and kept out Of his way. AS to look
Ing on at bis dress parades and guard
mountings, they scOrned to do so.
Therefore the most welcome sight to a
soldier boy of the civil war was pref
ty girl.
Jim had no occasion to be afraid Of
any one about the place, for there were
likely to be only citizens there, and he
was armed At any rate, throwing
caution to the winds, he suddenly ap-
peared to the girl with one leg over the
top rail of fence inclosing the yard
She saw him and started.
Morning" said Jim in as soft a
voice as he could command.
The girl bit her lip and put her hand
to her breast, sigrs that she was EN-
deavoring to control her fright.
May ] come down? I'd like to buy
a chicken and some eggs" Jim added.
The request, though it came from a
terrible Yankee with a rife. was reas
surfing. She plucked up courage.
81 don't mind" was her shrinking
reply.
Jim swung the other leg over the
fence and went down into the barn
yard The girl tired hard to keep her
eyes off him and TO keep them on him
the first because she didn't wish to
show an interesl IN him. the second
because she had not entirely recovered
from her fear CT him. Jim never for
moment took mis- eyes away from
her. and they were brimful Of admi
ration. By the eime he stood before
her and dropped the butt of his rife
on the ground sne realized that 1t was
she and not tue young soldier who
was all powerful.
And what Was the predominant
thought that occupied Jim's brain:
Not that he might be taken In by Con
federates. no. chat If caught of his
post he might be shot by his own
comrades. Neither of these considera-
lions was q feathers weight against
what possessed him. He looked on
that innocent feminine face. those del
icately curved lips, and craved kiss.
There was no more impurity in his
desire than in the touch of Cupids
lips to those Of Psyche. 1t was as
natural as the mating of the birds
singing in the trees above them.
About the girl was nothing conven-
ionaL A poor white farmers daugh-
her, she had never been taught the
proper steps of courtship. For her
here were no such steps. AS to the
nan, he had no need for them. A look
was all that was required by either.
Jim, holding his rife in one hand, with
The other clasped her hand. Then
nan, woman and rifle were folded in
IN embrace. and Jim kissed her.
From the south came a clatter of
horses hoofs. Jim cast quick glance
toward his picket line, measuring the
distance with his eye and wondering
If he could reach it In time to escape
the coming horseman. The girl took
In the situation and, seizing him by
the hand, ran with him into the house.
There they were alone, for the others
Of the family had gone out to drive in
some stray stock that it might not fall
into the hands Of the soldiers. Lifting
trapdoor that led to the cellar, the
girl pointed down the stairs, and Jim
descended. The troopers were coming
rapidly and reached the house but a
few moments before he got into hid
Ing They nIlllad I'M at the gate and