Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-15

on the French cadence); Il am flemish An indeed
e bleedn' to death from frghtful shell wound
in the thigh Take zis friend from me-e's only
stun and viii leevc. When VIC got back hours after,
e was lyin white as a wax flower, with is leg tied
up with your hatband. Luckily, it was within reach,
an e had made tourniquet by twstin it with a
pistol"
looked at my friend the Captain with fresh
glow of admiration and gratitude. By this time the
young soldier and his companion had advanced SO
that could see his pale face lighted UP with
beautiful JOY He was murmurng something in low.
hurried tones, as they paused for a moment the
gravel walk. and even at that distance could discern
that the young woman listened with lowered head
while she watched him from under her long curved
cyeashes. blond Southern girl, with certain
grace Of measured movement-and, apparently not
without serene consciousness OF power in the pres
OF such unreserved devotion. But when, soon.
they drifted rustic seat, into which the wounded
soldier sank to semi-reclining position, she stood
looking down at him in such position that her
shadow fell softly almost caressingy, upon his pale
face, deepening the eager expression upon his fea-
lures.
"Dadd. who is that eir2" asked after few mo-
mcnts of revery. What OF herr"
They say she's visitor at this ouse--some sort
OF relative Mayhap her folks in Virginia, proud but
very poor--and fancy, to be Confederate is the
fashion Ali women are natural Iacobites-at least,
that's hour hexperience in the Hold World. III
wager she's ten' i'm, this very minute about her
and death for liberty. with sly int that we're fight
in for empre-and 'e's card hall this before e left
Francei Look, she's made Confederate flag out OF
her red shawl and white handkerchief"
looked. Sure enough. whether by accident de-
sign the red white, and red OF our foe draped her
bosom naturally, yet so obviously, that found
myself regarding the seductive oncombatant with
curious interest and an uncomfortable sense Of fore
boding.
"See i'm will YOU" cried the old hospital steward
indicating the scout with the Indian walk, who was
just leaving the garden still unobserved by those
whom he had kssRSt, 50 closely. and 50 magna1,y
under scrutiny. "The Captain Odds i'm in the 'oer
of is and; and that's why e 'ates i'm SOP
This rather sweeping eision of aspirates being
wholly uninteiligibe, pressed my old nurse for an
explanation.
"Why, you see, sir when General Reno fell at
South Mountain. MORALLY wounded who should
in prisoner! May never see another day If that
prisoner wasn't the that the Captain had caught
skulkn', and disharmcd i'm, supposin i'm to be a
rebel. Never did a man in such funk; the
sweat rolled off i'm, and is teeth an is knees was
a-chatern'. E pleaded ard to be spared, sayin as
how it was along o disorder rs sub
jcct to. But it was the worst fright ever see The
Captain flung m is sword at last, and said some
think like. See that this don't appen again. But it
in alt French, so ] couldn't be right But
you can bet your sweet life that skulkin fellow
goin' to get revenged on the Captain some ow-and
airl An it looks though es jealous O. the French
man too"
1t was natural that among the viva voce character
sketches which enlvened the house where con-
vaescing | should seek to learn something of the
sphinx Of our garden who might then be max
ing a prisoner of my friend But in vain She had
no intimates here. Her home in Loudon Valley,
however, was spoken of as hotbed OF rebels who
held their heads very high and who scorned all traf
erences were SO few and her bearing and
cold as to leave nothing wherein to hang conjec-
normans adding SHE'S mighty v proud s and and al amb
tious, and l cannot make her out
When next the Captain he was plainly pre-
occupied. With the sorrowful philosophy traditional
among men when the love Of woman comes between
them. recognized its supremacy. At that time
thought of no other darker barrier that might rise
between few days later the order came to join
our corps at Harpers Ferry-at least, all GONZALES
cents. What of the others? They must do the best
4
morrow-that is, the rebels will be in possession as
soon as our troops are withdrawn. This gathered
from the old hospital steward ;.and, furthermore. thai
the Captains wound having broken out airesh. he
5 could not accompany US.
hurried to my friends room. The Captain lay, OF
and was evidently suffering. observed that hi
{ sabre hung on the wall in such fashion that hi
eyes would fall naturally upon it as he sank to sleep
much as the gaze of devotee ght rest upon
5 crucihx He congratulated me with kindly look, or
my return to active service, an almost hectic fusl
5 kindlng on his cheek. Moreover, | envy you NOR
brave, because-because you draw the sword fol
your own country and not for another"
tried to 5anslaf into Fsnc the line from MI
r. eyes rested upon the sabre hanging hiltwise like
a cross. Il would it for La Belle France!
X Two years after the events above narrated I wa
n riding with Captain Magrath, provost marshal
a along the banks of the Shenandoah 1t was en-
chanting morning in mid October But somethn,
had gone wrong with the provost marshal. I knev
it not only by the expression OF his face, but tn
/ Captains mustache usually waxed to degree tina
h, wooden countenance, this morning in droopin
c disorder; and he had on only spur, which gave
p idewise motion to his horse from his nervous jab
it. another one began the troubled officer; cts abou
t; that COMPOUNDED Mosby, the guerilla. They say tina
the audacty and mpunity Of these partisan ranger
VI argue ineficency in my ce. ! don't know wha
re they expect to do more than have done, II
ID il Person our chief of scouts, who has bee
after that gang of cutthroats all winter, can't
is haul them. nobody can All very well to sit on
sofa in Washington and telegraph recklessly, Cate
n Mosbyy Kill Mosby!--but how is that to be don
as when the rascals we're after plain farmers
he day and 'Johnnes' by nighti
n, Magrath continued for a while to fume til
unwelcome theme. then rode in silence until "
tr encountered struggling group OF uncouth mounte
IS men Suddenly some one emerged from this grou
and we were addressed with camorous efusvenes
IL 1t was Lieutenant Person, chief OF scouts. Asic
hit from the extensively familiar fashion OF his greetin
the fellow was to me, persona non grata because
or his reputation, which that OF a renegade fro
If. the Confederate Army, and spy on occasion. B
ty sides, had not forgotten the garden incident,