Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-01-16

ming knocked me silly. hardly knew
what was saying"
ut means much to you? To your
life?"
Everything, if 1 can only trace 1t
back, and thus discover the present
whereabouts of the original owner"
WAS that your regiment, then-the
Z Fourth Texas Infantry"
| He bowed his head, now LOOKING
/ frankly at her.
Would you mind telling n6e your
rank?"
/ II became Captain Of b Company
after the fght &C Chance IofilsyfiiS; We
served in virginia under MassE
Robert, and lost every commissioned
officer in that affair."" He hesitated
to go on. but she prompted him by
question:
"And then what? What was it
that happened? Don't be afraid to
tell me-"
Nothing until the day we fought at
Fishers HILL" he said slowly "Then
[ was dismissed from the service
for cowardice."
"Cowardice!' repeating the word in
quick protest. why, how could that
be? Surely your courage had been
sufficiently tested before9"
"Cowardice, and disobedience of or
ders." he repeated DULY, latter I had
been under fire almost night and day
for three years; after had risen from
the ranks and commanded the regi-
ment.'
"And you had no defence?"
"No; at least, none I could use;
this man might have saved me, but
he did not, and never knew why"
"Who was he?"
my senior captain, detailed on
Early's staff; he brought me the or
ders verbally l was afterwards &C
cused of disobeying. was temporari-
ly in command Of the regiment that
day with rank as major There was
a mistake somewhere, and we were
horribly cut up. and number taken
prisoners. 1t was my word against
his. and-and he lied"
She took the haversack from him,
studying the scarcely legible inscrip-
ton.
"'E. L. F. Are those the letters?"
Eyes; they stand for Eugene LIE
Fevre; he was of French descent, his
home in New Orleans"
you knew him well?"
I thought 90; we were at school TO-
gether and afterwards In the army
She looked across ct him again,
touched by the tender echo of his,
voice; then leaned forward and placed
one hand upon his.
you have not spoken about this for
a long while, have your"
NO." his eyes lighting up pleasant,
ly. hardly thought of it, except some
times alone at night. The memory
made me savage. and all my efforts to
ascertain the truth have proven USE
less"
"That is why you enlisted?"
Largely; there is no better place
to hide ones past than in the ranks
out here on the plains. IL could not
remain at home with that disgrace
hanging over me-.
you must tell me all about it,
Her head lifted suddenly as she
gazed out across the river, shading
her eyes. Why, what are those?"
she exclaimed eagerly. there, moving
on the bluffs opposite?"
His glance swept to the northward,
and he was as instantly thu soldier
again. Far away on the upper plateau.
clearly outlined against the blue of
the distant sky appeared number of
dark figures. For moment he be-
lieved them buffaloes, but in another
instant decided instead they were.
horsemen riding two by two.
Get down lower, Miss Mcdonald"
he commanded. Now we can see,
and not be seen. They must be
cavalrymen, the way they ride, but we
can take no chances
They watched the black specks pass
east to where the bluff circled in to-
ward the river 1t was from there
those distant riders first observed the
dim spiral of smoke still curling up
from the burning stage. for they
halted, punching together, and then
disappeared slowly down a cash in
the side Of the hill. Emerging on the
lower fiat they turned in the direction
Of the fire, squirting their horses into
swift trot. There was no longer
any doubt of their being troopers, and
Hamlin stood upright on the sand
hummock waving his hat. Thew ware
gathered about the fire, few dis
mounted beside the dead bodies, be-
fore his signal was observed. Then q
field glass flashed in the sunlight, and
three or four Of the party rode down
to the bank of the river. One of
these. the Tglaases still held in his
hand, his horses, hoofs in the water,
shouted across the stream.
Who are you over there?"
white people," answered HAmlin,
using his hands for trumpet. 1--WE
oecaped from the STAGE last nirh% (