The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1913-06-26

enptisd haversaek. and she turned \
over. where 1t lay beside
her "a the sand Why. this h IN
old Confederate sack. isa't ~ hadn't
noticed before: ses. C. Q. A. 10 on
the Dap"
30 II b: perhaps Aoylan ssrvsd N
the south"
Il think not l am sure this was
never his. for he bought 1t At Dodge
l remember he told me he would have
to md somsthing to carry our lunch
m" She pushed the dap farther back.
then held It up to the sunlight There
are some other letters. but they are
hardly decipherable. cannot read
the nfst line at all. but the second Is
somewhat plainer-'Fourth Texas In
fantry.'"
Hamlin reached out his hand swift
". and grasped the havsrsack. forget
ting everything else In suddenly
aroused interest. The girl. surprised.
stared up into his face. as he closely
studied the faded inscription. his face
~AFs sSOeAAo 0ANoAN<NAOO AA40AVAuVASs
Good Cod" he calculated breath
lessly. 1T was Genes. What can this
mean?"
."You-you knew the soldier?"
knew him? Yes" speaking almost
uncOnsciously. his incredulous eyes
still on the inscription. as though fear
full 1t might vanish. That man was
either my best friend. or my worst
enemy; under heaven. know not
which. Why. 1t IL like . miracle. the
finding Of this bag out here in the des-
ert. It is the clue have been search
ing after for nearly five years" He
seemed to pull himself together with
an effort, realizing her presence. "Ex-
cuse me. Miss Mcdonald. but this
thing knocked me silly. hardly knew
what l was saying"
1T means much to you! To your
life?"
Everything, II l can only trace it
back. and thus discover the present
whereabouts of the original owner.">
WAS that your regiment. then-the
Fourth Texas Infantry?"
He bowed his head, now looking
frankly at her.
Would you mind telling me your
rank?"
Il became Captain Of b Company
after the fight at Chanceiiorsvilie: We
served In Virginia under Massa
Robert. and lost every commissioned
officer in that affair" He hesitated
to go on. but she prompted him BY q
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 before?"
"Cowardice, and disobedience of or.
ders," he repeated duly, after I had
been under IRE almost night and day
for three years; after had risen from
the ranks and commanded the regi.
nent."
And you had no defence?"
mo: at least. none l 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 was afterwards &C
casel ef disobeyfng. was temporari-
" IA command OF the regiment that
day with rank rs major. There was
mistake somewhere. and we were
horribly cut up, and number taken
prisoners. It was my word against
his. and-and he He'd"
She took the haversack from him,
studying the scarcely 1egfble fnscrtp-
tioa.
".E. L. F. Are those the letters? ?''
Yes; they stand TOR Eugene LIE
Fevre: he was Of French descent, his
home In New Orleans"
You knew him well!"
Il thought SO: We were At school to-
gether and afterwards IN the army"
She looked across At him Aeain,
touched by the tender echo At his
voice: then leaned forward aud placed
one hand upon his.
You have not spoken about this Tor
4 long while. have your"
NO" his eyes lighting up pleasant
ly, hardly thought Of 1t. 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