Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-06-06

THE MORRIS TRIBUNE,
gone far before he met SLIP of a girl
walking in the opposite direction. She
was country girl of the better class
and quite pretty. Bob, who had seen
nothing but men since he came to Vir-
ginia, was not minded to let this young
creature go by without a word with
her. She was carrying a basket on her
arm containing eggs and butter, and
Bob, by way of opening conversation,
asked her if they were for sale She
replied that they were not, but he was
at liberty to help himself He had no
use for either at present and declined.
Then they sat down beside the road
and began to chatter like magpies
The girl, much to Bob's surprise, told
him that she belonged to a Union fam
lily; that they were all being treated
very badly and that she would like to
go north to Harrisburg, where an aunt
of hers was living But she feared She
would not be permitted to pass through
the Union lines and wouldn't know how
to travel if she were. Bob asked her
where she lived, and she said her home
lay within the Confederate lines not
far below. She was taking the butter
and eggs she carried to a house she
pointed out What she would do next
she didn't succeed in making clear to
Bob.
The upshot of the dialogue was that
Bob changed his mind about enlisting
In the Confederate army and told the
girl that he would be back that way
in a day or two and he thought be
might help her on her way to her aunt
In Harrisburg To this she replied that
he might find her on her return and
he might not.
Leaving her, Bob pursued his way
down the road, thinking more of her
than his mission. Just before coming
to a depression in the road that would
hide her from him he turned for last
look. She turned at the same moment.
and they both smiled Then Bob, see
ing cluster of white tents before
him, began to remember what he was
there for.
The next evening about dusk Ella
Carneal, the girl Bob had met on his
way south, looking out through a win
dow. saw half a dozen Confederate
troopers riding rapidly up the road.
One of them left the others and, com
ing to the house, called Ella opened
the window, and he asked if she had
seen anything of young fellow in a
butternut suit. She said she hadn't,
and, riding on, he joined his comrades.
Some twenty minutes later. when it
was quite dark without, she saw a
face at the window. 1t was very pale
and wore frightened look Moreover.
it was the face of the young man in
butternut she had met on the road the
morning before
Bob Meriden had got within the Con
federate lines through gap in the
pickets, had gone about gathering in
formation, but had excited suspicion.
He had become aware of his danger
and hid himself in a wood from whence
he had seen the men who had suspect
ed him riding rapidly on the road and
felt sure they were after. him. Find
ing picket doing on his post, Bob
effected an exit and skuIking over
wooded ground, had brought up at the
house in question.
The two youngsters held a confer
ence, and Bob told Ella that the Con
federateS had tried to force him to en-
list in their cause, but he had succeed
ed in getting away from them. He did
| not dare remain in the houSe-he would
skulk in the WoodS-but if the next
morning she would meet him on the
road within range of the Federal pick
cts he would see what he could do to-
ward getting her through the lines
and sending her north to her aunt
!. She thankfully accepted his PROPOSE
/ ton, and Bob skulked away to hide
from those seeking him.
/ 1t was about 10 o'clock in the morn,
! ing that Bob having passed through a
! cOrnfield, mounted a fence at a rise in
| the ground and looked about him. On
/ the road he saw walking a figure that
/ he judged to be Ella Carneal. De
! scendilg from his point of observation
he made toward her, and she waved
her hand to him. He soon joined her
and they walked together toward the
/ Union picket line.
Bob knew that at that time his com
mander, who was preparing for move
/ ment, was very particular about allow
ing citizens in his camps SO, conclud
ing that it would be necessary, in or
der to get his protege through and send
her on her way north that ne should