Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1913-08-14
COPYRIGHT 1879 BY A.c.nrcluRo & co.

emptied ~haversack, and she turned it
carelessly over, where it lay beside
her on the sand. why, this is an
old Confederate sack, isn't it? l hadn't
noticed before; see C. S. A Is on
the flap"
$50 it is; perhaps Moylana served in
the south"
81 think not. I am sure this was
never his, for he bought it at Dodge.
l remember he told me he would have
to find something to carry our lunch
in" She pushed the flap farther back,
Their held it up to the sunlight. There
are some other letters, but they are
hardly decipherable. / cannot read
the first line at all, but the second is
somewhat plainer-Fourth Texas In
fantry.'"
Hamiin reached out his hand swift
ly, and grasped the ~haversack, 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
expressing unconcealed amazement.
Good Cod" he calculated breath
lessly. 1T a 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 it might vanish. THAT man was
either my best friend, OF my worst
enemy; under heaven, l know not
which. Why, it is like a miracle, the
finding of this bag out here in the des-
ert. 1t is the clue l have been search
ing after for nearly five years" He
seemed to pull himself together with
an effort, realizing her presence. FIX
cuse me, Miss Mcdonald, but this
thing knocked me silly. I hardly knew
what l was saying"
"It mean much to you? To your
life?"
Everything, if l can only trace it
back, and thus discover the present
whereabouts of the original owner"
WAS that your regiment, then-the
Fourth Texas 1nfantry?"-
He bowed his head, now looking
frankly at her.
Would you mind telling me your
rank?"
81 became Captain of b Company
after the fight at Charlottesville; WE
served in Virginia under Masss
Robert, and lost every commissioned
officer in that affair" He hesitated
to go on, but she prompted him by
question:
"And then what? What vas il
that happened? Don't be afraid tt
tell me-"
Nothing until the day we fought al
Fishers HILL" he said slowly. "The1
l was dismissed from the service
for cowardice."
"Cowardice!" repeating the word IL
quick protest. Why, how could tina
be? Surely your courage had beer
sufficiently tested before?"
"Cowardice, and disobedience of or
ders," he repeated DULY, after I hat
been under fire almost night and da,
for three years; after l had risen from
the ranks and commanded the regi
ment."
And you a no defence?'
mo; at least, none l could use
this man might have saved me, bu
he did not, and I never knew why"
''Who was he?"
my senior captain, detailed OF
Early's staff; he brought me the or
ders verbally l was afterwards &C
cused of disobeying. I was temporari
ly in command of the regiment tina
day with rank Is major. There wa.
a mistake somewhere, and we wer,
horribly cut up, and a number takel
prisoners. It was my word agains
his. and-and he lied"
She took the haversack from him
ton.
"fE. L. F. Are those the letters :?
YES; they stand for Eugene L,
Fevre; he was of French descent, hi
home in New Orleans"
you knew him well?"
"I thought SO; we we're at school te
gether and afterwards In the army"
She looked cross at him again
touched by the tender echo Of hi
voice; then leaned forward and place.
one hand upon his.
"You have not spoken about this TO
a long while, have you?"
NO." his eyes lighting up pleasant
ly, hardly thought of it, except some
times alone at night. The memoir
made me savage, and all my efforts t
ascertain the truth have proven use
less"
THAT is why you enlisted?"
Largely; there is no better plac
! to hide ones past than in the rank