The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-06-13

emptied haversack, and she turned II
careiessly over. where 1t lay beside
ner on the sand. Why, this is an
oio confederate sack. isn't It? l hadn't
noticed before; see. C. s. A. IL on
the flap"
So 1t is; perhaps Moylan served in
the south"
1 mink not. | am sure this was
never his, for he bought it at Dodge.
remember he told me he would have
to hnd something to carry our lunch
IN" She pushed the flap farther back,
men held it up to the sunlight. There
are some other letters, but they are
hardly decipherable. l cannot read
the first line at all, but the second is
somewhat p~lainer-'Fourth Texas In
fantry.'"
Hamlin reached out his hand swift
iy. n grasped the h~aversack. forget
ting everything else In suddenly
aroused interest. The girl. surprised,
stared up into his face. &C he closely
studied the faded inscription. his face
expressing u~nconcealed amusement.
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 i%ncredulous eyes
still on the inscription. as though fear
full it might vanish. That mar was
either my best friend. or my worst
enemy; under heaven. l know not
which. Why. 1t 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. "Ex-
cuse me, Miss Mcdonald, but this
thing knocked me silly. l hardly knew
what l was saying"
1T means much to you? To your
life?"
Everything. II l can only trace 1t
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?"
II became Captain Of b Company
after the fight at Charlottesville; we
served In Virginia under Massa
Robert. and lost every commissioned
of1cer In that affair" He hesitatet
to go on, but she prompted him by
question:
And then what? What was Il
that happened? Don't be afraid t.
tell me-"
Nothing until the day we fought a,
Fishers HILL" he said slowly. "Ther
I was dismissed from the service
for cowardice."
"Cowardice!" repeating the word II
quick protest. Why. how could tina
be? Surely your courage had beef
sufficiently tested before?"
"Cowardice, and disobedience Of or
ders," he repeated DULY. after l hat
been under fire almost night and da,
!, for three years; after I had risen from
the ranks and commanded the regi
/ ment."
!, And you had no defence?"
, mo; at least, none I 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 d~isobeying. l was temporari
ly in command Of the regiment tina
day with rank as major. There wa
| a mistake somewhere, and we wer,
! horribly cut up, and a number takel
prisoners. 1t was my word agains
. his. and-and he lied"
| She took the haversack from him
studying the scarcely legible inscnp
D.. ton.
= "'E. 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?"
II thought so; we were at school to
gether and afterwards In the army"
She looked across 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
4 long while. have you?"
mo-" his eyes lighting up pleasant
ly. hardly thought of 1t. except some
: times alone at night. The memoir.
. made me savage. and all my efforts Il
4 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