The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-13
Her
AtOnefllent
A Story For Memorial
Day
By ESTHER vANDEvEER

The summer Of 1868 was an eventfu
period of my life. was then a girl OF
eighteen. and the war between the
states was at its height | was living
In Pennsylvania just north of the
Maryland line and on a road leading
up to Gettysburg.
One morning persons began to pass
our house. making all the haste they
could Some of them were on foot,
some In vehicles Of different kinds,
and nearly all carried articles OF furni.
ture or household utensils. When ask.
ed why and whence they were moving
80 hurriedly they said that a great
army Of Confederates was advancing
to invade the northern states.
We held family conclave to decide
what to do. We were all Union sym.
pathizers and knew we had nothing to
expect from the southerners. But It
didn't make much difference which
side we were on, for the fences were
sure to go for firewood, and soldiers
who are bent on pillage don't mind
which side they loot. We decided to
stay at home and protect our property
as far as we could We buried the
valuables- silver and a little
jewelry-and walked back and forth
| over the ground under which It lay so
that the recent digging might not be
noticed. Father took down his fowl
Ing piece and started on northward to
join the Federals
When we had hidden everything that
was hidable we waited. Father and
the boys-the boys had long ago en-
listed In the Union army-had always
kept guns in the house for hunting and
two or three revolvers. After fathers
departure I found that one revolver
had been left. and l took 1t and put it
In my pocket-for women had pockets
In their dresses In those days-not
knowing but that might have occa-
sion to use It.
1t seems to me now, an old woman,
that ! must have been a plucky girl.
though I didn't think so at the time.
Indeed, the idea of horde of men,
with weapons to kill, sweeping over us
like cloud Of locusts was enough to
terribly any one. felt the danger, but
/ kept my self possession. And have
noticed all through my long life that
1t Is the unexpected that happens Vice
versa, the expected does not happen.
| Surely this was illustrated In the
first locust which came in advance of
the swarm. A young fellow in gray
uniform, with gold braid ON his sleeves,
rode up to the house. was on the
porch. He took Off his sombrero, smil-
ed and said In the most deferential
manner and voice:
Can you tell me If there Is road
leading eastward within a few miles
north of us?"
There was certainly nothing to be
afraid of in this young fellow, and l
bravely answered:
II can. but won't"
He seemed rather amused than Of
feRded at my blunt reply. At any rate
he smiled. showing a set OF very white
teeth.
"You are Unionist, l suppose?" he
said.
II am" was my firm reply.
''Then you are quite right to refuse
information to Confederate"
He looked up the road. hesitated.
then spoke again.
Would your Union sympathies pre-
vent your giving me crust of bread
I've been on the go for twenty-four
hours with not bite"
This was certainly not what l had
dreaded. had pictured lot of rough
men coming to the house and helping
themselves to what they could find
without asking permission. Here was
a handsome young man deferentially
begging crust of bread.
81 will give you what we have"
replied and went into the house. He
dismounted and, throwing the bride |
rein over picket in the fence, follow
ed me. The cook had run away with !
other fugitives. and since there was.
no one to do anything but myself / set |
some cold meat and bread and butter |
VA ShC toptC anu uhuuC q cup VI CO1et |
The young man was really hungry |
indeed. he seemed famished. And 1t |
did my heart good to see how he en-
Joyed the coffee.
That's the first cup Of real coffee" |
he said. that have tasted I'm more |
than year. You northerners have no
idea what privations our southern peo-
pie are enduring. The blockade has
cut us or from every luxury"
While he was eating I was wonder
ing why ne wanted to know about a
road running eastward. l asked him
some questions, which he answered |
frankly, and from his replies learned
that he was an officer on the staff Of a
general commanding one of the corps
Of the Confederate army and that he
wished to reach the general command.
ing troops on the road next east and
running parallel with the one on
which we were In his sword belt
was folded paper. which presumed
he was carrying to this commander.
The only persons in the house be-
sides myself and the officer were moth
er and Aunt Charlotte, and they had
locked themselves in a room on the
second floor My eyes were fixed on
the paper the young man carried. and.
womanlike I was curious to know
vwhak rvas In. FFsl<o., a.. a.. /