The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-10
Her
AtOflel1lent
A Story For Memorial
Day
By ESTHER vANDEvEER

The summer OF 1868 was an eyentful
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
so 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 1t
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-some silver and little
jewelry-and i 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 of 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 | found that one revolver
had been left. and took it and put it
In my pocket-for women had pockets
in their dresses in those days-not
knowing but that I might have occa-
sion to use 1t.
1t seems to me now, an old woman,
though l 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
terrify any one. I felt the danger. but
/ kept my self possession. And have
noticed all through my long life that
It is the unexpected that happens. Vict
versa, the expected does not happen
Surely this was illustrated in thu
first locust which came In advance o.
the swarm. A young fellow in gra,
uniform, with gold braid on his sleeves
rode up to the house. I was on tn
porch. He took OF his sombrero, smil
ed and said in the most deferentia
manner and voice:
"Can you tell me IL there is a roa'
leading eastward within few mile
north Of us?"
There was certainly nothing to
afraid Of in this young fellow, and
bravely answered.:
II can, but l won't"
He seemed rather amused than o.
Tended at my blunt reply. At any rat
he smiled. showing a set Of very whit
teeth.
"You are Unionist, suppose?"
said.
Il am" was my firm reply.
'Then you are quite right to refus
information to Confederate"
He looked up the road, hesitate'
then spoke again.
would your Union sympathies pr
vent your giving me crust of bread
I've been on the go for twenty-fot
hours with not bite"
This was certainly not what ha
dreaded. / had pictured lot Of roug
men coming to the house and helpir
themselves to what they could fI
without asking permission. Here ws
a handsome young man deferential
begging crust of bread.
ct win give you what we have"
replied and went into the house. I
dismounted and. throwing the Bird
rein over picket in the fence, follo'
ed me. The cook had run away wi
other fugitives, and since there vi
no one to do anything but myself l s
some cold meat and bread and butt
on the table and made a cup Of COTE
The young man was really hungry
indeed, he seemed famished. And
did my heart good to see how he G
joyed the coffee.
"That's the first cup Of real coffee
he said, that / have tasted in mo
than a year. You northerners have
idea what privations our southern p'
pie are enduring. The blockade b
cut us OF from every luxury"
While he was eating was wond
ing why he wanted to know about
road running eastward l asked b
some questions. which he answer
frankly, and from his replies learn
that he was an officer ON the star o.
general commanding one Of the col
of the Confederate army and that
wished to reach the general commai
ing troops on the road next east a
running parallel with the one
which we were. In his sword B
was a folded paper. which presun
he was carrying to this commander.
The only persons in the house
sides myself and the officer were mo
er and Aunt Charlotte, and they
locked themselves in a room on
second floor. Ny eyes were fixed
the paper the young man carried, a
womanlike. / was curious to KIN
what was In 1t. Then the idea pop