The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-10

A man might have pointed his weapon
at him and ordered him to throw up
his hands. then possessed himself of
the paper. But this was good deal
for a woman to do. at any rate |
shrank from II. / determined to use
more feminine means.
noticed that 1t was difficult for him
TO keep awake while he was eating.
There was nothing surprising In this.
for / have heard that in wartime
man may pass several days without
sleep, and many a man has slept under
fire. When he had finished his meal
went to the cupboard where father
kept his cigars and. taking the box.
offered It to the officer. He opened his
eyes with delight, and taking one bit
or the end. and lighted a match and
held the fame to the cigar.
now had an object and softened
my manner toward him decidedly.
Pointing to lounge. invited him to
take a nap on 1t. He protested against
the nap, but could not refrain from
stretching himself upon 1t for a few
whiffs of the cigar. asked him II he
would not take half an hours doze,
provided / would awaken him at the
end OF that time. He positively refus-
ed, though he confessed that he had
had no sleep for two days. While he
was refusing to sleep he passed into
slumber.
He had hardly fallen asleep before
l had the paper from his belt. l read
1t and 1t proved to be a message to a
general on another route just when
and where to meet the corps on our
road and march together toward Get
| tysburg. Leaving the young man sound
asleep, / went outside. mounted his
horse and gapoped away northward.
1t was evening when ! reached the
camp of one of the corps near Gettys-
burg and delivered to the general the
dispatch. He read it with great inter
est and said that it indicated what the
! southern forces were intending. Then
he sent It to the commander of the
Federal army.
All was changed when | reached
home. An army-or part of one-had
swept over the place, but though the
fences and other articles that could be
moved were gone, the place was not
injured beyond repair. Our buried
valuables had not been disturbed. The
officer from whom had taken the dis
patch had, of course, vanished. Not
withstanding the service had render
ed the Union cause my heart smote me
for the position in which had placed
him.
Then a boom coming down on the
north wind announced the great his
toric battle that proved to be the turn
ing point of the war. For three days
we listened to the booming. like dis
tant thunder; then down the road came
the Confederates In retreat. They die
not stop, but we expected another Wis
itation when the Federal army would
follow them. This. however. did no
, occur at once.
. The Confederates left numerous
| wounded men in the different houses
along the route. and we all took hold t
/ care for them. | was very busy pre-
] pairing such articles as they needed
Several wounded men were quarters
e at our house. but left them much
the time to the care Of my mother an
my aunt, while / devoted myself to tn
production and distribution of supplies
: This led me to a great number of tn
J, neighboring houses.
e One day l went to farmhouse
leave some lint When entered th
g living room, where several wounde
men were lying on cots. there, pal
and helpless, lay the officer whom
g had robbed. Though l had done
legitimate deed of war. felt as guilt
|, as If l had run knife into him. Pc
haps II l had met him strong and we
= should have triumphed over him. A
!? 1t was, | was seized with a desire
IT atone for what had done.
l did not dare face him and beat
d hasty retreat. But the next day, sur
h moning my resolution. l returned ar
g walked into the room where he wi
d lying. He recognized me at once, b,
IS I did not receive the look of reproac
y of bitter antagonism that deserved.
"T presume" said, shat "
l despise met"
le "Why should l despise you? All
le fair in war" Then, with that pleasiI
Y smile with which he had greeted Il
n the first time / saw him, he adde
Is "and in love-"
ct 1t would be impossible to EXPIRE
er my feelings as / stood over him loo
e. ing down upon him. that smile on /
face, which grew sad as he thought
IL the disadvantage that had accrued
n his cause through his yielding to Z
fatigue which had overcome him.
; "Forgive me-" l said.
re 81 have nothing to forgive"
no 81 will do what / can to atone
% what l have done. viii nurse >
as back to health"
81 shall feel pride in being nurs
Pr by so brave and energetic woman
kept my pledge, | devoted as mu
I'M of my time TO him as / could sps
ed from my work for his wounded co
ed rades. And when he had recovered
declared that my tender care
ps saved his life.
ne Three years later he reminded me
10 my words, 81 win do what can
nd atone for what 1 have DONE" and
on clared that 1t would require lifeti
cit Of devotion on my part to enable b
eu to bear the position in which l !
placed him with his commander a
De brother officers replied that my
Tn would be devoted to that purpose.
au We are now an aged and fee
me couple. Our grandson is an officer