Year: 1868

L was serving as quartermaster Of the Id New
York State Volunteers, in the Shenandoah, in the
spring of 1862 and was upon the day to which
my story relates, out with foraging party Of my
own men, p.a yGr 80, afa.


I am West Virginian by birth, and was conse-
quently pretty much at home on the ground over
which we were travelling. Our column was 'ad-
vancing, and rarely allowed it togo out Of sight
We did not do our foraging on. the rebel plan Of
setziug Everything on WHICH We could lay ou1
hands, whether it belonged to friend or foe, and
appropriating it by force Of arms but went out
with sizeable roll of greenbacks and paid asking
prices for every bit of provender we brought back
to camp. .t......


Many times on these excursions I was tempted
to renew some of my friendships Of years gone by,
and drop in upon the wayside mansions rather as
a guest than as buyer of pigs and poultry, but ]
resisted the inclination, for the reason that it was
hard to tell where I might find friends, and where
foes, who though they might be only passive ones,
had it in their power to make my call very un-
pleasant one.


I had been especially attentive to my errand,
hardly allowing myself to look up from my bar
gaining with some sable aunty or uncle, whenI
knew that pair of bright eyes were locking down
from the piazsa or female ears were listening, Gu
riously, to catch any little matter connected with
the 'sdicker," that might be Of interest With
this virtuous resolve strongly upon me, i was
slightly taken aback in the midst Of my acquisition
of dozen of ducks and few score of eggs, the
lawful sperquisites of stout wench, by silvery
voice that struck something Of memory calling
Captain |" @a -s,-''. - .'l'Fils, -


raised my eyes, to see above me, on the bal.
cony, Mrs. Grant Wetherbee, once Miss Kate Cor.
nell, and once my acme Of perfection and Virgin
ian beauty. Five years had gone past since had
submitted to have my heart torn into minute shreda
by being present at the wedding where the beauti.
full Kate was transformed into Mrs. Grant Weth.
erbee, and yet upon the first glance that same heart
bounded with something very like the old love
bounded 30 forcibly indeed that it sent me spring
ing from.my horse and up to the verandah without
further notice.


1t is hardly necessary for me to tell exactly how
glad we were to meet. say I'VE" because can
speak confidently of myself, and l am sure, if /
can believe in eyes, quite as confidently for my fair
friend. Nothing would now do but I must now
enter, and the names of the fair ones who would
greet me inside were rehearsed. A more denying
disposition than mine would have yielded when
heard the promise of finding in the parlors two Of
the most elegant women in Virginia, firm friends
of mine in the past.


believe that they were really glad to sec me,
and will not offer an apology for yielding to the
cordial invitation, pressed upon me, that should
spend an hour or two with them, and share, what
soldier has so seldom offered to him, a bounteous
and refined tea-table. -H '.f'' IN


I accepted-how could I help it?-after step
ping out upon the verandah, and sending my men
about two miles across the country to mill, where
they were to obtain some sacks Of corn, with or
ders after that to join the regiment, and report
me absent till dark. The tea was dispatched, and
we returned to the parlor, but my fair hostess
would not hear me speak of departure yet. lmust
play game of chess and drink some Of that su-
perb sherry was wont to praise five years before,
when it made part of her fathers cellar. Chess
and sherry, with one of the most beautiful women
south of Mason and Dixon's line l was but a
man, and yielded, though knew that our line
had passed on, and that should have hard and
perhaps risky gallop to overtake them.


The chess had advanced but little way, and
was conscious of spending one Of the happiest
hours of my existence, when the door of the room
in which we sat was thrown open and five gentle
men in the uniform Of officers in the Confederate
service entered. As quick as lightning I glanced
into the faces Of the three ladies who were my en-
tertainers, and as quickly I became convinced they
were innocent Fortunately was enabled to pre-
serve my presence of mind, and when Mrs. Weth-
erbee said: .... .7a.. .,2.s !.


captain Foote, allow me to present Colonel
Ashby." a


I rose quietly, and taking his hand, responded (:


IT am happy to meet one of whom I have heard
80 much" an g.,,r


Then, with an introduction to the others Of the
party, we became seated I cannot help admit
ting that there was momentary embarrassment