Year: 1872

prisoner.


Az he was baudagsd up and was still
very weak. but he smiled cheerfully and
held out his hand tor shake.
saw in al instant how matters were
He was Kats's lover. had only to no.
tice her bushes and the tender look in
her ey cs 10 be sure OF the fact. Then il
came TO me that lie Villo had been with
those who drove us out of Winchester
lic had heard from the Hastings family
that all had been well used and courteous.
~ treated. aud to show me that he wal
appreciativo, he had allowed NE to ss.
cape.


II gave me bitter pang to ieel that
any further struggle on my part was
hopeless, but | tried to shake off any
sour feeling. | was in duty bound to
take the Coloners word OF honor, if no
more, that he should mol attempt TO es.
cape II may seem strange to you that /
did not, The official report OF the battle
forwarded to my superior did not even
mention the fact of my capture.


saw the Colonel almost every day
In week hs was able to walk around.
saw that he was somewhat anxious TO
know what disposition would be made OF
him, but left him to work out that
problem. One morningI missed him.
No one seemed to know what had be-
come oil him. and did mot press them
for particulars. The Colonel and ! were
even.


Well, there came m order which took
me TO post hundred miles away. and
in the hot campaign | came near forget
ting the Hastings family and the Col
onel One day, when regiment of Union
cavalry was hurled against thousand
Confederate horsemcn, and whom victory
seemed about to perch on our flag, a bat
tery OF artillery made such havoc among
Us that the bugles blew retreat. In the
confusion, thirty or forty OF us were
cut oil and made prisoners.


Good afternoon, Colonel. I'm sorry
for YOU, but on could have Jared worse ~


Close ut my right hand was Colonel
lie Vile, hearty and well. and his sabre
not yet sheathed after the fight. A hun
drcd men wondered rs VIC shook hands,
but we understood ourselves.


Il can't let you ride off rs you did be-
FORE" remarked the Colonel. rs he pass
ed with me behind the line OF battle.
But you shan't be long prisoner. III
have you exchanged within three days"


And he kept his word. While other
officers went of TO Richmond. went TO
Washington. and then to my regiment,
duly exchanged. His influence was what
elected it, lie was not married yet, but
hs informed me that ho should be in .
few months. and in hi, joking way is-
vited me to his wedding. which was 10
lake place at the lasting farmhouse.


IL think I'll come, replied: land in
case should capture you again | shall
clear off this debt; you arc one ahead
now"


Nothing was more frequent than to
change the cavalry from lett to centre,
from centre to right, and back and forth
until it might be said OF them that they
did not belong to any ones division. So
thought nothing strange of it when my
regiment took march OF seventy miles,
and brought up one night on the road to
Winchester, not half mile from the
farmhouse. There was to he all advance
on that road, and we were to take the
front. Infantry and artillery were in
force st our backs, and wo learned from
Il scout soon after dark that the Conleder-
ates were on the retreat, leaving not y
soldier between us and the farmhouse.


There WAS no one in the advance to
order me TO make an advance, and as We
had selected camping spot, no advance
was made, Something kept telling me
all the time that Col. lie Vile was near.
could not shake off the voice, and so
wandered down the road where the pick
cts were being stationed. The advance
was within q dozen rods of the farm
house. As it had not bsen disturbed,
pushed down almost TO the house, follow
ing with the reserve picket.


Everything was very still around
the place, but we saw shadows on the
curtains, and finally entered the yard and
walked up the path. Nearing the door,
| heard deep, solemn voice reading or
ceremony. Stepping boldly
up, followed by the men, l opened the
door upon marriage ceremony. Col.
lie Vile, in full uniform, held tho hand
OF Kate Hastings; minister stood be-
fore them, Tho parents stood at either
side, and one or two citizens were there
as witnesses. The group were thunder
struck, and Tor a moment no one moved
or spoke.


"Good evening, Colonel" remarked,
"You invited me, you remember, and l
am here n


held the door SO that none Of my
men had looked into the room. | now
whispered to them to 60 back the road
and lock sharp. and then entered the
room.


The Clergyman had taken seat, and
seemed greatly frightened. but he was
ordered to 60 on, and no explanations