A Bit of War Romance.

Evening Post, Volume XLVI, Issue 43, 19 August 1893, Page 1 (Supplement)

A Bit of War Romance.

" I'm a Mason," kaid a man of soldierly bearing, when the drummer had finished a yarn, " and am alao a soldier, or was, in the late war between the States. I was a general of brigade in the Union army, and r<aw some of the romance as well as the reality of war." "There was more reality than romance about itj wasn't there?" queried the drummer. "Rather," smiled the soldier, "but it made the romance only the more delightful. I remember on one occasion when we were down in Georgia, where most of the officeseekers come from now, 1 was out ono morning with a couple of orderlies, riding along a hillside road, which just ahead of us met another coming up from the valley. As we rode slowly along I heard the sound of a horse's hoofs on tho road below and the clanking of a sabre. None of the enemy in force was anywhere nor.r that locality, and I felt sure that some stray confederate was riding that way, and we went ahead .till we could command a view of the road below, and in a minute a Confederate officer in a brand new uniform, bright trappings, and a fine sword, came by on a beautiful horse. He was a handsome fellow, and, all unconscious of his danger, was whistling a merry air. Of course, we must capture him, but how to do it was a question at first ; but we soon settled on a quiet little ambuscade, and in five minutes more we had him covered, and ho threw up his hands. A more crestfallen prisoner I never saw than that young fellow, and I felt sorry for him, but I could do nothing but take him along. We hadn't gone far until he got next to me, with both orderlies riding some yards in advance, and he gave me a sign. I recognised it on the spot. " ' We are Masons,' he said, ' and I want to toll you my Story. I know I've, got no business over here, practically in your lines, but I'm not on a mission of war, but one of love and peace. You see how I'jn tricked out in all the best I've got ' — and ho smiled consciously and blushed — ' and I expected to bo married this afternoon. The girl is waiting for me now, and don't yon think it is pretty hard on her for me to be in this fix? I had no idea your troops were so near, or I should have slipped in in the night and got ont again ; but it's too late to talk about that now. You've got me, and her heart will be breaking while I am dmt np in some prison ; and it won't be much satisfaction to you, will it ? ' "By George !"' went on tKe general, with moistened eyes, "it stirred the blood within me as I listened to that good-looking fellow and thought of the dear girl waiting for him." " ' Hold on a minute, 1 said I, c there's a turn in the road yonder, and when the orderlies tret out of sight, if you are willing to take a risk, suppose you take it.' "He shook my hand silently, and the tears and smiles came together. As the orderlies turned tho bertd, the young man turned his horte and started back down the road on a dead run. I gave him a good start, and then I banged away at him with my revolver and went after him ; but I took the wrong road at tho forks, and my orderlies came after me as fast as they could. I guess we must have chased back along that road for two miles or more, but we r aidn*t find that confounded rascal anywhere, and the orderlies never suspected that I had anything to do with letting him get away. At least, they never mentioned it in my hearing," and the general smiled. " What became of him at last?" asked the drummer. "About four montlis after that I was holding a town in Tennessee," continued the general, " and in that town was the rankest old fire-eater I ever saw. He waa a courtly old ohsp, but bitterer than gall, and utterly beyond reconstruction. He wouldn't speak to a bluccoat, and there were times when it was almost necessary to put him. under guard for his own safety. He was too old to ba dangerous, bnt occasionally he talked so we had to threaten him. One day I was almost startled out of my wits by hid coming into my headquarters. He was white with suppressed feeling, but ho managed to tell me that there waa a lady at his house, a very near and dear relative — his only daughter, in fact — who wanted to see me that evening at 7 o'clock. ' He had been very loth to come to a Yankee, he said, but she insisted so that he was compelled to do it, and then he bowed and went out like an old king with his oro wn gone. There was no explanation, and I told the provost-marshal about it, and said I was going up myself to see what was meant. He was sura there was a trap laid for me, and did not want me to go at all ; but I told him southern hospitality did not betray people, and I would go. I went, and as I passed thrbugh the gate and grounds to the fine old mansion I saw the shadowy forms of my blueeoate all about an silent as ghosts, ft waa plain the pro-vost-marshal was ready to nettle matters if anything- happened to me. However, I never lot on, bnt went in, and the old man 1 met me at the door, trrimly directed me into thft.lurpe, old-fashioned parlour, and stamped off down the great hall. I went in, and, a /wry beautiful young woman y>

twenty- two, I should say, met me half-way across, the room. _" ' You are General ? ' the said, questioningly. "I bowed. " ' And may I enquire why I have been asked here?' I said, without taking the chair which she gracefully pawed me. You see, I was half uneasy, and didu't know what might happen.' " She smiled. " ' I understand,' she said, aud stood before me. " Then she told me of the young officer I had permitted to escape. " ' But what has that to do with this visit? ' I asked, for somehow I didn't catch on. "'lam his wife.' she replied, blushing, 'and he told me if it ever were possible to see you t must do so and tell you for both of ua how grateful we »re for your kindness.' "Then I began to grasp the situation, and I almost fell into the chair sho had offered me ; and as she talked to me I never was so glad of anything in my lif« as that I was a Mason and he was, unless it was tbnt I had had the opportunity of doing a favour for so charming a woman. " For h«lf-an-hour she talked to me, and then she called in her father, much against his will; but as she told him the whole story, and her pretty eyes sparkled and her cheeks reddened, his fine old face grew softer and softer, until at last the tears came, and as she finished hc.ros.q, and coming over to me, took both my hands in his, and after shaking them silently he said : ' D n me, sir, there isn't a southern gentleman in all this sunny land who shouldn't be proud to be suoh a Yankee as you aie.' "I thanked him cordially for that, and later on we had something to drink, and thereafter the old gentleman wasn't the same kind of man any more. "A week ago," concluded the general, "I riditcd that oonplo, living now beautifully in Atlanta, with four bright aud happy children about them, all grown, and one of the finest young men you over saw anywhere bearing my namu."