Show OUTSIDE TIlE LINES A STORY FOR MEMORIAL DAY BY CAPT GEOL GEO-L > KILMER Copyright J8S3 by American Press Association t r I A < I 1 N a village cemetery on the J lower border of Pennsylvania I 1 Pennsyl-vania there are two graves 1 jr strangely connected that ri are visited each Decoration ki day by a Grand Army comrade com-rade and his little family grouptwo graves with a history The Union army had driven the Confederate Confeder-ate invaders from northern soil In the Gettysburg Gettys-burg campaign and followed their flying columns across the Rappahannock and Rapi dan rivers One day while passing along the turnpike among the rich farms of Orange county Sergt Everett Andros of tho Twentieth was stationed with a guard at the entrance to a farm lane common in the J south leading from the road to the house I Around the farm there were signs of life a I thing unusual in VLginIa whenever the Union army passed by When the sergeant I I S and his men took the post they saw a young I woman sitting under a tree near tho road and two children playing near To these spectators the army moving past horsemen I footmen heavy cannon drawn by stout I I 3jook teams was a holiday show but whatever what-ever their thoughts they looked on in silence The general had given Andros guard orders j or-ders to permit no soldier to go to the house The tedious tramp of the army went on for I hours and sometimes the soldiers chafing at their fatigue and privations tried to pass at the gate or to climb the fence above or below the guard When they were stopped they gave surly retorts for the interference Humph 1 Youre afraid well take something I some-thing from these secesh one would say Another would add Serves em right if wo I do But the guards would motion them I sternly to move on Sometimes these rough words though aimed at the guards wero I meant for tho vnunfr woman nnd thronirh her the peoplo of her class But the keenest sallies passed unheeded by the one whose watching as the hours dragged Seemed to be a weary vigil for curiosity must tiro out at last Could the long lines of soldiers hold some special attraction for herAt I I her-At last the sergeant through pity for tho I S defenseless maiden and her wards and to r spare the temper of his men walked along I the road r ito the watcher touched his cap in salute and said I Pardon me miss but I think you ought to leave this spot You are eposed hero I I A gentle lifting of the eyes was the only 1 sign that the words were heard Another v gaily from some soldier whom the guard put away with force gave point to the warning and Andros repeated it in the same friendly tone adding You will ba called aa rebel and perhaps a spy Still no answer 1 other than a nervous turning of the taco toward to-ward the speaker and a quick withdrawal for her eyes at the Instant had been fixed t i sharply upon tho ranks in the road The tog I I laient passing was the Pennsylvania Tho men rolled and jostled along giving vent in sallies of repartee or song or complaints I at the days long march But there was one of the number who did not join in tho rail I y lery or the complaints Could he have beau I seen before the column reached this point marked changes would have been noted ia his actions Now his eyes would roam over I the country and again rest in tho thick dusty woof under foot When his rank came I abreast tho lime this soldier a private in I the line held his head bent like the weariest of his fellows but at the moment the guard I was wrangling with somo burly ruffian who struggled to get in at the gateway and when II the silent marcher looked up on the outcry his eyes met those of the young woman Both blushed and ha turned and hurried on Quickly now the other called the children to her and led them to the bruse Andros supposed the last scene between the guard and the would be forager had shown the stubborn miss that the roadie was no place for herS her-S All that happened here was unusual Vhe re the army marched or camped tho clt hans asked the commanders for house guards S or oils was sent unasked But this young woman relying it seemed on her own presence pres-ence by the road had not asked for protection I protec-tion and her conduct had left no room for Suspicion tans sue uugu uu Lnouuijr wnu tuu enemy Secession omen invariably stayed indoors when blue oats were about Twilight came a the army continued its tramp The guards began to wonder if they were to bo kept at this station all night when ijha shuffling shambling form of a negro was seen in tho lano Now for news thought tho I guard for the negroes were the unfailing sources of local knowledge and it was often i tho soldiers to know what good news to river I or road their camp was on or even tho names i of farmers and planters round about When tho negro neared tho gate ho stopped cap in hand and eyed tho soldier pacing with his gun The sergeant called him to come on but he stood in his tracks and stammered the words YY < Jung miss sent mo I Theguard i baIted Andros drow near Young miss I sent me to say Pleaso como to da house Who Is your young miss SamboF I JSho named Miss Ellwood sah Ole miss t named Ellwood too sob But Iso no Sambo Iso named Patrick Henry sob Patrick Henry Ellwood courser1 t Oh no mars Pee no Ellwood sah I Belong to Jlistah Mars Seyton Wheros your masterf said Andros sharply Sly mars eels Ole mars dead sah Young mars dono gone Dunno sah whah be done gone sail Andros knew that ho could not get full details de-tails from a negro at once and as there wero no white men on the placo ho shouldered his I musket and went to extend his acquaintance at Ellwood farm Ole Miss he learned on the way was head mistress and had been twice widowed The last master CoL Ellwood had been killed in tho Confederate army A son of the first master Capt Seyton was now in that army and still another son owner as laws had said of Patrick Henry and one or two more on tho place was a wanderer Mars Ellwood and my Mars Edward nevvy could get on together the old man said sadly sad-ly Young Miss Evadno called Eva by the negroes was an Ellwood having been a minor when she received a step father The lano opened into a wide lawn with a garden and yard and a path ran from the track to a sido door As he passed the front of the house an old style cross shaped mansion man-sion Andros saw that rough bars were nailed over doors and windows giving a very de sorted look Tho back part was open and tho negro went to tho doorway of a room between the parlor and kitchen Now the heroine of tho occasion stepped out on the porch and by a simplo nod and gesture showed the soldier sol-dier a seat by tho door Andros saluting saidNomissi am on duty How can 1 serve you He spoko with studied coldness Without confusion or change of color the other said You aro certainly welcome I sent to you because I wish to know there must be a guard here at the lane I Nno maam no must about it unless you wish May I ask why She thought a I moment and finally said There is no objection 1 objec-tion to a guard yet it might bo unpleasant I The speaker was a typo of fair haired candid can-did womanhood a winner of notice rather I by her manner than by physical beauty with I which however she was richly endowed I She was earnest and inclined now to be confidential I con-fidential and continued I regret you cannot I I can-not rest yourself here motioning to the broad seat you soldiers seem to be always in motion I mo-tion and I have something to tell you I There were no white people in sight excepting except-ing tho fragile young woman but from windows I win-dows and doors and the corners of houses and I I sheds the shining faces of the slaves peered out curiously Andros was assured by this that no enemies lurked at hand or the no i groes would bo in hiding He sat down and Miss Ellwood drew a chair in front as though to screen him from prying eyes and said I beg a favor and that of you personally person-ally It Is too trifling too selfish a matter to tako to your generals busy with other cares Such frankness was itself winning and An dros answered I shall serve you if I can and do my duty You can be trueto duty she said I havo a friend a near friend in your army whom I wish to have come here tonight if possible or the next night and it may be afterward Anoros arose nervously but tile other not noticing his mood continued There is a family secret at the bottom of this and I can go no farther now i but 1 can summon bun through our people it you will direct them to his camp and let him come and goyes you shall come with him if that will answer duty better He was all soldier now and searching tho face before him said brusquely In what regiment does your friend serve The Pennsylvania Ill keep your secret and if I can that is if my men stay on at the road I will let you meet at least on my post but I promise nothing noth-ing beyond that With a touch of his cap he drev his gun to shoulder and hurried to his post When it was fully dark the old negro came shambling sham-bling along again a negro lad holding a lantern lan-tern in front of him Andros directed them to tho camp of the Pennsylvania and then repeated the orders to his men to allow no one to pass between the house and the I army lines There was danger in Andros course for he had fairly taken it on himself I to guard the farm from rascally camp prowlers prowl-ers and also taken risks on tho exposure of I army secrets by allowing intercourse of citizens i citi-zens with soldiers But ho believed that the woman was truo and that harsh rules might bo evaded in rare cases Some tune after tho camps had become quiet tho negro and the boy came across lots beyond the road aud halted at the gate for a sign to enter Andros was hailed and he opened tho gate and tho old man passed on as silent as a funeral mourner A cunning negro knows how to hC mum when something some-thing dear to him is afoot Before midnight tho sergeant armed and a stranger in uniform uni-form but without a gun stood at tha door of Ellwood house The stranger tapped softly and when the door opened ha stepped in guiding guid-ing the other by a touch on the arm Thero was a second door leading to an inner room and from thero an elderly lady came out to meet the callers Miss Ellwood brought the stranger forward and ha was greeted with affection and a caress The young woman took his hand their eyes met and Andros said to himself They are lovers L = g rt 1 M s 7 I S I I r I I MISS ELLWOOD DItEW A CHAXt 0f FRONT The sergeant was wpresented by tho other soldier as a friend and then Miss Ellwood dropped a low bow and said laughing Now it is my turn my mother and my cousin Edward Ed-ward The same spoil the frankness and the unusual un-usual geniality of these Virginia people told on the sergeant again and reassured him Edward I Ed-ward bore himself with reserve mingled with tenderness The children who had been by tho roadside that day came up and greeted greet-ed the now comer shyly and somewhat coldly cold-ly calling him Uncle The mystery in these strange relationships would have puzzled puz-zled Andros not a little had he tried to unravel un-ravel it Excusing himself he said to his companion Ill tako post outside until you are ready The visit lasted on hour or more When Miss Ellwood came to tho door with her visitor Andros said Ill keep my pledge asfaraslcan Our army is moving its I lines back and this house will be outside of I tho pickets How far outside I do not know Maybe the enemy will hold this ground and I j I s e I 5 r 1 r V I then my power will end5 Edward was silent Miss Ellwood said promptly and with spirit I can answer that the southern soldiers will not come nearer than at present and we shall be outsido the lines unless your army circles us in1 Before they reached Andros guard post now the outer Union picket Edwardsaid to the other Comrade our trade is soldiering and we have no business with feelings that clash with duty But there is a secret here we must beg of you to respect and I pledge my faith you shall not bo harmed by what YOU do With a tryst for the next night they separated sep-arated The armies settled l in winter quarters the I Ellwood place between tha camps and insight I in-sight of both Andros had periodical tours j j of duty on the outposts and young Seyton I I for such he was in reality found a ready I ally to pass him through the pickets by night I I and to guard him on his risky errand I I I Whether that errand was one of love only or with somo deeper dramatic interest the obliging ally could not guess Ho shared in many of the comforts of the family circle and a still stronger charm for ft soldier exiled i from all social pleasures was the meetings with the genial southron who did the honors of hostess i Miss Ellwood and Seyton both assumed I I outwardly that the latter held the relation I I of suitor but at times tho interest of tho lady in tho chivalrous sergeant led him to hope that he too had favor in her eyes However II How-ever accident had brought him on the scene as the friend of a comrade who had prior claims and he was content with tho part ho had I taken At such times the next best thing to being the hero of a romance U to stand by some good fellow who is the hero Tho mystery mys-tery in it all too piqued tho sergeants fancy fan-cy the half shut house the long conferences confer-ences between tho old lady and the Pennsylvania Pennsyl-vania lover or cousin or whatever he was in tho inner room while Miss Ellwood kept away dullness by sprightly talk in the reception recep-tion room Occasionally Andros would think that affection was ripening in spite of all but at the hour of parting Seytons hand was pressed last and held longest and glances of intense though rather sad expressiveness passed between tho supposed sweethearts At length there camo a break in these visits Edward was furloughed from his company and went north On his return some weeks later the spell that had saddened him before had vanished Ho spoke no longer long-er of mystery and was even careless about I privacy when he resumed the visits beyond the outposts though for forms sake things went on in secret Miss Ellwood was also I changed Her manner toward both soldier comrades was most cordial and at times sho i was quite gay Andros was charmed and moro than ever Inclined to flatter Edward Ion Ion I I I-on his success in wooing outside the lines I I Late one night Andros who was in charge of a picket guard was ordered to extend his f J I nteImfs hofnrft HnT1i < rht fn n bluff same rods beyond the house After i it was dona and I day was dawning ho returned to tho house now in the lines to tell the occupants of the I change in orders The faithful Patrick Henry bad been doing night sentinel duty too and he was abroad and hailed the sergeant ser-geant at the farm yard gate Mawnin sahl ho said saluting Good morning said the other quickly I wish to see Miss Ellwood or Scuso me sah doys all dono gonel 1 All r Evvy single one suah Why how comes that said the other alarmed D dunno sub ceptin de Law done tuk em emIt It was now broad day and a turn of the eyes showed tho puzzled soldier that the Confederate Con-federate camps that had stood out boldly insight in-sight across tho fields were gone too The negros eyes louoweo tno sergeants Abl some other people are away I see Andros colored with anger Turning upon the old negro ho muttered bitterly I suppose sup-pose tho Lord took them too ehi and strode on to the lines As soon as ho was relieved from picket watch Andros hastened to the camp of the Pennsylvania in no happy frame mind Seyton greeted him cordially and met him by saying atonco I have an explanation ex-planation to make Wellil think so How I see you are excited and 1 suppose some strange thing has happened I knew it was to come but it is all right as I told you it would be There has been no treachery and no harm dono But what aro you to those psrsonsr Brother and sonl Scoundrel I I ought to run you through I At any rate Ill have you arrested as a spy First hear my story I was born in that house a slave holders son My brother Henry Seyton was o wild fellow but generous gener-ous noble and true Father died and Henry becano hail fellow with tho popular set of the county greatly to the regret of my mo I ther My stepfather Col Ellwood who was also foster uncle was a genuine southerner conservative and set in purpose I went I north to school and in ISm on reaching age I sent a writ of manumission to the slaves I had inherited and all but tho old family hands left the place I did not write to the folks after tho war began except to say that 11 had enlisted for the Union and to warn them not to know me in case fortune took mo I to these parts as something might arise to I question the loyalty of one born a Virginian I From Confederate prisoners I met I learned that CoL Ellwood had fallen in the war and I Henry was captain in tho First Virginia a S regiment raised in our county and filled with his boon companions This is all I heard I until the army camo here as you know I When T neared tho place marching that first day my heart was full and it was as much as I1 I could do to keep from rushing out to greet Eva at tho roadsidefor my sister was my favorite pet in the old days M II i I I I I I I I I DUNNO SAUl I When I went with 3 on that night as soon as tho greetings wero over I learned that a third principal was in the house Capt Soy ton First Virginia living in hiding under barred doors He was a fugitive from death sentence by laws of war for a crime against my own government And you dared involve mel Walt I beg My brother would never shirk an honest doom Ha was innocent and I havo proved it But where is ho now and they tho family fam-ily At the last word Andros softened Ho could not think harshly of Eva and it flashed upon him that for all love goes where tis sent and her feelings may havo been for bun what sometimes they seemed to be tender as well as friendly Mother and Eva and all areaway are-away to tho north and my brqtair has rejoined re-joined his army under Leo spjrad from the fate that hung over him It was this You remember how last spring Party f Confederatesdashedintoour camps near Alexandria at night and seized some officers Afterward our men overtook the assailants finding two of their captured comrades dead and three missing supposed to havo been foully murdered My brother led that night attack a fair act of war and ho was put in a Union prison as hostage for the return of the missing men and was charged with the murder of alL Andros was in a shiver thinking that he was surely implicated in a most detestable crime Seyton continued I But my brother on his part had simply taken his prisoners unharmed toward his own linesa long ride off and on tho way had been overpowered by a band of partisan rangers notorious outlaws from the moan tains These men always scenting plunder and living by robbery and reprisal insisted upon stripping the helpless prisoners and holding them as hostages to buy the release of some of their own crew who wero lying in Union prisons for crinjes My brother and his followers resisted this outrage in vain In tho meleo two Union prisoners had been killed and tho others taken away to the haunts of the rangers my brother and some others being be-ing finally overhauled by Union troops in pursuit War is stern Ho was sentenced to i death and the verdict was sanctioned by his II own government which repudiated tho murder mur-der of captives in war It is not admissible in civilized warfare to tako life with no other I object than destruction of life Decision of G W Randolph Confederate secretary of war warAll All his proof was in the hands of his enemies ene-mies tho outlaws and they were In disgrace with both governments and to screen their own crimes would if appealed to swear away an honest soldiers life By a desperate flight ho escaped swam over the broad Potomac Poto-mac and was intending to reach the mountains moun-tains in disguisj and somehow produco tha living witnesses of his innocence I to reached horns and was hemmed in just as our army i 1 and his own came to the neighborhood If seized by us b would hang if by his own people he would be returned to a Federal prison because on his escape tho son of a Confederate leader had been sentenced as a hostage to die ia his stead on the appointed day The only hope was in a friend who having hav-ing aid from our government would be protected rtle nr tooted in a visit to the mountains Once there by force or parley he might get the missing men This I did while on my furlough fur-lough That leave of absence comrade was granted because of long and faithful services ser-vices Thus armed I went to Washington secured aid entered the Blue Ridge fastnesses fast-nesses and released the men who confirmed all Their dead comrades fell in a common fight against the outlaws and my brother had fought to save his prisoners Proofswere sent to the enemys camp andonmylastvisit home I handed my brother his pardon and papers of honorable exchange which made him free and honest I see how it all could be said Andros thoughtfully But why deceive me and put me in such risk Would you have trusted me had you known how I was related outside tho lines No I would not Then all would have been lost Tho day of execution was near A repriavo had spared tho life of the innocent hostago standing for the principal and had ha been found by either army ho would have found no mercy The story ended Seyton smiled and said But comrade and friend I havo here word from one who can add to the thanks I owo youWith With this he gavo a note to Andros who opened and read Miss Eva Ellwood begs that Sergt Andros will give her an opportunity oppor-tunity to apologize in person for the bteach of faith practiced outside the lines Her home in futuro will be her brothers at Pa Tho old negro Patrick Henry followed tho Union camps to be near his master as he persisted in calling Edward Seyton promoted pro-moted captain in his own regiment At the end of the war the comrades Seyton and Androswent homo together and the romance of the outposts ended in tho marriage of the I sergeantnow captainwith Eva Ellwood I Capt Henry Seyton the Virginian lefttho disbanded Confederate army broken down in health and found an asylum with his kinsmen at the north Now both he and his brother lie near each other in death and Decoration day brings a guerdon of flowers from tender handsto mark their graves But one grave only that of faithful Edward Seyton is hallowed with tho truo memorial emblem the silken banner of our Union That ia placed there by his friend and Grand Army comrade Capt Everett Andros |