The Trials of the Soldier's Wife: A Tale of the Second American RevolutionAbrams, Alex. St. Clair (Alexander St. Clair)
History
The Trials of the Soldier's Wife: A Tale of the Second American Revolution
Abrams, Alex. St. Clair (Alexander St. Clair)
Confederate States of America -- Fiction; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
"Pshaw," replied his friend, "you are as superstitious as any old
woman of eighty. Why in the name of wonder will you continue to look
upon the dark side of the picture? It is more likely that your family
are now comfortably, if not happily situated. Depend upon it, my dear
friend, the world is not so cold and uncharitable as to refuse a
shelter, or a meal to the unfortunate."
Alfred made no reply, and they walked on in silence until the hotel
was reached. On entering the sitting room of the Bowman House, the two
gentlemen were attracted by the loud talking of a group of men
standing in the centre of the room.
"There stands an Englishman who lately run the blockade on a visit to
the Confederacy," observed Harry as they approached the group; "let me
introduce him to you."
Walking up to where the Englishman was, Harry touched him lightly on
the shoulder.
"How are you Lieutenant Shackleford," he said, as he turned and
recognized Harry.
"Very well, Mr. Ellington," answered Harry, and then added, "allow me
to introduce my friend Mr. Wentworth to you--Mr. Wentworth, Mr.
Ellington."
As the name of Wentworth escaped Harry's lips the Englishman started
and changed color, but quickly resuming his composure, he extended his
hand to Alfred.
"I am happy to make your acquaintance, sir," he observed, and then
continued, "your features resemble those of a gentleman I have not
seen for years--so much, indeed, that I could not repress a start as
my eyes fell upon your countenance."
"I was rather surprised at seeing you start," observed Harry, "for I
knew that you were not acquainted with my friend Mr. Wentworth. He was
a prisoner at Camp Douglas--the prison you have read so much
about--when you arrived in this country, and has only returned to the
Confederacy within the last few days."
"A mere resemblance to one whose intercourse with me was not fraught
with many pleasant recollections," remarked Mr. Ellington. "Indeed
your friend is so much like him, both in form and features, that I
really imagined that he was my old enemy standing before me!"
"A singular resemblance," said Alfred, "and one which I am rejoiced to
know only exists in form and features. And now," he continued, "allow
me to ask you a question."
Mr. Ellington bowed an assent.
"Were you ever in this country before?" asked Alfred.
"Yes," replied Mr. Ellington, "I visited America a few years ago, but
why do you ask?"
"Because your features are familiar to me," he answered, and then
enquired, "Were you ever in New Orleans."
"No, sir--no," replied Mr. Ellington, coloring as he spoke, "I was
always afraid of the climate."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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