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
"The reason of my asking you," observed Alfred, "is because you
resemble a gentleman with whom I was only very slightly acquainted,
but who, like the party you mistook me for, has done me an injury
which neither time nor explanation can repair, but," he added, "now I
recollect you cannot be the party to whom I refer, for he was a
Northern man, while you are an Englishman."
Before the Englishman could reply, a gentleman at the further end of
the room called him by name, and, bowing to the two friends, he
apologized for leaving them so abruptly, and walked off to where the
call came from.
As soon as he left them Alfred went up to the clerk's office and paid
his bill. The two friends then left the hotel and proceeded to Harry's
residence.
"Do you know, Harry," observed Alfred, as they walked along, "I have
an idea that Mr. Ellington is no Englishman, but that he is Awtry, the
scoundrel who caused my wife and children to be driven from New
Orleans?"
"Why do you imagine such a thing?" asked Harry.
"Only because his features are very much like those of Awtry; and the
start he gave when you pronounced my name half confirms my suspicion."
"I feel certain you are mistaken," Harry remarked. "He arrived at
Charleston in a blockade runner a short time ago, and brought letters
of introduction to many prominent men in the South from some of the
first characters in England."
"That may be," Alfred answered, "still I shall keep my eye on him, and
cultivate his acquaintance. If I am mistaken it will make no
difference, for he shall never know my suspicions; but if I am right
in my surmise he shall answer me for his treatment of my wife and
children."
"That you can do," said Harry, "but be cautious how you charge him
with being a Yankee spy, and have certain proof of his identity before
you intimate your suspicions to him." As he spoke they reached their
destination and the two friends entered the house.
Horace Awtry, for the Englishman was none other than he, under an
assumed name, had ventured to enter the Confederate lines as a spy for
Sherman, who was then getting up his expedition against Vicksburg. He
would have left Jackson immediately after the meeting with Alfred, but
upon enquiry he learned that Mrs. Wentworth's place of residence was
unknown, and his services being needed near Vicksburg decided him to
remain.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIFTH
THE TWO SLAVES--THE GLIMMER OF LIGHT.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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