Page:The woman in battle .djvu/563

Rh The next morning the old gentleman came into the room when I was arranging the breakfast-table, and said, without any preliminaries, "Were you ever married?" "Yes, sir ; I am a widow."

"And you were never married again?"

"No, sir."

"Wouldn't you like to be?"

"Well, I wouldn't mind if the right kind of a man offered himself. I don't care to marry any of your Yankees, how ever, and the Southern boys are all in the field."

"Look here; ain't you from the South?" "I have been there."

"I thought so. Because you found yourself among strangers, and got out of money, is, I suppose, the reason why you have hired out."

"Yes, sir. It is rather hard, after having had plenty, and after being waited on by servants, to do this kind of work; but it is honorable."

"Put down those plates," said the old gentleman, with considerable emphasis;" you can't do any work for me ; but my house is open to you, and you are welcome to stay as long as it suits you.

"Here, old woman," he cried to his wife, who just then came into the room, "she is not going to be a servant in our house; she is a genuine Southerner, and we must treat her as well as we know how." I was forthwith installed as a privileged guest, and in the course of a few days I was introduced to a number of Southern sympathizers. Among my new acquaintance was a Confederate soldier who had escaped from one of the prison camps, and who was endeavoring to make his way South. From him I learned that Cleveland was a general rendezvous for escaped prisoners, and I accordingly resolved to go there.

I had given my entertainers to understand that I was on some secret errand, but did not tell them what; while they appreciated the importance of saying no more than was necessary about such matters, and asked me no impertinent questions. When I made up my mind to leave, I went to the old gentleman, and told him that I desired to go South where I had friends, and where I could get money.