A
Confederate officer, occupying the next, addressed him, rousing him out of
the reverie into which he had fallen.
"Excuse me, sir, but I could not help hearing some parts of the letter
read aloud by the lady--your sister, I believe----"
"Yes. Of course you could not help hearing, and there is no harm done,"
Harold answered with a friendly tone and smile. "So no need for
apologies."
"But there is something else. Did you know anything of a Lieutenant Walter
Dinsmore, belonging to our side, who fell in the battle of Shiloh?"
"Yes; knew and loved him!" exclaimed Harold, raising himself on his elbow,
and turning a keenly interested, questioning gaze upon the stranger.
"Then it is, it must be the same family," said the latter, half to
himself, half to Harold.
"Same as what, sir?"
"That letter I could not help hearing was dated Naples, signed Rose
Dinsmore, and talked of Elsie, Mr. Travilla, and their children. Now
Lieutenant Dinsmore told me he had a brother residing temporarily in
Naples, and also a niece, a Mrs. Elsie Travilla; and before going into the
fight he intrusted to me a small package directed to her, with the request
that, if he fell, I would have it forwarded to her when an opportunity
offered. Will you, sir, take charge of it, and see that it reaches the
lady's hands?"
"With pleasure.
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