Roxy Hastings — page 70: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ROXY HASTINGS, 6 qn ae Co > life, but which they soon found to be far from indispensa- ble to existence. They had spent it the more freely be- cause they had confidently believed that the conquering armies of the Union would soon defile through the streets of Richmond, and that their prison doors would be thrown open by their companions in arms. This illusion had ceased to dazzle them now—and the pains of “ hope deferred” were added to their bodily ills. Louis, partly doubtless, owing to his feebleness and de- pendence, but more by reason of his youth, and a certain winning air which marked all his intercourse with his companions, had become a general favorite. Instead of being the only private in the company, one might have supposed him to be of superior rank to his comrades, so general was the deference to his wishes. There seemed to be some mystery about his name, for although it was Hartley upon the roll it was observed that often, when ad- dressed by that patronymic, he did not respond or seem conscious that he was spoken to. But “Louis” or ‘‘Lewy,” he never failed to hear, how- ever low the voice in which it was uttered. That his origin was not low was apparent from his per- sonal habits, his style of language, and his general intelli- gence. Then the delicacy of his features, which were handsome even in his cadaverous state, and the diminutive size of his hands and feet, hinted somewhat at gentle blood. He never spoke of his relations if he could avoid it, and he so quickly evaded the subject when introduced, that his friends decided to come to a tacit understanding that Lewey’s home and parentage were forbidden topics. He might have gone to the hospital, but he so dreaded separation from Lee that he insisted on not being reported as seriously ill. Doubtless an appeal in the right quarter, if it could have been made, would have secured some com- forts and luxuries for him—but the guards with whom alone they had communication were surly men, who seemed to think their prisoners were quite too mildly treated—and who were too covetous of the hidden money which they believed them still to possess, to accord any favors which were not paid for in advance. Alfred and two other of the young men had long parted with their watches, but the avails which they produced were so small that none of the others seemed willing to follow their example. ; | Pins, rings, and pocket knives had been remorselessly Eomicbooks.co