American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-03-06
Sflistslla
A STORY OF THE WAR.
RY NJ. BONDEAU.

The rain poured in torrents from
seemingly inexhaustible pill OF
clouds, which hid every vestige of
blue sky, and obscured the light of
the sun. Twilight gloom WAS spread
over the whole landscale-and a
watery one it was-for since noon
the rain had been falling unremit-
tingly. 1t was just such an eve ming
as one cannot read on. The human
voice breaks pleasantly on the dull
monotony of the everlasting splash,
splash of the rain. My friend sud
denly threw aside the paper he had
been reading, and, leaning back in
his chair, yawned fearfully. A bright
idea suddenly struck me, and l pro-
ceeded to put it into execution.
Drawing my chair closer to the fire,
| said:
"You have never told me, Guy,
how you came to go back to old
Virginia to get wife, when there
are so many charming girls around
you that you could get io1 the ask
ing"
"Perhaps," said Guy, with a short
laugh, "you have named the very
reason. Where no labor, there no
pleasure. Their very willingness to
be won is sufficient reason for my
not attempting it."
"But it seems strange for all that,
that you should go so far to get a
wife. l have heard it said that it
was a case of love at first sight, too,
on your part, at least. Was it SO 2"
"Yes," answered my friend. 81
will tell you the whole story, if you
wish to hear it,"
"By all means," answered. set
tling myself in my chair, with a feel
ing of considerable interest in the
coming story.
WE'LL" began Guy, "it was the
fall before the close Of the war that
my story begins; the place, some
where i'll the Valley of Virginia-I
will not say where. We had fought
and won and lost great battle on
that day; and towards evening,
when our weary troops, pushed hard
by the enemy's cavalry, toiled along
with as much speed as they could
make, to escape a Yankee prison, a
report was circulated among us that
the enemy had come i'll above us
and that we were cut off. Night
came on soon after, al d many, who
being slightly wounded, like myself
were unable to keep up with the
main body of the army, sought safety
by making the best of our way to the
mountains, where we knew we should
be safe and soon be able to join the
main army. l got separated from
the others, and, from toling through
underbrush, and wading severa
streams, it seemed that l must have
walked several miles, when, coming
suddenly out of a thick wood, {
bright light, from the window of {
house close by, shone in my face.
was cold and wet, and the sight 0
the light made ore feel comfortable
at once. Knowing that the enem.
were probably scattered even here
made me approach the house eau
tiously. Everything was as quiet a
death still there might be Yankee
in the house. So, drawing near 81
lently, stepped OIL a slight prcjec
ton and raised myself to the wiz
dow. What a scene presented itsel
to my eyes! My gaze rested upo
the central figures of the glouI
Lying before the fire, his head SUI
POI ted upon a pillow. was a Confet
crate soldier, whose clothes weI
torn and stained with blood. Knee
ing beside him was fair girl, lool
ing more like plying angel, wit
her fair hair falling around her, an
her blue eyes bent upon the wounde
soldier. With one hand she SUI
ported his lead, while in the 9th,
che held cup, which she placed
his lips. In trying to get bett'
footing, l made slight noise. whit
caused the young lady to raise h
eyes. She started slightly upon Sc
ing me; and when the soldier finis
ed drinking, she scarcely arrange
his pillow, and without saying
word to any of the family, left Il
room, and coming out to me, she i
quired if was a Confederate soldie
and if l wished any thing. | to
her | was wounded and also We
cold and hungry. 'Come with n
them said she, and l will DO all
can tor YOU l followed her into
room where warm fire burned, a
inviting me to be seated, she we
to get something for me to c;
When she returned, bringing sol
warm coffee and bread, she sat tho
before me, saying she was sorry S
.rt? had nothing better. And then S
told me that all day they had so
iers that it was only a mile fir,
the battlefield a great many of c
wounded had been brought the
whom she hoped the Yankees wol
allow them to keep and Nurse.
!. stayed some hours, drying my clOtl
and resting, before starting o
17 When about to start, the you
lady said: 'There is an Old ho
in the yard, SIT, which came h
during the battle to day; perl:
you had better take him-you Y
get along faster; there is a bri
) of on him, | think, and | will put y
inc in a road that will lead you to
adi. mountains So, throwing sh;
MS over her head, she led the v
hey where the horse was tied, and til
of going few yards further, she sh'
ted ed me the road, and telling me W
I'm, direction to keep, she babe me e
rie- night, saying she hoped would
to the army in safety. Stop, la,
), said |. will you kindly tell me Y
name" Certainly, ST. My ns
- is Lilly Evans Thank you.
shall never forget it-farewell.' /
first rode away, musing on the fair
.on- that had so strangely stirred
IF heart. Shonld ! ever see her ag;
Likely aot. But this thought brou
oro with it too much pain to be d1
"ie upon.
US In few days | was again
our brave little army, and with
remained until the close of the
Err. i,eF c free to return TO my HON