The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-11-24

{ laugh, 81 do hope it won't rain again u
day for if the road grows four mile
every time there's q storm, 1t appalllnl
to think of the possibilities. al hope NJ
rain once an hour all day" said L In
low voice, and putting my head close t
hers snd laying my hand lightly on tn
heavy braid of brown hair which huns
negligently from her small shspely head
"Take your hand away from my hair
Mr.. Impudence" she cried gaily, and ther
glar cling up into my lace
with the most innocent 1901
imaginable in her great brown
eyes Nab mas lovely fswn-like eyes anC
the way she uses them is really IN de
fance of the resolutions adopted by the
! Great Powers at Genvenvs to "amelloratt
the condition and prevent cruelty t.
those wounded on the field OF battle"l she
continued "Why do you wish it would
rain. 1t is because YOU are like most OF
your sex, the incarnation of perversitv|
mo, it's not exactly cussedness. lou
know the reason MS well as | do my I'M
perious little Queen NAB. You know
want it to last as long sspossible because
l love-"
"Oh, cousin Morty see there" inter-
rupted Mabel hastily, "why there must
have been a battle here, there's little
fort.
81 don't see that that miserable little
earth work has anything 10 do with what
was about to say" muttered rather
savagely.
"You d. not" she answered, her eyes
wide open with mild establishment, "why
you intended to tell me you were my de-
vo.ed cavalier, and that is why want
to see if you can make yourself sccepta-
BILE by helping me off OF my horse" The
entire party aligned and taking down
some rails we clambered over into de.
serted field, where on the brow OF bigh
knob were the lines of small In
trenchment. Down in the valley at the
foot of the hill was a comfortable farm
house surrounded by fruit trees, and
there's in the sharp curve Of the road was
toll gate.
Nellie sprang before us on the grass
grown mound and merrily babe def
ance to us, "Come on We cOwardly in
vaders" cried she. shaking tiny fist at
us. 81 dare ye-oh my | did not see
those before" and with sober sadden-
ed face she pointed into clump OF rose
bushes beside her. There with psnsies
at the heads, and sweet wild meadow
flowers blooming around them were one,
two, three, yes eight graves side by side.
Eight little marble slabs told the short
story. Under each name were the
words, "Kiled in Battle, August u,
1868" -Four stones bore the same fsmi
ly name and from the ages they seemed
father and sons.
We rode slowly down the hill in
silence, and asked the mstronly woman
with snowy hair who came out for tell,
il sheknew anything about the skirmish.
YES" she said simply a shadow COM
ing on her honest kindly face, "My hus-
band and three boys were killed there
and some of heighbors, trying to stop
the raiders. A shell fell in among 'em
and eight were killed There was
something very pathetic IN the thought
OF the brave fellows lying there in their
last resting place, overlooking their
home, and all they held dear, and twas
several hours before we recovered our
wonted cheerfulness.
AS we ride along, the quails are loudly
calling in every siubble field and thicket.
1 have never seen as many elsewhere as
were here on every side.
Just before dark we rode INTO the
COSY little village of Petersburg, and dis
mounted before the com ortable inn kept
by John Gum. He was Roble speci-
men OF the old time Virginia host, dig
nified, courteous and dnobtrusive and
we we're ench .nted with him and with our
supper. In fact we resolved next day
to stay here instead of going to Moore
field, which was twelve miles beyound
US.
As the South Branch Of the Potomac
flowed through the fields within two
hundred yards o! the village, and this
was the stream in which we proposed to
fish for bass, we thought it was good
place for our journey to end. | must
say that MIR. Burbank had conceived
such a tondness for Mr.. Gums style OF
cooking chickens Virginia fashion with
cream and bass that he was in no hurry
to depart and his emphatic veto OF further
progress left the remainder OF Us with
olt word of protest.
The first day, we spent IN resting our
selves, and we lounGed about in lazy
listless way that was enimenlIy ca'cu-
lated to have desired effect.
In the afternoon the gentlemen went
on an exploring expedition through the
pretty village There were three or
-FOUR stores all doing fine trade, and for
q town so tar from railroads and other
great clvilizing agents, the people are
remarkably intelligent and refined.
The high bred politeness which has
been .neered at by the shoddyites Of the
Nort1, rs Al exaggerated spptndage Of
the f. f. W. exists, here in the most stTlk-
ing manner. Many of the residents are
graduates of the frs. colleges in the
land, aud were wealthy planters or mcr.
chants, previous TO war and rs nearly all
who were old enough, took part III the
struggle Of course, it is we'll worn topic.
A nephew of Geu'l Lees lives here and
is worthy nephew Of his uncle.
One finely educated, cultured,
gentleman with most of the virtues and
nearly all the faults OF his cast, wound
up description OF his career thus.
Il would like to ask you to come to
my hone, sir, for the love Of hospitality
was taught me As strongly for the first
thirty years OF my life rs the bitterness
of poverty for the last ten. Home!-
no. no. | have had no home since the
! day in 1866 when the auctioneer stood
up on the marble steps of our old house
and SAID, Il now offer one OF the fines,
estates in Virginis-the manor Of Merry
Brook" The only sound tnst l heard
Tor the hrst few seconds after he con-
cluded was the sobbing OF the
old darkey who had been
butler and major domo in the family tor
forty years, and turned away before 4
word was spoken, thinking that it was
best that my last memory OF the spot
should be that OF tears"
This is highfown, perhaps, but coming
in the WAY it did it had the ring OF
! Dsthos and of truth.