The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-08-10
OUR STORY TELLER.
MISS GORMAN'S PRISONER.
BY RUTH CHESTERFIELD.

Miss Germans farm was on the bor-
der-lands of Maryland and Virginia
As she herself was fond of saying, her
potato-patch was in the one State, her
corn-field in the other But although
border-lands, of whatever nature, are
VIGOROUSLY perilous to principles, Miss
German held staunchly to hers through
both evil and good report
On both sides the line there were peo-
pie enough who were friendly to either
Southern or to the Northern soldiers, as
they CHANGED to be associated with
them; but she, like Barbara Freitchie,
would have stood by her colors, though
her corn-feld and potato-patch had both
been filled with Southern soldiers.
When the war first began, Llewellyn,
her nephew, had joined the Union Army,
taking with him the best and most trusty
farm-hands at is cruel to leave you
So" he had said; "but how can / stay
at home with the cannon sounding in
my ears?'
"You can't" said Miss German.
But Jim and Dick want to go, too"
said Llewellyn.
Let 'em," said Miss German.
CU tuty WtuI, anu ever SluCe MISS
German had managed the farm herself,
with the aid of Luke, an old stumbling
negro, and Pat, half-witted Irish lad
One evening in July Miss German
sat in the piazza cooling herself after
the heat of the day, and enjoying, in an
unconscious way, the perfumes that
foated up from her garden while all
the time her thoughts were following
the soldiers, and particularly her own
boy" as she called Llewellyn. 1t was
natural that they should, though she
had given him up willingly, and would
not have recalled him if she could have
done SO by a wish. Half an hour had
passed in this manner when she saw her
nearest neighbor, Mrs. Kennette, coming
across the garden.
"News news!" cried she, breath
lessly, and waving her handkerchief
like flag of truce.
"From the warp asked Miss German;
for in those days there was no other
news worth talking about.
Yes,-ighting at Harper's Ferry
They say Lees whole army is there, and
the Yankeesare completely demoralized!
They say it's worse than the first Bull
Run, and Grant'll have to surrender be-
fore tomorrow night"
"a likely story" said Miss German.
g In the first place, don't believe Lee
is within two hundred miles of Harper's
Ferry; and as for Gen. Grant, he's going
to Richmond. He don't mean to stop
till he gets there"
"No doubt he'll bring up there, but
it won't be because he wants to. He'll
be mighty glad to get away again
Libby Prisons pretty crowded, but |
reckon there'll be room for him.
reckon there will-when they get
him." said Miss German"
"And get him they will but | haven't
told you all. Lees next move is to be
on Baltimore! He'll. find plenty to
rally around him there"
So the two women went on, growing
more excited eve moment, till It really
seemed as if, like two knights of old, they
were about to decide the fortunes Of the
opposing armies by single combat.
At last Mrs. Kennette went off in
huff, and Miss German sat and famed
herself vigorously. After that she went
to bed, but it was good while before
she could compose herself to sleep; and
scarcely had she begun to doze when
she was aroused by faint tap on the
window.
It's that Kennette woman with some
more of her news" thought she. "If
she doesn't go off, I'll set the dog on
herw
The rap was repeated, and was accom-
panied by faint moan. Miss German
was out of bed in an instant.
Who's there?"
wounded soldier" was the reply.
Miss German waited to hear no more,
but hastily wrapped herself in some
loose garment and opened the door.
A young man stood there,-tall slen-
der and deadly pale; so much she saw
at a glance.
"Come in" said she.
He obeyed, but with a feeble and
faltering step, and when he had reached
the sofa to VIII Oh she guided him, he
fell upon it in a dead faint. Then she
saw, what she had not noticed before,
that he wore Southern uniform.
Had he been strong and we'll, she
would have called Luke and Pat to take
him in charge; but that pale face ap-
pealed to a certain soft spot in her heart.
and she applied the restoratives she well
knew how to use, with such effect that
he soon returned to consciousness.
dis wound was not severe, and had
less to do with his fainting fit than
hunger and fatigue, as she was not slow
in discovering; SO she fed him first, then
dressed his wound. So far she had
asked him no questions, but she thought
IT was now no more than fair that he
should give some account of himself;
20 she said
Young man, how comes it that you,
in that dress, dared enter the house of a
loyal womanp
Are yen, then, Unionistf
You must be stranger in this
region 70 ask that question of Judith
German"