Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-09-19

green of the magnolias.
In the town deep silence prevailed
only now and then a fitting figure pass
ing from place to place could be seen
and the one sentence, whispered with
white lips was, the Yankees have come
Busy preparations filled the camp, but
one young officer stood idly at the door
of the Generals tent, waiting for the
little crowd of various petitioners to
disperse. When all had gone, he step
ped in with salute and said, "Gen-
eral."
Colonel Howard" was the response.
81 have strange request to make,
and | hope you will grant it."
Proceed"
"If it is in any way possible I should
like to get furlough, or be ordered
away to some other post ?"
''It is impossible, Col. Howard"
80 l must keep my command in the
siege"
"Certainly," replied the General. and
then dropped his military air to go on
to say: "Why, Frank, what in the
world do you mean? You never tried
that dodge before %
"And never shall again." was the re-
ply. Something in the young mans
face made the commander look up with
peculiar smile,
"What is the reason, Frank p
81 would rather not give it."
"You have friends in town %
eyes"
81 see. | am sorry, but it can't be
helped. Do your duty"
Every well, General, goodnight"
Long days of seige followed. The
boys in blue lay behind their breast
works and poured volleys of hot lead
into the doomed town, while the boys in
gray returned the fire from the forti6-
cations.
The city was filled with suffering. de-
struction and death; the night-clOuds
reflected the lurid light of burning
houses. and the daylight revealed their
scattered ashes and the tottering ruins
that were made by Federal shells.
Pale and frightened the wretched cit
liens crept about the streets. shrinking
from the enemy's balls that so often les
sened their number, or gathered in the
stores and houses mute with despair.
Mothers carried their sick and starving
little ones to and fro, waiting for some
friendly ball to end their suffering. The
negroes deserted their homes and fed
outside the city, or clung to their mas
ters, dumb with terror.
But at last the famished people we're
willing to surrender their city even to
the brutal mercy of the Yankees, so the
monotonous booming of the guns ceased
at last. and the blue coats came march
ing down the streets. The officer had
said: Remember, men, that you are
men with sisters and wives at home, -
and many brave heart had resolved to
be gentle as we'll as brave.
AS the moving line swept down the
street this same officer looked at a large
white house. now half hidden by tan
gled mass of shrubbery, but it was en-
tirely closed, and row of little darkies
sitting upon the banquette were the
only signs of life.
That evening Col. Howard turned his
steps toward this mansion again, hop
ing to learn some tidings of the De
Losse family.
Timidly he opened the gate and ap.
preached the gallery, but paused upon
the steps as he saw tall figure sitting
in the moonlight, her head bowed upon
her hands. He waited for a moment,
but when she did not move he approach
ed her and said, "Miss De Losse."
There was no reply, so he repeated
her name after pause. Then she
slowly raised her head, and she said in
the clear voice he remembered so we'll.
at is not kind, Mr.. Howard, to come
to mock US in the sorrow you have
brought upon us"
"Oh, Miss De Losse, l have come tc
help you if it is in my power. Your
sorrow has come through events which
I could not control any more than you.
"You cannot help u.s." her voice was
sadder than any dirge, "the cause il
lost, we can only die in our misery
The peace of death is welcomed after the
terror of this siege"
She had risen now and stood in the
moonlight, her beautiful, pale face up
turned to his little, for she was very
tall, her graceful figure outlined in 1t'
black dress, her large, lustrous eyes
softened by suffering, she seemed very
different from the spoiled beauty whom
he had left three years before. Th'
brave young soldier stood like guilty
culprit, longing to fall at her feet. ant
expiate his crime-only to be near her
but she stood alone majestic in her woe
"Miss De Losse, | am afraid a an