, 1881-12-16


"more than one?"
Il meant what said, :" she answered,
with merry laugh ami a quick, bright
blush; 81 have heard from one of them
very recently"
.iDoes Charles know you are here?"
asked the Colonel.
"No; it is not week since [ left
Memphis. VIII they join you here?"
''They?" he repeated, inquirIngly.
''The rest of the command, l mean"
she replied, blushing again.
"a portion of it may, but for that part
that you are particularly interested in,
l cannot say. You know they are with
the old General, and their movements
can't be counted on with any great GER
tainty."
''They are the comets of the service"
said Miss Garnett. Quite as erratic, at
all events"
MAY L have the pleasure of this
dancer" said the Colonel, as the band
struck up a Guadrille. II know it is
useless to ask you for u waltz"
The dance over, he led ner to chair,
and, after moments gay badinage, was
about to resign himself in favor of other
claimants for her smiles, when he saw a
sudden CHASTITY pallor overspread her
features.
"Miss Alice, are you ill?" he ex-
claimed, anXiously. Let me get you
some water"
1t was scarcely a moment before his
return, but even then he was shocked at
her white, drawn face.
"Cal my sister" she had said to an
other gentleman with her, while Colonel
Terry had gone for the water, and both
reached her at the same time.
'Luey, take me home" she whispered,
II am dying"
ooh, no, darling" said her sister,
tenderly, you will be well in the morn
ing"
As quickly as possible the carriage
was called and the sick girl tenderly
placed in it.
When they were just starting Col.
Terry wished them good night, express
ing his hopes that Miss Alice would have
recovered by morning. She put out her
hand, and, exerting her strength, said
distinctly:
"Yes, I shall be well in the morning.
Tell Charley" her voice failed, and,
lifting her slim white hand, she loosened
the flowers she wore at her breast and
put thom into the Colonels hand. "Give
these to him-yes-in the morning"
Her voice died away to faint whisper,
and her head fell back on her sisters
shoulder. The lady who had acted
as their chaperone hastened to apply re-
stoYatives, and the carriage rolled swiftly
away.
The next morning when Colonel Terry
called to inquire after the invalid he had
no need to ask, for from the door there
foatsd the mournful insignia of death.
Shocked beyond expression, the hardy
soldier turned away, unable then to even
offer his services if they were needed.
He went again after q while and saw Mrs.
Cameron, the hostess of the sisters dur
ing their visit. From her he learned
the brief details of Alice's death. Her
attack had been q sudden spasm of the
heart, and she had never rallied. She had
not spoken but once; then they caught
her lovers name, and q repetition of the
words, "in the morning"
"Poor Charley, who will tell him?'
groaned the Colonel, when tho lady's
voice ceased.
"You are his best FRIEND" she an
swered. ''I think no one else could do it
30 gently"
II cant, ;" he replied, shaking his head.
IT would rather face a battery. Why,
you don't know, you can't think how his
very life seems bound up in her; and
now"
They buried her next day; six of Pic
toms friends carried his dead love to her
grave, and then came sadly back, each
questioning who would bear the tidings
to the gallant sabreur far away with the
old brigade.
That night the order came to join the
main command, and by daylight the
troops were miles away. As they reached
the vicinity of the appointed rendezvous
desultory firing warned them OF an ap-
preaching conflict. Presently they
formed themselves In the midst OF por-
ton of the command, drawn up in
piece of woods overlooking a sloplng
field, which on the other side rose to
sharp eminence, on the brow of which
was posted Federal battery.
Farther to the right the firing became
sharper, and soon the roll ot musketry
swept all along the line.
81 say, Barclay" called Colonel Terry,
as that officer passed him, ''have you
seen Picton yet?" And, as Barclay shook
his head, he added: '"Tell the boys
not to let him know yet. Wait till this
is over"
"All right; I'll tell them" answered
barclay as he rode away.
"The old General viii be wanting that
battery the first thing they know, said
one of the men, as a shell exploded over
their heads. They'd better keep it
quiet"
''Thar, what did 1 tell you?" he added,
biting off huge piece of ''long green"