Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-05-05

L
in the hot sun, Lieutenant" said Mrs. R.
"Do you know the child:"
"No, but can't help thinking what II
that poor woman yonder were my mother,
and this little child Alice"
Mrs. R took the girl up TO 4 little
chamber which she told her should be her
own until the Lieutenant returned; she
kissed her and left her. She felt impa-
tient with the dreadful turmoil and sor-
rows of the war. This poor mother, dying
alone, perhaps, and the child wandering
through the country! Why, was there
no one who could see it all right?
In the meantime Dora had hidden her
basket, locked the door, and kneeled down
by the side of the bed. She WAS praying,
with all the strength Of her little heart, TO
God TO help her. And on the other side
Of the mountain, in solitary house, her
mother lay alone, her hands covering her
pale, worn face, while she spoke 10 the
same Friend, who had been her Friend in
whom she had trusted all her life.
Down in the valley galloped the Lieu
tensnt-a stranger TO them bo:h-prompt-
ed, he thought, by casual likeness OF
the child to his sister. Yet was there not
some one who heard their prayers and
made of this man the agent 10 answer
them2 The one who could and would in
His own good time set al! this turmoil
and all others right?
At the end OF the day Lieut.. Graham
opened the gate of the farm house. Mrs.
R with Dora hurried to meet him.
81 know by your face you have sue
ceeded," she said.
eyes; the General is the most inexor-
able of foes as far as men are concerned,
but he has a wife and children of his own.
Here is permit and an order for guard
TO take the child through the pass"
The officer himself rode with the guard
into the gap. Goodbye, my little pris-
oner. You will soon be with your moth
er, and hope you will find that she will
not need the medicine you are carrying
her." he said as they parted.
Dora's eyes were full OF tears. "You
have been so good to me, she said, drop
ping Spots reins and holding out both
hands. 81 wish could do something for
you"
ooh, be good to the arst Yankee who
falls into your hands, you little rebel, !"
he replied, laughing.
There Is a sequel to our little story.
Mrs. Nettley, with her daughter, removed
for safety to her brothers. plantation, in
the Eastern part of the State, where they
remained during the war.
After a skirmish which took place in
the neighborhood, Major Nettley's house
being capacious, was taken as tempo
rary hospital, TO which the wounded Of
both sides were carried. Dora and her
mother were busy among them, doing
what good they could to alleviate their
suferings until the surgeons had dressed
their wounds.
There was one young mau of about
twenty, who was wounded IL the leg.
Dora, as she raised his head to give him a
drink of wafer, met his eyes. They had
a strange, familiar look.
"What's your namep" she said, as she
took the cup from his mouth.
"Felix Graham"
"What regimentT
"Ensign, Fourth Michigan"
Dora ran to her mother, fairly stammer-
ing in her excitement.
"He is so like the Lieutenant at the
Gap, mamma! And the same name And
| promised. promised!
Mrs. Nettley in her turn grew interest
ed and excited. She went TO the COM
mandant when the time came for sending
the wounded Union officers away.
"There is n young man among them"
she said, "whose wounds will probably
prove fatal il he is moved. owe debt
OF gratitude, as I believe, to one OF his
family-or, at least, to one Of his name.
If you will leave him will nurse him as
faithfully and well as cam"
Mrs. Nettley was a woman whose re-
quests were usually granted. Felix Gra-
ham remained in the house for two
months.
Four years after the war was over our
old friend Colonel Graham formerly
Lieutenant), came home TO Michigan,
from San Francisco, where he had en-
gagged in business since his discharge from
the army.
1t was his first Homecoming, and there
was great rejoicing, and a gathering Of
all the Graham clan, big and little.
"But where Is my new sisteri' he said
to Alice. 'I wish could have got back
in time for the wedding. TO think Felix
went to Virginia for wife, after sli!'
"Here they come" said Alice, as Steps
were heard on the porch without, and the
boys rushed out to meet Felix and the
bride with "He's come. he's comet"
The door opened, and Felix, bearded
and sun burned, came in; a shy, chubby
young girl following him. Her eyes
were brown, and oddly honest and frank.
Colonel Graham, his hand out, stopped
perpleIed.
"who ,-Dora!" he said. "Dora?"
Eyes, Dora," she answered. 81 kept
my promise" laughing nischieTously.
"You told me to be good to the first Yam
kse who fell into my hands. Here he IS;
1 thought the best thing could do was 70
marry him."
Dora's mother and uncles followed her
to Michigan. Since then there have been
many family gatherings. where the Net