The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-04-29
Selerf Sturw.
ACROSS THE MERIDIAN.
By FRANCES TEN EYcK


K0rllandt drew his horse to halt a
he breasted the brow of the hill and lift.
ed the cap from his head that he might
enjoy to the full the soft, delicious breeze
Perhaps only one who, like himself, had
newly come from the crowded amphi-
tteater OF the lec.ure-room Of medical
college, and from daily witness Of men,
tai and physical sutferines by the bed.
sides OF its hospital wards could have
felt. as be did. intensified by the power
full contrast, the stiffness, beauty and
peace of what he looked on.
It was the field of one of the great
battles OF the late war, ground made holy
by heroic blood-beroIc, whether the
hearts that throbbed it forth we're burst
ing with triumph or breaking with de-
feat.
So thought the young physician as his
eyes wandered over the scene, discover
ing few marks to indicate that once this
valley had seethed with ire and smoke
and struggling human forms, and the
whole air had been shrek OF agony
and strife Twenty years ha done their
work and nature, which permits no DESC
lation, had sowed the furro we'd land with
grass and blooming flowers. which swayed
and @a~una In the SD: ing ale ss 1t in l,ni-.
son with the humming OF the bees above
them But al he dismounted and led
his horse down the hill he discovered
traces OF the battle which had escaped
his eye from above Now and then his
horses hoof struck the ru,tv metal Of
gun, buried benesth the
brambIes, and further on be found him
self in wilderness of little mounds,
marked here and thero with wooden
slab, its inscription efiaced by the rain OF
years.
AS Kortlandt arose from vain at.
tempt to decipher one ct these, a 6gure
appeared from the woods near by, and,
after the monetary pause Of the first
surprise OF seeing him, continued stead
lily to advance along the path which led
within few yards of his side The fg-
ure was that OF woman, poorly clad.
tut tall and graceful. and moving with
peculiar strength and freedom OF mo-
ton. KoltIandt waited until she was
nesr him and then said:
81 beg your pardon, but can you in
form me whose graves are these 2"
The woman stopped abruptly as the
tones OF the clear Northern voice reach.
ed her, and suddenly turned upon him
her FACE, until then concesled beneath
the broad bfim of the coarse straw hal
that she woe 1t was thai uf girl,
brunei e, illuminated with pair o GLOW
ing eyes which now fixed themselves
upon him.
You must have come FROM verv far
away not to know whose are the graves
that you are standing on" she said in 8
vo.cs which did not owe lts peculiar in-
tonation to the Southern dialect 10 which
she spoke.
"You are right" be replied. surprised
at her beauty and manner; inv home is
as fsr away as the SHOWS OF winter from
the Southern lowers" !"
A look OF intense bitterness entered
the girls face. "You are from the
North p she said. Her eyes flashed
81 will tell you whose are the graves
upon which you are ,reading. They are
those of the rebels you defeated" !"
proudly '.they are those OF the martyrs,
the heroes, who starved and froze, who
gave up home, family, wealth and life 10
attempted protection Of their rights and
freedom. and whom you Of the North, in
your overpoweriug strength OF wealth
and numbers, conqusred and killed.
Yonder, upon the hill. are those of my
father aud mo her -he killed by your
bullets, and she by the agony Of his
death. Aad all these are mine, mine,
since own the sacred earth in which
they rest. Oh! that l possessed the
power to protect their resting-place from
the insult o. Yankees presence!"
K,rtlantit locke into the girls flushed
and flashing face 10 very maze OF as
constituent. But her concluding words
aroused his anger. and he drew himself
up with the color mounting to his brow.
Controlling himself with an effort he
lifted his cap and, bow ng, said with a
cold courtesy, in singular contrast to her
FIRE: "That being the case, Madaneoi-
selle, / shall not linger to bid you adiou
But permit me to reassure you YOU pos
sess the power to protect your heroes
resting place-in a two edged sword
and, with another how and straight
look into her angry eyes, he drew his
horses bride over his arm and led him
back 10 the road As he mounted and
rode on be found TO his surprise that his
hand was shaking with excitement. HI
was very angry He had never before
been insnlted by woman. and the feel
ing OF helplessness with which it affected
him was irritating in the extreme. H,
felt this 10 he weakness and enieavcret
to throw it of. But that evening at sup