Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-06-04
THE LONE GRAVE OF THE
SHENANDOAH,

IAN oigtnal story taken from the Field Book Of
Dom Piattl
The old stone tavern known through gen
erations as the Indian Queen, that stands on
a turn of the road down the mountains from
Sherryville to NJ, of the Shenandoah
Valley, enjoys landscape a castle might be
proud of. That this is the Indian Queen
runs ON tradition and general consent, for
the old-fashioned signboard that creaks in
front lost long since the work of art that
pictured forth the name. Nothing remained
on the one side but dim crown of feathers,
nearly obliterated, and two staring eyes on
the other, that, put together by the curious
observer, failed to make up that imaginary
creature known to tradition and'dime novels
as Her Majesty Queen Pocahontas.
Virginia's little romance of that ilk is
about as dim as the signboard. PocahOntas
did live and was the daughter Of a chief.
But all else is the fringe-work of fancy,
that, like the sign, would have long since
faded out but for useful purpose the ro-
nance serves, and that is, the manner in
which our loved ancestors had of account
lOT-Wt1l, say OAAe1b oIpOoA OO
from time to time among the noble Virgin
ians. They were considered the descend
ants of Pocahontas.
To return, however, to my story: The
view from the rude porch of the inn is ex-
ceedingly beautiful, for it contains one of
the loveliest portions of that lovely valley.
The green meadows and rich fields with
~ - lo%% %ol
farm houses half hid in orchards were all
framed in by mountains, the submits of
which seemed to melt into the blue of heaven,
leaving the eye in doubt as to where the
rounded rocky or wooded tops ended and
the clouds began. The sulphury smoke of
battle had obscured these fields, and the
mountains had echoed back the mouthing
cannon of combatants, but at the time our
little romance opens no harm had been done
TO the valley itself. Armies had marched,
fought and retreated-generally,u up to that
time, the dear old flag had hurried inglori-
ously out of the. row-but no great injury
had come to the work of the farmer or the
beauty of nature.
The summer sun was sinking in the lazy
west, with distant rumblings of artillery
telling of far off combat, as a girl, some
twenty years of age, sat in rocking chair,
on the wooden porch of the tavern, rocking
softly to and fro and gazing dreamilY upon
the view before her. Her appearance
was such as to attract attention. In dress,
bearing and expression there was a refine
ment that indicated one city bred, rather
than of rural local origin. She was exceed
ingly attractive, with claim to beauty that
came under the head of handsome rather
than pretty. Her face, at rest, indicated
more force of character than that which
ordinarily falls to the sweeter sex. The per-
feet oval ended in a pronounced chin, while
the slight aquiline line of her nose made that
chin aggressive. But for the full red lips of
the perfect mouth, and large dreamy eyes,
the pale face would have been too severe to
excite other than feeling of admiration.
The expression depicted from time to
time, as the feelings changed, had wider
range than is usual to such a cast of coun-
tenance. As her eyes wandered over the
beautiful view her face was one to admire.
When a little three -year-old daughter of
the stone tavern toddled to her and rested
its little head upon her knee, the long silken
fringes of her tender eyes fell upon it as her
slender hands stroked its curly locks-and
her face was one to love. Afterward when she
gazed at brigade of Union soldiers pitch
ing their tents on the meadows below, scorn
and hate gave her face to fear.
A movement below made her start, as if
TO leave her chair. Then, after half rising,
she settled back and began again the monot-
unous rocking. A cavalcade of officers
was riding up the road, as if coming to the
Indian Queen.
At the head of this little escort rode
stout, middle aged gentleman, in the uni
form of a brigadier general of the northern
army. Mounted on superb horse, he sat
with the ease of an experienced rider, his
high rounded shoulders holding a grim,
resolute head, that under other than mill
tary hat would have been repulsive in its
severity. There was a face not to be trihed
with, as the historic annals of war and di-
plomacy have put to record.
Halting in front of the tavern, the officers
dismounted, and as the orderlies led the
horses to the stable, they ascended the steps,
and gaining the porch instinctively lifted
their hats to the girl before them. She
barely recognized the salutation, then con-
tinued her rocking, as if their politeness and
presence were alike Indifferent to her.
A grim change in the generals face left
one in doubt whether he was suffering from
a toothache or indulging in a smile.
On the landlord making his appearance
the chief gave his orders. They were for
the night and quarters for corporars
guard While the supper was being pre-
pared the general sat in a splt-bottomed
arm chair near our heroine, while the mem
bers of his staff, weary of a long days ride,
stretched themselves upon the sod under the
trees
''How many a vanished hour and day
Have sunlight DER me shed"
since last parted from that gallant band OF
good fellows loved general held together
during the four years of terrible conflict.
/ can see them now see the tall, slender,
volatile Chesnutt, gay as a lark and brave
as lion. Esterhaze, quiet, grave, yet ever
alert to duty. Comb, slender and awk-
ward, but possessed of the keenest sense of
humor, as ready to jest under fire as in the
camp Then came old Grenvil1e, called old
because he was so solemn. 1t would take a
surgical instrument toget joke in his head,
and then another to get it out. And last
but not least, for he is the hero of my little
romance, Bob Ellersly, young, handsome and
liable to love and debt.
Two of these met violent deaths. and the