Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-07-31
her at the piano.

Ian inquiry of Mr.. Ross, " for | do no
know it, and / have never seen him
yet | love him, and what would / mo-
give to meet him! ! remember
though was but three years old, my
fathers return home from the army
and OF his telling how, on July ed
he had been wounded, and how {
young Confederate soldier, a mere
boy, he said, had procured for hin
surgical treatment and extended
him kindness which probably saved
his life. When he had spoken ! be
i,ove | provoked laughter by throw
ing my arms around his neck and tell
ing him that | loved the young Con
federate, and that when grown to bt
women intended being his wife,
Some one remarked this as 70
mantle story and asked that she tel
more of it.
No." said she, bnt father shall
for it is his pet theme each July 22d.'
Others supplemented the daugh
ter's request, and responding to it
Captain Clancy, in a narrative way
grown easy from frequent recltals
recounted the events already noted
above. He had told of his wounds
being dressed where the prisoners
were halted, of the courier having
had him placed in the ambulance,
and of his reaching the Anderson-
vile train, when Miss Clancy, who
Glanced to glance at Harry Ross,
observed an agitation of manner
quite foreign to his native compos
ure.
" When he assisted me into the
car" Clancy was continuing when
Harry Ross interrupted:
f" Hold moment, please" he said,
A." and permit question or two from
me. Did the courier you speak Of
hand you his own canteen ~
!" Yes, he did," replied Captain
Clancy.
And did he provide you mat
tress In the car ?"
He did," was answered.
/" And did you, being unable to
speak, make signs of pencil, and
did the train move just as he was
handing the pencil to you, causing
him to Jump from the car ~
Captain Clancy was ON his feet
+" Yes ~ he exclaimed but how
come you to know of all this ~
"How came | to know? Why sir,
| was that boyW
For a moment-a brief moment
there was utter stiffness in the par
lors. But when, stepping quickly
forward, Captain Clancy grasped
Harry Ross by the hand, his face
indicating uncertainty whether to
break into laugh, a cry or caress.
there was an outbreak of hand clap
pings and cheering more suggestive
of theater than a drawing room
Mrs. Clancy advanced and without
a word or apology, threw her arms
around Harry's neck and kissed him
while Emma, who had taken his
other hand in both her own, appear
ed to be in that state of uncertainty
her fathers face had indicated.
For several minutes there was a
buzz of congratulations as the guests
pressed about the ex- Union Captain
and ex.Confederate courier. But
there was another sensation in store
for the delightful party. When Cap
tain Clancy and Harry Ross had
managed to moved a little apart the
latter turned to Emma and, with g
half earnest, halfmirthful look into
her face, said:
Miss Clancy, | beg to recall q
speech of yours made few minute:
since. You stated that, when three
years old, you heard this story from
your father, you had thrown YOU
arms around his neck, saying tina
you loved the Confederate courier
and that when you were a woman
you would be his wife, and expressed
desire to meet him now. You hav,
met him. Now, in the presence 0
the auditors of your speech, l CLAIM
the fulfillment ofits proposition. Will
you be the wife of the ex-Confeder
ate courier 7"
Those who were present tell o
another spell of silence falling upol
the parlors, of a blushing face ant
downcast eyes and response in
voice SO soft and tremulous, however
as to be inaadible to any othe
than the one nearest her.
But it must have been consent
ing, for the newspaper report of al
rivals at the same resort in July
1885, included the names of Mr.. ant
Mrs. Harry Ross on visit to tn
latter's father, Captain Clancy.
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