, 1888-03-18
III L CHAPEL.

Lost our way, and dark at that What
the deuce are we to doi'
Look out for n Dad 1t must lead
somewhere"
Tom Sanderson looked at me d%oubtfully,
then ut Horton, who sank YEARLY down
upon n convenient stump.
Il am sure that I saw n light just now
not far off-yes-there it is again"
II see it,, r~ejoined Tom, in visible re
lief.
DO you think you can walk that far,
Hortong We can help you"
Horton glanced Mt the light. with a
little help-yes. 1t is hardly n quarter
of u mile away. ! must reach shelter be
fore my ankle BECOMES too much infamed.
1t is certainly very painful"
Horton lifted himself from the stump,
and, resting upon my arm, set off coward
the light.
1t was the 10th day OF December, 1870,
n pleasant, hazy, Indian summerish De
ccmber. Horton. Tom Sanderson and
myself had started out from Washington
with the double purpose Of shooting quail
md visiting the battlefields between Bull
Run and the capital. Two Of US were
veterans, who had served through the
war and for many n month fought,
marched and bivouacked in this now
peaceful region. Tom Sanderson was a
SbuHB ltlloW pbssesSel by an Intense de-
. re to view the locale of scenes in which
lhs youth prevented any share. may as
well say that we were all three New
Workers, happening by the merest chance
in Washington at the same time. We
s"ut our wngon bAck to Fairfax Court
House and set off, with fowling piece and
game bag, to tramp over these historic
shooting grounds. Nothing charms the
city maj like successful cunning.
The days trophies, OF course, proved
rather our prowess than the excess of
game. Good fortune lured us on until
the short December day ended. Ill fort
une began when nightfall overlook us,
with endless ragged and bushy fields on
one side and 8 stretch Of slim young pines
Oh the other. To add to our perplexity
Horton had given his ankle n wrench,
which made every step n torture. Tom
holted forward i~mpetuously. The light
was the first sign of n habitation visible
since MONDAY.
"Hurrah, MAORI Here's n road Mt
last" He shouted back to me.
THANK Heaveni' muttered Horton in
n voice of intolerable suffering. Reach
ing the comparative smoothness Of the
2 Dad. our progress became less laborious.
The light glittered through an open door
not far in advance.
ut seems a roomy place" l remarked
rs we approached.
Suddenly Horton stopped short. Good
Godl It's the old chapell' he cried out
IL a shrill, unnatural voice.
What chapel, a What do you
meang"
He Ind dropped the support OF my arm
the anguish Of his ankle seemed to van.
ish-he bent forward and stretched ont
both arms-his eyes seemed staring from
their sockets terror, amRZement and
helpless, fascinated horror plainly blended
in his aspect at that instant. shook
him roughly.
"You are out Of your senses, Horton.
What chapel'' l repeated.
Don't you remember the Union chapel,
where Mosby attacked u~s-and-and-
where-where Blake was killedl Don't YOU
see the crossroadsf Don't you see themp''
lie clutched my shoulder hercely and
pointed to the house, which became
vaguely familiar.
"Are you suref'' l asked, taking as
much of n survey OF the premises as the
starlight permitted.
''Sure' l haven't seen It since that
night, but l am-sure-sure, - he retorted
grimly.
"Come on, major" shouted Tom from
the doorway. tits all right; he says we
can stay. Wen have a broiled rabbit
aAlA FoAAt NbAh bAtdAAs
"Stay heref Herei" echoed Horton, in
shocked expostulation. For Gods sake
not herel'
moved on. Horton limped after me
reluctantly as far rs the door.
1t was an abandoned crossroad chapel,
now occupied by a negro work hand, who
was in the midst of cooking his supper by
n blazing fire in the great fireplace. We
were tired; the building was dry and COM
Portable and redolent of frying bacon and
steaming coffee.
Stay and weccum, gentlemen. l kin
soon brile you a couple o. them rabbits
en- bake n hoe cake, -" Hospitality urged the
man.
"Wait. Is there no house nearP" In.
terjected Horton excitedly.
"Ludi no, sab; de nighes' house is five
good mile away on de hot road, en- dem
folks is from de norf, en- won't hev no
pussOn to stay wild 'em."
1--WE can try" eagerly insisted Horton,
making n step forward and breaking of
with n tone of distress.
''That settles it, l retorted. "Let me
help YOU
"Stopl'' again interrupted Horton,
shaking himself free OF my hand and
speaking in an inexplicable voice of sup
pressed agitation. "This is-the-very
night''-
$50 it is. The 10th OF December-the
very night Blake was killed. l hadn't
thought OF it, but, " I added impatiently,
'have done with your objections. l am
starving"
"To-night Of all nights" he muttered
to himself, while / helped him up the sin
gle steep sep. We soon had p p The
mau, who proved himself to be a capital
cook, seemed TO feel it his duty TO be en-
tertaining.
'You see, mastah, I'm from Culpeper,"
he informed us. "I'm gettin' ont slaves,
en- dere haint nowhurs else TO- me 10 stay.
De chu'ch haint got err good name roun'
heah, but l haint seen muffin yit, " and
the man rolled himself in n blanket and
slept the sleep of n toiler.
"Horton, what were you saying about a
fight heref Tell it while l smoke, will
your carelessly asked Tom when our
pipes were alight.