Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-08
thfOble end OF barn, q little to the


will IN a stones throw, standing in a
levd field below the road, which had
Deefbuilt up from the land, au old Vir-
ginI barn, which, in spite of its age and
the snow that tried TO cover IL, showed
the figns of having been well built
Nothr from it the irregularity OF the
snovindicated the ruins of an old home
steal
Hooked AZ II the barn was deserted.
Certinly its surroundings were as cheer
less hnd as lifeless as any imagination
coua picture.
CPtain Gallespie decided to investi-
gate In addition TO satisfying bis
curiSity he might find forage for the
horsss. He and his men ventured
slowy down the road and through the
field No footsteps could be seen; not
a sin Of life was visible; not sound
'bFot the dreaIiness of the place.
Bt soldiers are naturally suspicious.
Thebravest are often the most cautious.
Thet experience makes them so.
Gillespie was no exception to this
rule. He was always willing to risk his
life I there was recompeDse for the
courge, but he was not the officer to lead
his men into trap.
Suddenly q hit OF smoke was seen
curlirs from n side opening OF the barn.
Galespie anticipated danger. He lost
no tine to prepare for it. Word was
sent bck for all men who could be
spared rom the horses to come up afoot.
The pah made by the first party enabled
them toarriye in a short time.
Then Gallcspie led his men towards
the ban. They felt that trouble was
ahead. Scarcely a dozen steps had they
advanced when the barn door slowly
opened.
All themen came to halt TO await
developments. Their carbines were
ready foriny emergency.
They expected a few compliments
from Messy. They certainly did not
look for what they saw.
As the dor opened a plump figure in
petticoats ome out. 1t belonged TO a
good old colred woman. She put up
both hands. Is if a ghost had confronted
her. 1t was surprise on both sides.
But what astrange incident was to be
revealed
Gallespie advanced to question her,
but she had no time to answer him.
"Be you doctor?" she asked in
anxious voice.
a doctor?'
eyes. massa. Ny missus am in dar,
EN- a child an jest been horned. Oh !
please, massa, amt you dOctor?"
1t did not require many seconds to
summon the surgeon of the command,
and in a very short time he was at the
sick lady's bedside.
OF course there was romance con-
nected with the episode, and of course
the men very sooL knew of it. 1t is un-
necessary to tell tae story in detail, for
its general interest shows a devotion that
impressed every soldier in the command
and stamped the experience indeibly
upon every mind.
The lady was the honored wife OF the
colonel of Louisiana regiment. He had
been engaged in the savage fight at
Cedar Greek on the 18th of October, and
in the midst Of the battle, while support
ing Kershaw's division, received dan
ecrOus wound.
News of the sad occurrence reached
the devoted wife in her southern home,
two thousand miles away, and, although
she was unfit to travel, she heroically
traversed the distance in order 10 aid and
comfort the man she had sworn to love,
and whom she did love with all the fer
vency of her soul.
Some OF his comrades had carried him
away from the field of battle in hope
that he might be able to reach his sunny
South but the wounds were more Sc
rious than they first supposed, and the
continued loss of blood had told heavily
upon him. The effort to get him over
the mountains through this gap was un-
successful. He was growing weaker all
the time, and as they passed the barn
it was decided to rest him there for
few hours.
But he never became strong enough to
be moved. Life seemed to hang by a
mere thread, and every day promised to
be his last.
His wife and sister and the old faithful
servant arrived in time to care for him
in his last hours, and they did it with
that tenderness and beauty that make
women the ministering angels of the
world but he was past their mlnlstra'
tons,
A week before the arrival of GALES
pies party the Colonel he'd died, and the
two Confederates who hadremained with
him dug the grave wherein his remains
were sorrowfully laid to rest.
After the burial the excitement OF the
war compelled the two soldiers to joi1
their command. The ladies and the old
servant were left alone.
Then the snow came down and cut
them off from all communication will
the world.
To leave the Indies in the desolatC
place was ont of the question so We
soon had stretcher for the sick mo-
tber and accommodation for the sister
and the servant. Our little caravan
moved slowly, and every man IN the
command We'd with every other man IL
his attentions to our precious burdens
When we reached Winchester the little
family was placed in the hands of some
GOOD people named Goldsborough, who
took the best of care of them.
| saw Mr.. GoldsborouSh few years
AGO. He told me thathis family was still
on intimate terms with the Louisiana
ladies, and that the boy born in the barn
"a the Christ Child had been one thou
sand eight hundred and sixty-four years
before, was a healthy youth, and that
being French, the family had called hin
Noel Luray Persevai
MephistOpheIes in "faust'
lEpOch.l
The truth is that MephistOpheles is no'