Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-11-27
while Elmer's return shot had only grazed

while Elmer's return shot had only grazed the gray sleeve.
 But the wound had not been as severe as the officer expected, and by tha middle of October he was able to join his men again.
 Four mornings afterwards, in the midst of darkness and fog dawned the l9th, whom the Union army awoke to hear Kershaw firing Thoburn's captured guns. The reeling drama of Cedar Creek had begun. Slowly, slowly, cold Massanutten lifted his head through the heavy mists to the southwest to gaze drearily on a scene from which even Lucifer's subjects must turn with sickening. What did he see during that long day Of car nagea
 He saw a thousand souls sent precipitately before their maker, who must needs be stern to them. encrinsoned as they were with brothers blood He SAW more than 4,000 spirits quiyering to esca pc from tha agonized bodies that imprisoned them. He saw Con federate troops first victorious, sweeping every position, staying, capturing, chasing the confused Union forces. He saw them be fore noon relaxed in the fatal security of easy triumph. Then he- saw Phil Sher- idan, tbs idol of his men, dash up from bis long forced ride, and once more the day was lost and won, and for one side calamity fol- lowed glory, and for the other glory was plucked out of calamity.
 Near sunset, Theo Floyd was reluctantly obeying orders toTetreat when his horse was shot down under him. and he narrowly es- caped capture by slipping into the thick, slirting underwood. 4 few rods within, q young federal officer rose to a sitting posture to face him, and Floyd recognized at once the enemy with whom he had exchanged shots on the Apegnon. Aflame with the de- feat following the moeking victory of the morning, he was about to start the man with out allowing him to draw, when the latter groaned and fell back Theo, ashamed, stopped to examine his wounds, and saw at once that undoubtedly they were unto death. And when the white lips marmured, sswater..n he ran, forgetful of his own loss of blood, to Q little stream close by and filled his battered canteen. When the dying officer had drained i it, he drew from his breast q long, golden curl and little velvet case, and softly and brokenly said:
 "Seek out my beautiful lady and tell her that, though wearing the blue, I did as a brave man should, and that her curl and her sweet pictured face at my lips and her love at my heart saved me agony in death." "l will, ' promised the young confederate, looking into the frank grand eyes so fast filming.
 | "Now, pray for me- breathed the other.
 Theo sent up few full words to the God of battle, who is also the God of pitiful love. Then ho laId his ear close to the manly heart: it had but few more pulsations to make. Why should his own stir so wildly when his eyes came closer to that amber curl? He calmed himself. That other heart would never stir again. He would take the minia- ture as Q clew to guide him in the search he had undertaken, for the officer had strangely forgotten to give tho name of his ''beautiful ] lady" He gently unclasped the fast stiffen- ing fingers, Then great darkness fell upon his soul, for be had recognized, with one wide 1 eyed, tortured gaze, the face of Lesley Lin don.
 i Ten years messed the graves in the Vir- i ginia valleys. And 1874 saw many home ] smile again that 1864 had ravaged and desc ! lated, and many lares and penates restored 1 that had seemed exiied forevermore 1 Again on Juno day two figures were straying down the long avenue of Lindor 1 place. 4 mans deep, subdued tones were i heard:
 "Once more have come back to your feet | my liege lord-stiu your loyal knight WiI i not your gracious hand bestow at last the 1 one gift | craveF
 ''Iheo, do you really care to take what have left to give?"
 ''Can you doubt it, Lesley? Have I livel for anything else2'
 The gold brown head and lovely mournfu face found resting place, and Theo's faith | fuf heart was never again to be wholly sad
 Just at that moment an aureate clouC i haloed the brow of benign Massanutten- Leonara Beck ill Atlanta Constitution.
 An Idyl of Hard Tack.