Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-12
LOVE AND DUTY,
OR
Under TIE ROSE AND THE WILLOW.
* ROMANCE OF THE WAR.
BY WALTER EDWARD HARRIS.
TcoNcIUpED.l
CHAPTER V.


ana mine acquaintance into darkness"
More than twelve months have passed
by. Long, weary months OF marching
and fighting and bloodshed have these
been for the poor soldiers engaged IN
the great strife, aud months OF anxious
waiting and watching and praying for the
Borrowing mothers and daughters and
sisters and sweethearts who renamed at
home.
In every. section, in almost every
neirhborhood. of the North and OF the
south were tears and mourning, and on
the sloping hill sides and IN the green
valleys of old Virginia many newly made
graves showed the cause OF so much sor-
row. In these humblesepulchres slept the
shield from starvation of waiting wife
and little ones, who would wait in vain for
The return of the absent one; the prop
and stay OF couple who had reached
hfe's evening. and would end their days
in grief the curly-hesded darling OF q
dotinc mother, whose hand would never
again rest lovingly among the golden
cnrls of her bonnie lsddie; no. never
again Oh. the blasted hopes, the broken
hearts. the unfuIfIied dreams that lie
hidden beneath these little mounds that
mark the last resting-places OF our gal
liant dead. But ] must take up the
thread of my narrative again.
Eleanor was very lonely after Roberts
departure for the army. She missed
the pleasant voice and smile and ionged
for o sight OF the handsome face and
figure. Once she had seen his name
mentioned in some southern newspapers
sent her by her brother, who was now
Colonel Lyndon. He was spoken OF rs
Captain Conyers, OF General H---'s
stall. and was much praised for bravery
in forming broken troops, and leading a
gallant and successful charge at FAR
Oaks station.
One evening in September she was
sitting in her open window absorbed IN
thought. She was thinking OF that
other evening not one year before when
she had sat thus and Robert was walking
IN and down outside. At the recol-
lection of that evening and the occur
rences Of the day the hot, binding tears
rained down her cheeks, and her heart
was filed with remorse for the cruel
words she had spoken then
She was aroused from these reflections
on the past by the sound of horses hoofs
coming slowly up the avenue. She
thought it was only one OF the negroes
returning from Brandon, whittier he had
that evening been sent on an errand, and
paid but little heed to the sound.
Nearer and nearer came the rider, and
when he came opposite the house in
stead of going on around to the stables,
as one of the negroes would have done,
he stopped. Then Eleanor became more
Interested, and arose from her position
to listen. She heard a quick, light foot
fall on the gravel. accompanied by the
rattle OF spurs. Suddenly her great
Observation-Disclosures from
the straw in his kennel and rushed for
ward, bsying loudly. She heard o low
voice say: "Azrael, old fellow. don't
Won know me 2" and the creature COM
menced to whine piteously.
ooh, it is Robert" she said, and
rushed from the room, down the stairs
and ON the veranda.
els that you Robert ?" she said In
han doubtful voice.
"Yes, Eleanor, it is Robert, " said a
vell-known voice. and in another mo-
meut she was in his arms
After the first incoherent words OF
meeting Robert explained the cause OF
his being at Roselands. 1t was about
the time OF the battle of Antietam and
he had como from General H--s COM
mand. which was about fifty miles from
the main body of Confederates under
General Lee. General H, knowing
OF his acquaintance with the neighbor-
hood, had requested him to endeavor to
ascertain the whereabouts OF body OF
Federals who were supposed to be en-
camped in the vicinity. He would not
command any one TO undertake such a
dangerous task, but Conyers, although
he fully realized the peril OF the
undertaking, gladly consented to do as
his commander had requested, for he
thought that he would see Roselands
again, and perhaps its mistress
Eleanor was very anxious for his safety
when she fully realized his danger. If
captured within the Federal lines she
knew that he would be treated as a spy,
and she tried to persuade him to return
TO his command.
1.-THE Federals are encamped at Bran
don, and have been ever since yesterday
morning. An officer told papa to-day
that they would probably move their
camp over here tomorrow. Suppose
they should come tonight Oh, do re-
turn TO your command. You surely
know enough already.
"On the contrary l know scarcely
nothing" he said. 81 only know that
they are there, which | suspected before.
] know nothing of their strength or in-
tentions. l shall push on and endeavor
10 ascertain their strength If possible,
but expect it will be difficult TO find out
ANYTHING in regard to their intentions"
Eleanor could not dissuade him from
his purpose, and it was with many fore
bodings of evil that she saw, or rather
heard, him ride cautiously away in the
direction of Brandon. She felt that
perhaps had she aroused her father he
might have prevented his going, but
when she proposed this Robert would
not let her 90 so for fear of awakening
the servants, and he wished his visit to
DO kept secret.
The next morning about sunrise de-
tachment OF Federals, about two hundred
and fifty strong, passed Roselands, and
an officer called at the house to inquire
IL any onfederates had been seen in the
vicinity. Mr.. Lyndon. who was taking
his constitutional on the lawn, of conrse
told him that there had not In relating
the circumstance to Eleanor at the break
fast-table. he told her that the officer,
Colonel Winthrop. an old and intimate
friend, had informed him that young
Confederate officer had been captured
within their lines, which circumstance
had first apprised them of the nearness
OF the enemy.
"Poor fellow" he concluded, "there
Is nothing but the gallows before HIN
now.
"0h, papa, said Eleanor, rising to bel
feet, and steadying herself by her chair
back, THAT was Robert. and she told
ham OF his visit Of the previous night.
She spoke in low. rather hoarse tone,
but for the conyulsiye grip of the slen.
40 ftTa = L.. 49, |. A i.