Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-08-07
DAPPLE'S MISTRESS.
BY EMMA G. JONES.

The scene was a green stretch OF
summer lawn in front of fine old
Virginia farm house; tho speaker a
slight, bright-faced girl, gracefully
mounted on small, gray pony.
The sun was dropping out of sight
behind the green hills, and far away,
down the silver bend of the Accoceek
came the tramp of rctrcating troops,
with now aud then the mufiled roll OF
q drum or the shrilI bray of a bugle.
Old Virginia, the queen-mother OF
the sunny South, was overrun will
soldiers, devastated by fro and sword,
shaken to her very foundations by the
thundcrs of civil war.
Colonel Moreton was far away
from his pleasant home, in the front
ranks of death and danger; but Irene,
his only Child, still bravcd the tcrrors
of invasion, and remained at the farm.
house with her invalid mother and a
few faithful old servants.
Cantering across the grounds, al
hour after the retreat of the invading
troops, something attracted the young
lady's noticc-a PROSTATE figure under
the shade of the great cottonwood
tree.
"Stop, Dapplc, we must look to
this!"
Dapple stopred and Miss Irene leaped
lightly from her saddle, and throwing
the silkcn reins over the pony's neck
she went tripping across the grounds
to the spot where the figure lay.
1t was tall, soldicrly figure clad in
army blue, with pale, worn face,
and an abundance of curling, chest
nut hair
Colonel Morcton's daughter looked
down upon the senselcss soldier with
ali her woman's divine compassion
stirring within her bosom.
'Poor fellow" she murmurcd, lay
il g her soft hand upon his brow; 81
wish l could help him"
The soft voice and the softer touch
called back the Veterans wandering
senses. He opened his eyes and looked
up in the young lady's face. Great,
luminous, handsome eyes they were,
that somehow reminded Irene of her
brother Toms eyes; and Tom was
down in the trenches in front of Rich
mond. The compassion in her heart
stirred afresh; she smoothed back the
tangled curls from the soldiers brow.
"My poor fellow" she said, "can |
do anything for your"
He struggled up to his elbow with
sti1ed groan.
"My horse threw me, he explained,
"and they left me behind. / think
must have tainted from the pain. |
thank you very much, but l can't see
how you can help me. / suppose |
must lie here till they take me prison
or, and I'd almost rs soon be shot"
Irene smiled. a smile that lighted
her dark, bright face into positive
beauty.
81 am in the cnemy's country" she
said, "but if you will trust me | think
! can help you; at least, l will sec
that you are refreshed and made COM
Portable"
She put her hand 10 her bosom. and
drawing forth tiny silver whistle
Sic pps it-so her lips and blew . sharp
little blast.
Dapplc pricked up his gray cars and
came cantoring TO her side, followed
instantly by colored man-servant.
''You see,p smiled Miss Irene, flash
ing beaming glance on the soldier,
al hold my reserve forces at mo-
mcnts warning. Here, James, help
this gentleman to the house, and then
ride for Doctor Werter TO dress his
limb"
James obeYed without word, and
by the time the sun was fairly out of
eight the Union soldier, refreshed and
made comfortable, lay asleep in the
best chamber of tho pleasant old
Southern mansion.
Meanwhile, on tho long vcranda,
Irene kept watch, he slight, willowy
figure wrapped in scarlet mantle,
her ilossy, raven iresscs floating on
the win Is.
BY and by, as the midnight stars
came out and glittered overhead above