San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-10-06

country. Oh, if had but been wise
enough to have sent You away, and kept
only Missy with mel"
Now. mother, listen. ann not
afraid of whole regiment of Yankees,
and what in the world would you have
done without me? You must come right
in how and have cup OF tea and lie
down. and if Missy's nap is ont I'll
bring her down to keep you company
while watch the movements of the
blue coated gentry over in the grove a
little and keep my eye on Nelse, for he'll
slip through MaUm Detscy's fingers like
an eel, sure enough"
But when her mother had been COM
fu-tably established ON the sitting room
sofa with Missy, warm and rosy from
her afternoon nap, chatGering happily
beside her, U!eu's ligltnearted show of
fearlessress forsook her. Her anxiety
took the form of restless wauderings over
the house, whose every window COM
mand.ng view Of the grove opposite,
drew her III turn like q magnet.
It was fine old house of red brick,
standiI; we'll back from the high road,
surrounded by clustering trees and APP
preached by an avenue of magnificent
cedars; hut the grounds were 10 longer
trim AID well kept, aud the numerous
outbuiI lings were dilapidated and va
cant. IN air of neglect and loneliness,
enhanced by it's remote situation from
any town or village, hung about the
place, and its interior COrreSponded but
too well with this external desolation.
There had evidently been but few
modern additions to the household be-
l0ngings in late years. The furniture
was still handsome, but old and massive,
and the brilliant huus OF the Turkey car
pets and the rich curtains had faded to
sober and neutral tints. The bare floors
in some Of the rooms were actually more
cheerful, f"r they were waxed and rub
bed until they shone like mirrors, and
when the fires We're lighted in the open
fireplaces the flames glistened upon shin
ing oak and danced on the polished sur
face OF old mahogany aad multiplied
themselves in the big brass andirons,
that shone in rivalry of the brass candle
sticks upon the high, old fashioned man
tells
AS Glen wandered restlessly from room
to room, her home seemed to wear new
and unfamiliar aspect to her startled
eyes. Suppose it should be invaded? 1t
had always been 50 sure and peaceful a
i -,,1,-IDl nnl,- Al
runners Of war had disturbed its inmates,
and the one member of the immediate
family who had ever been called upon to
Yield to its demands had thus far been
aingularly preserved from danger. But
It's grim shadow had taken all the color
ont of the girls life. All her opportuni-
ties had been sacrificed to it, Every
promise of her opening girlhood had
been blighted by it.
"You were to have gone to school in
Philadelphia, dear" her mother would
say sometimes, passing her hand over
Glen's fine head caressingly, land then
abroad, if it had not been for the war;
Your father and had planned it all"
Or. There is no hope Of your com
ing ont, or of our entertaining for you,
as we wo7;ii once have done. 1t would
all have been so different if it had not
been for the war"
OF course these were but minor con-
sideratiOns, and the girl ul5eIiishly felt
them to be such. Were there not al
ways graver consequences to be la
mcnted? Had not this Unsuitable war
snatched from them their all, whitened
her mothers hair with unimely snow,
and torn son and brother from their
arms? And just before hor, as she
reached ne hall, was a sadder evidence
than these of its terrOrs.
The hall was u fine old entrance to a
fine old house. Its oaken floor and rich
wainscot CLEANED in the evening light,
and Il curiOusly carved settle ran around
three of its sides.
A few high backed chairs and one or
two Old tables with quaint spindle legs
constituted its meagcr furniture, but its
noble proportions and rich carvings re-
deemed it from baroness, and it was
sweet with the pine cones and wild flow
ers of which Glen had yesterday ritled
the woods. A bowl filled with early
violets and pale primroses was placed
directly beneath a portrait draped with
the sad Confederate flag, and looking up
at the boyish face above her with all the
fiery tragedy of hopeless self devotion
written upon it, Glen read once more
through mist of tears the inscription
beneath:
Captain Helen, brave soldier and
gallant commander, fell in leading a
charge at the battle of Antietam, Sept.
II, 1862"
As she turned away, her eyes instinc-
lively seeking the window opposite.