Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-07-26

1OTWdFu 6 6OSpS dnu "OuIu have fallen had not Willie Mckee caught her, dead fainting, in his arms.
 CHAPTER VIII "As THEY MARCHED THROUGH THE rowE.a
 The Sabbath morning broke clear but piercing cold, the garish sunlight giving little warmth in the teeth of the fierce east wind.
 Two days had passed, heavy, leaden footed days to all inmates of the Gray mansion; and to one of them expectancy became almost torture, as no word came from Carolyn Clay's unnamed watcher on the shore. Willie Mckee stopped daily, to talk with his cousins; but he only shook his head gloomily in answer to eager queries, and avoided all suspicious mounting to the hidden visitor above. And she, cheered by the sympathy and love of trusted, ten der women, recovered from the shock of surprise and disappointment. She seemed almost her old self again-quiet, pa tient, almost hopeful outwardly, even if well-nigh despairing at heart.
 Of the cause of her fainting fit she spoke little, calling it mere reaction from too high hope; but not even to Bessie-her special pet and favorite-- did she once allude to the mysterious writer of the warning, save to say, finally:
 "I can say nothing, dear. In these days, when mans life may pay forfeit for one chance word, dare not speak," And the strong woman shuddered, as she added: "Besides, God only knows! may be wrong. Later news has proved the truth of that warning. It was surely well meant and-timely. But by this time the Virginia bank must be clear" She finished with almost groan; "Oh, tohen toiH get away?"
 And Bessie Westchester, with the del icate tact of her race, forebore all ques- ton; nor did she ever hint for the finish of that broken-off warning about Fitz- hugh, even while, woman-like, she was gnawed by curiosity, which had, in this case at least, good basis of right to question. Yet, as her guests lips re- mained sealed, and no allusion to him escaped them more, the younger wom- an remained silent, wondering sorely.
 But this cold Sabbath morning brought Mckee very early, and with him anxiety and activity to all the household. At breakfast when he came the family rose promptly from the un- finished meal at the news he brought, and rapidly all viands within reach, all contents of the ample pantry, that was Mrs. Gray's prideful boast, were par celed out and put in portable shape. Great tins of boiling coffee soon hissed in the kitchen; a passing bakers cart was captured by Mckee and it's entire contents quickly went beneath long knives in nimble hands.
 For that morning was one of those dies irae which m ade every sympathetic heart in Baltimo beat with heavier throb-days which made firm lips trem- ble and strong hands clinch hard, while they forced tears to tender eyes of all true women, southern or union in their sentiment.
 Rebel prisoners were to march through those streets, spectacle and warn ing, not wantonly, perhaps, ito make a Roman holiday" but because McHen- ry, the Old Capitol and other border prisons overhowed; and these men, un- exchanged, must go to prison-pens far ther from chance of escape or recapture by sudden raid.
 In almost every residence along that | fashionable street-nearest route of march to the northern depot-now | showed activity and hustle unwonted at such an hour or on such day, and many window-shutters bowed, then closed, as eager-watching eyes saw no approaching column, and their owners went back to the work of love.
 | Then, after anxious waiting, the sad | procession wheeled into view from a | street below, the guard that encircled 1t moving slowly, as at a funeral, to fit the worn and painful step of many a one who followed. And long, dreary line it was; pitiful to see, in its evi- l dences of wrecked manhood, often; of broken spirit, sometimes; of wasted hopes and longings, everywhere.
 Old and young, the graybeard next the fresh and beardless boy, hardy, lank | mountaineer and tender darling from city fireside-all sorts and conditions of | men of the south were there, marching side by side to that doom more dreaded than sudden death-hopeless imprison- ment! For the word had gone forth that the starving south, eager to ex- change consuming captured mouths for useful fighting hands, was not to be re cuperated in that way.
 "Robbing the cradle and the grave already-as the northern leader put it. to hold her wide border, she was not tc be given back those men she had trained, through privation, peril and hope deferred, to suffer and be strong Piteous was the plight of many 6 prisoner, weak, already prison-worn
 and as sick i'll body as at heart. Here
 one who might be @ grandsire, toiline
 along the stones with stoclzingless feet
 scarce held to shreds of shoes by bits o+
 twine; there, mere stripling, blue faced in the blast and shivering in thin
 buttonless jacket, blowing his numbet
 hands for warmth. Again, bold def
 ant figure-a newer capture, doubtless . striding along with head erect and deeI defiance smoldering in his eyes; ant
 close to him, the limping, shattered remnant of a man, hollow-eyed, witl sunl1en cheeks and narrow chest, racket with coughing under the bleak Decen' Der wind.
 , In pairs, or fours, the prison-gant