Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-08-08

feeling, Carolyn Clay had made it, but
now duty, inclination and propriety all
pointed Richmondward. So, after a
hasty supper from Mrs. Gilmor Gray's
tin, and insisted-upon sharing of its
ample residue among the invalid guard,
she set out once more, wearied from
riding and loss of sleep, but borne up by
love and hope for another night ride.
Once more at home, she found her
darling convalescent, and-her thrilling
story told, with certain reservations
Carolyn Clay bent all her energy, and
every resource of tonics and medicines
she brought, to curing her boy. And
two days showed wondrous improve
ment in the yellow, shrunlxen little
form under her care.
Two days more brought great news,
and that sensitive scale, the heart of a
patient-waiting nation, that went up
with hghtest hope or sank heavy under
doubt and disaster, danced airi1y under
touch of great cavalry victory.
Spite of the bitter weather, federal
cavalry had massed above Washington,
had crossed the Potomac, three thou
sand in the saddle, and silently and
Swiftly forced march, that dropped
man and horse by the way-bore down
upon Stuart's advance. This the fed
eral general knew to be less than one
third his own Numbers; and supposing
it entirely UNNAMED, he hoped to sweep
it aside and rideon gayly to the capture
of the devoted capital
Advancing securely, though cautious
ly, the skilled tactician suddenly found
himself opposed by the smaller forces,
intrenched on vantage ground and
ready to join battle.
Furiously the fight had ragged; but at
last the invading force was hurled back,
broken, decimated, but stubbornly con-
testing everyNfoot of his retreat. This
much only wasl known at the capital; it
was great, if resultless, victory, but
one bought blythe blood Of many a gal
| liant fellow.
And soon in its train-as in that of
many another of these indecisive killings
came sequele, sad enough to dim the
glory of victory-to shadow, as with
| pail, those stricken homes whose prop
or darling had been yielded as it's pricel
First rumors,, then official kilograms,
told eager-watching crowds the names
of killed and wounded. Then dingy
ambulance trains rumbled in, bearing
the bandaged, writhinR forms of the
worse woundedlto the hospitals. And
finally Carolyn Clay, sitting by the bed
of her coRvalescent darling, was sur
prised by visit from Lieut.. Fauntle-
roy, brilliant in new braiding. but sad
beyond his.wont.
He was bearer of dispatches from
Gen. Stuart, and Of brief note to Miss
Clay, telling her that he sent a badly
wounded man for her especial care. He
/ 49,
said.
"Who is he, Evan9" she asked, prompt
ly taking her wraps. "Of course will
do all l can for the poor fellow: but do
1 know him?"
81 cannot say" replied the new lieu
tenant, with serious face. 1.-THE general
you to nurse him-f he live long
enough"
To the comfortable bed in the old
fashioned home Carolyn Clay softly
stole, as the surgeons, grave-faced,
turned away from probing the wound.
1t was serious one through the breast;
and the patient had tainted from ex-
haustion.
Gently, with the calm swiftness Of ex-
perience in scenes of suffering, the girl
wet cloth with powerful restorative,
and moved to lay 1t on the sick mans
brow.
Then her own face grew pale as his.
and sudden dizziness mounted to her
brain; for there, white and calm as
marble beneath her hand-and full as
cold-were the chiseled features OF
Peyton Fitzhugh, the blue lids closed
over the wen-remembered eyes, that
scar upon his forehead cleaning red
beneath the soft black hair.
But the blood Of generations held its
own; and an instant later her slim
light hand was bathing the still face
was steadily holding ammonia to the
now quivering nostrils. And that hand
did not tremble, even when it touched
the fateful scar; though she heard
through a sound in her ears as the
boom Of the sea, her own voice denounc
ing 'that brand Of CainI''
For weary days and nights the strong
frame fought the fever that supervened
and for all Of them the gentle, pityinl
touch Of the woman who had first loved
had later denounced him-who owed Il
him her liberty, If not her Hfe-wrough
for his. For that hand had once restet
in his own in plight of troth; yet nov
it touched and tended him as tenderl,
as though no mark Of treason to her
worse, to his country-hamed upon hi
forehead.
And through dismal morn and drear,
night-watch Carolyn Clay repeated t.
herself that she had done as much TO
any human creature so stricken and 81
helpless.
Christmas came and went, bringing
with it what of joy and jollity might b
left for some of the families living II
the leaguered capital. A heavy thaw haI
made all the roads well-nigh impassa
BILE for horse and man, wholly SO 70
army trains; and Richmond was full @
ardent youths, as eager for frohc as VI
leashed hounds for the chase. Blu
Carolyn Clay, resisting all importunit
OF friends, moved only from her boy
N bedside to that Of him SO doubly shat
tered now, in body, as in reputation.
And when the New Year came-Met