The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-12-21
gesture imperious beyond question, and.
turning to Mckee, said, hoarsely:

''Do not start tonight. South bank
swarms with stragglers. Rosser struck.
Show her this and wait advice. She
should obey warning from one who
prayed her to pray for his soul"
Dead silence was on the little group.
No one spoke, nor moved, and the still
ness grew almost unbearable as the dis
appointed woman struggled 6ercely
with herself for the mastery.
At length she raised her head, turn
ing full to them face pale and deep
lined, but firm and hard as the hollow
voice that said:
Twill obey. He were viler than Sa-
tan did-he lie now-to me ="
The effort of the soul was too great
for the tried flesh. Suddenly she swayed.
staggered forward step, and would
have fallen had not Willie Mckee caught
her, dead fainting, In his arms.
CHAPTER VIII
"As THEY MARCHED THROUGH THE TOWN"
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, rs 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. Sheseemed
almost her old self again-quiet pa
tient, almost hopeful outwardly, even
II well-nigh despairing at heart.
OF the cause of her fainting At she
spoke little, calling II 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:
~ can say nothing, dear. In these
days when q mans life may pay forfeit
for one chance word, dare not speak" Z"
And the strong woman shuddered, as
she added: Besides, God only lnowsl /
may be wrong. Later news has proved
the truth Of that warning. Il was
surely well meant and--timely. But by
this time the Virginia bank must be
clear" She finished with almost q
groan; "0h, vhen Dil 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-of warning about Fitz-
hugh, even while, woman-lil1e, she was
gnawed by curiosity, which had, in this
case at least, good basis Of right to
question. Yet, as her guests lips re-
manned 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; 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 made every sympathetic
heart in Baltimore beat with heavier
throb-days which made firm lips trem-
BILE 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, a spectacle and warn
ing. not wantonly, perhaps, ITO make a
Roman holiday" but because McHen-
ry, the Old Capitol and other border
prisons overAowed; and these men, un-
exchanged, must go TO prison-pena far
ther from chance Of escape or recaptlre
by sudden raid.
In almost every residence along that
fashionable street--nearest route OF
march 10 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 10 the work Of love.
Then. after anxious waiting. the sad
procession wheeled into view from q
street below, tho guard that encircled
II moving slowly, rs at a funeral, TO "a
the worn and painful step Of many a
one who followed. And long, dreary
line It was; pitiful TO see, in its evi-
dences Of wrecked manhood, often; OF
broken spirit, sometimes; Of wasted
hopes and longings, everywhere.
Old and young, the graybeard nexi
the fresh and beardless boy, hardy, lanll
mountaineer and tender darling from
city fireside--all sorts and conditions oi
men Of the south were there, marching
side by side 70 that doom more dreaded
than sudden death--hopelees lmprisopl
mentl For the word had gone fortf
that the starving south. eager to cox
change consuming captured mouths foi
useful fighting hands, was not TO be no
cuperated In that way. VI.
"Robbing the cradle and the grave
already-as the northern leader put it,
10 hold her wide border, she was not 4
DO given back those men she hat
trimmed, through privation, peril Nlt