The Portland daily press., 1892-09-14

the Gray mansion from General Stuart's Con.
federate headquarters, after thrilling. expert
ence in which Peyton Fitzhugh, Virginian in
the Federal service, therefore Carolyn's re
jected and deSpised lover, saved her from being
held as IA spy. Carolyn has obtained medicine
for her sick brother, and is waiting the favor,
able moment to pass the blockade and gel
South. Peyton FitZhugh is in Baltimore, much
diStruSted.
IA. While Carolyn is still detained, rebe
prisoners are marched through Baltimore.
Then, after anxious waiting, the sad
procession wheeled into view from a
street below, the guard that encircled
it moving slowly, as at funeral, to fit
the worn and painful step of many a
one who followed. And long, dreary
line 1t was; pitiful to see, in It's evil
dences of wrecked manhood, often; of
broken spirit, sometimes; of wasted
hopes andlongings, everywhere.
Old and young, the graybeard next
the fresh and beardless boy, hardy, lank
mountaineer and tender darling from
city freside-an sorts and conditions of
men of the south were there, marching
side by side to that doom more dreaded
than sudden death-hopeless imprison-
mentl 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
a&ready-as the northern leader putit-
TO hold her wide border, she wasnot to
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 a
prisoner, weak, already prison-worn
and as sick in body as at heart. Here,
onewho might be grandsire, toiling
along the stones with stockingless feet,
scarce held to shreds of shoes by bits Of
Irvine; there, a mere strinling, blue
faced in the blast and shivering in thin,
buttonless jacket, blowing his numbed
hands for warmth. Again, bold, def
ant fgure-a newer capture, doubtless
striding along with head erect and deep
defiance smoldering in his eyes; and
close to him, the nmping, shattered
remnant of a man, hollow-eyed, with
sunken cheeks and narrowchest, racked
with coughing under the bleak Deem
Der wind.
In pairs, OF tours, the prison-gang
moved slowly forward, many scarce
able to keep up even with the slow
time of the guard. And, in the long
line, few were more than half clad,
scarcely one with an overcoat, but some
hugging the torn and filthy blanket, or
the scrap Of old carpet used in its stead,
as a very luxury of prison lott
Some men were hatless, or wholly
barefoot, victims Of prison wear, or,
worse, of wanton theft, which not sell
dom escaped the vigilance Of higher Of
fee and left those vile enough to prey
upon the helpless creatures in their
charge.
On almost-eyery face, grayish pallor,
familiar to all who watched the prisoner
of that time,-a sickly, leaden ghastn-
ness, as of ashes, which accentuated
more the pinched features and seemed
to sink most fiery eyes deep back in
their hollow sockets,--a hue not to be
described, but born largely Of bad fare
and confinement, equally largely per-
Ihaps Of despairing heart and Of that
scourge even OF the busy camp, nos
Italgia.
! On every porch apd doorstep along
that dismal noute, often lining Che curb
as we'll, STOOD graSe-faced men and
women, many with trembling lips or
tear-biarred vision. eagerly scanning
The pitiful passers forchance,of one IA
.niliar face. Almost everyfahand held
packages Of solid food,
daanties long unknown to those men,
furnishing ON prison fare. warm wraps,
such clothing as haste collected, and
sometimes even hlanletA
/, And as the line moved slowly on,
grave mon and dainty wonderland
Fbrightsfaced little children too, scarce
icomprehending, but thus love-faden
;aiso-left their homes. keeping abreast
Il, hut ever repelled by bayonets Of the
guard, interealfed along the column.
But suddenly, around the corner OF the
Gray residence, just beyond. rode an
officer of rank, a sedate, hndly-faced
veteran with stars upon his shoulder,
and followed by glittering staff.
ttHaltr's rang out from the captain OF
the guard. command gladly obeyed by
Ithe prisoners. Spite Of the piercing
wind sweeping. down the broad street,
maayof them crouched down to rest,
SOME lying prone upon the cold stones
of the pavement from sheer weakness.
And it CHANGED the center of the line
was directly oppositethe residence.
From the closed lattice Of her attic,
Carolyn Clay scanned the prisoners,
with k3azing eyes her hands clinching
and q hot sigh coming, but never tear.
as some poor wretch tottered and
sought the inhospitable couch Of the
roadway. But her pale lips quiyered
as they sent fervent supplication for
these sufferers-strangers, yet brothers
in their woe-up to the Thrones foot of
the All-Father.
! More than one face seemed familiar
TO her eyes, running swiftly down the
line; some she had seen in camp, with
more than one she had spoken, in the
merry days of early war. Suddenly, as
she looked, the woman gave great
gasp, the blood rushing to her ashen
face, burning on either cheek in great
red disks. And her long taper Hands