Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-06-22
DAPPLES MISTRESS.

this"
The scene was green stretch OF
summer lawn III front of fine old
Virginia farmhouse; the speaker
a slight, bright faced girl, gracefully |
mounted on small, gray pony.
The sun was dropping out of
sight behind the green hills, and
far away down the silver bend of
the Accoceek came the tramp of re-
treating troops, with now and then
the muffled roll of a drum or the
shrill bray of bugle.
Old Virginia, the queen mother
of the sunny south, was overrun
with soldiers, devastated by fire and
sword, shaken to her very founda-
tions by the thunders of civil war.
Colonel Moreton was far away
from his pleasant home, in the front
ranks of death and danger; but
Irene, his only child, still braved
the terrors of invasion, and remain
ed at the farmhouse with her inva-
lid mother and few faithful old
servants.
Gathering across the grounds an
hour after the retreat of the invad-
ing troops, something attracted the
young lady's notice-a PROSTATE fig
ure under the shade of the great
cottonwood tree.
stop, Dapple; we must look to
thisw
Dapple stopped, and Miss Irene
leaped lightly from her saddle, and
thowing the silken reins over the
pony's neck, she went tripping
across the grounds to the spot
where the figure lay.
1t was tall, soldierly figure, clad
in army blue, with pale, worn
face, and an abundance of curling,
chestnut hair.
Colonel Moreton's daughter look
ed down upon the senseless soldier
with all her woman's divine COM
passion stirring within her bosom.
Poor fellow" she murmured,
laying her soft hand upon his brow;
81 wish ! could help him."
The soft voice and the softer
touch called back the veterans
wandering senses. He opened his
eyes and looked up in the youn G
lady's face. Great luminous, hand
some eyes they were, that somehow
reminded Irene of her brother Toms
eyes; and Tom was down in the
trenches in front of Richmond.
The compassion in her heart stirred
afresh; she smoothed back the tang.
led curls from the soldiers brow.
my poor fellow she said, lean
= | do anything for you?'
: He struggled up to his elbow
e with stified groan.
: MY horse threw me-" he explain.
& ed. and they left me behind.
r think | must have tainted from the
from the pain. ! thank you very
much, but | cannot see how you cal
F. help me. suppose | must lie here
till they take me prisoner, and IL
- almost as soon be shot,"
&c Irene smiled, a smile that LIGHTED
70 her dark, bright face into positiv,
t. beauty.
81 am in the enemy's country,
:, she said, "but if you will trust m,
70 ] think can help you; at least,
9; will see that you are refreshed ant
I. made comfortable"
d She put her hand to her bosom
C and drawing forth tiny whistl
" she put it to her lips and blew
K sharp little blast.
Dapple pricked up his gray ear
" and came cantering to her side, fol
:. lowed instantly by colored MAJ
servant.
"You see," smiled Miss Irene
I flashing beaming glance on tn
) soldier, IL hold my reserve forces a
I moments warming. Here, james
4, help this gentleman to the house
y and then ride for DIR. Werter t
dress his limb"
- James obeyed without WORD
and by the time the sun was fairl
/, out of sight the Union soldier, re
, freshed and made comfortable, la
: asleep in the best chamber of tn
!, pleasant old southern mansion.
= Meanwhile, on the long verands
! Irene kept watch, her slight, will
!. lowy figure wrapped in scarle
9 mantle, her hossy, raven tresse
0 floating on the winds.
!. BY and by, as the midnight star
. came on and glittered overhead
II N