People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-03-10

staggered forward a 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, as no word
came from Carolyn Clay's unnamed
watcher on the shore. Willie Mckee
stopcsd 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, chcered 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:
81 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! l
may be wrong. Later news has proved
the truth of that warning. 1t was
surely well meant and-timely. But by
this time the Virginia bank must be
clear" She finished with almost a
groan: "0h, when tcN l 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-
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 I'M
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 Kissed
in the kitchen; a passing bakers cart
was captured by Mckee and its 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, spectacle and warn.
ing, not wantonly, perhaps, ito make q
Roman holiday" but because McHen.
ry, the Old Capitol and other border
prisons overlooked; and these men, un.
exchanged, must go to prison-pens far.
Their 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 al
such an hour or on such day, ant
many window-shutters bowed, ther
closed, as eager-watching eyes saw ne
approaching column, and their owner
went back to the work Of love.
Then, after anxious waiting, the sal
procession wheeled into view from {
street below, the guard that encircleC
it moving slowly, as at funeral, to. Fl
the worn and painful step of many {
one who followed. And a long, drear.
line it was; pitiful to see, in its evi
dences of wrecked manhood, often; o
broken spirit, sometimes; Of wastes
hopes and longings, everywhere.
Old and young, the graybeard mex
the fresh and beardless boy, hardy, lanl
mountaineer and tender darling from
city freside-all sorts and conditions o
men Of the south were there, marching
side by side to that doom more dreade,
than sudden death-hopeless imprison
: ment! For the word had gone fort
that the starving south, eager to ez
change consuming captured mouths 70
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
be given back those men she ha
trained, through privation, peril an
! hope deferred, to suffer and be strong