San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-02-09

and the sergeant of the lnvallded camp
guard. his own bridle-arm in a sling,
handed her an envelope addressed in
Stuart's even, business-like handwrit-
ing. 1t ran:
.'For the white hands Of Carolyn Clay, spin
ster. These with royal greeting: Know, ladye
fayre-as we'll you must-my deep chagrin at an
invitation from certain friends, whom l must
meet which hurries me away before your ad-
vent But my dainty mare Lily of the Valley
awaits you; also trusty guide and-itent-a
hot supper Eating that use my personal tent
for a nights rest, or proceed TO Richmond at
your will inclose pass, yours having been
eaten Your obliged friend,
-. E. B. STUART"
Even without the spur of eager long
ing to clasp her mother and darling boy
to her heart once more, the girl had
shrunk from unwonted occupancy of a
tent in solitary camp. Had duty
pointed to that sacrifice of wOmanly
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, shrunken little
form under her care.
Two days more brought great news,
and that sensitive scale, the heart of
patient-waiting nation, that went up
with hghtest hope or sank heavy under
doubt and disaster, danced airily under
touch of a 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 Stuarts advance. This the fed
eral general knew to be less than one
third his own numbers; and supposing
it entirely unwarned, he hoped to sweep
it aside and ride on 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 every foot of his retreat. This
much only was known at the capital; it
was a great, if resultless, victory, but
one bought by the blood Of many gal
liant fellow.
And soon in its train-as in that of
many another of these indecisive killings
came sequel8, sad enough to dim the
glory of victory-to shadow, as with a
pail, those stricken homes whose prop
or darling had been yielded as its price,!
First rumors, then official kilograms,
told eager-watching crowds the names
of killed and wounded Then dingy
ambulance trains rumbled in, bearing
the bandaged, writhing forms of the
worse wounded to the hospitals And
finally Carolyn Clay, sitting by the bed
of her convalescent darling, was sur
prised by a visit from Lieut.. Fauntle-
roy, brilliant in new bralding, but sad
beyond his won't.
He was bearer of dispatches from
Gen. Stuart, and of brief note to Miss
Clay, telling her that he sent badly
wounded man for her especial care. He
was at Mrs. Clements, near by, the boy
Iaid.
''Who is he, Evan?" she asked, prompt
" taking her wraps. ''Of course will
do all can for the poor fellow; but do
know him?"
81 cannot say" replied the new lieu
tenant, with serious face. THE general
only bade me see you at once and ask
you to nurse him-if 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 it 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
eold-were the chiseled features of
?eyton Fitzhugh, the blue lids closed
over the well-remembered eyes, that
car upon his forehead cleaning red
beneath the soft black hair
But the blood of generations held its
.r..n. and an instant latnr knr slinn