Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-03-09

der women, recovered from the SnOck 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 a1lude to the mysterious
writer of the warning, save to say.
finally:
ST 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!
mag 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: ''Oh, aohe7a toiI I 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-lilze, 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 won-
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 IN
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 treI1l-
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 a warn
ing, not wantonly, perhaps, ''to make
Roman holiday" but because McHen-
ry, the Old Capitol and other border
prisons overfowed; and these men, I'M
exchanged, must go to prison-pens far
ther 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-nov
c1, Tod ,t
such an hour or on such day, and
many window shutters bowed, then
closed, as eager-watching eyes saw 10
approaching column, and their owners
went back to the work Of love.
Then, after anxious waiting, the sad
procession wheeled into view from a
street below, the guard that encircled
it moving slowly, as at a funeral, to fit
| the worn and painful step Of many a
one who followed. And a long, dreary
line it was; pitiful to see, in its evil
| dences OF wrecked manhood, often; of
broken spirit, sometimes; of wasted
hopes and longings, everywhere.
Old and young, the graybeard next
| the fresh and beardless boy, hardy, lank
Inountaineer and tender darling from
| city ireside-;n sorts and conditions OF
men of the south were there, marching
| side by side to that doom more dreaded
than sudden death-hopeless i1nprison-
ment! 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
| a1ready-as the northern leader put it
to hold her wide border, she was not to
| be given back those men she had
trained, through privation, peril and
| hope deferred, to suffer and be strong.
Piteors was the plight of many a
prisoner, weak, already prison-worn
and as sick in body as at heart. Here,
one who might be grandsire, toiling
along the stones with stockingless feet,
scarce held to shreds of shoes by bits of
| Irvine; there, mere STRIPPING, blue
faced in the blast and shivering in thin,
buttonless jacket, blowing his numbed
hands for warmth. Again, bold, def
ant figure newer capture, doubtless
striding along with head erect and deep
defiance smoldering in his eyes; and
close to him, the limping, shattered
remnant of a man, hollow-eyed, with
! sunken cheeks and narrow chest, racked
with coughing under the bleak Deem
| Der wind
In pairs, or 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, OF
the scrap of old carpet used in its stead
as y very luxury of prison lot!
Some men We're 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 THEN
charge.
On almost every face, grayish pallor
| familiar to all who watched the prisoner
Of that time,-a sicl1ly, leaden ghastli
| ness, as of ashes, which accentuate6
more the pinched features and seemed
to sink most fiery eyes deep back il
their hollow soclzets,-a hue not to be
described, but born largely of bad fare
and confinement, equally largely per
haps of despairing heart and of that
scourge even of the busy camp, nos
talgia.
On every porch and doorstep along