The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-02-27
pr 6arailp storp.
A WAR STORY.

beginning Of the iii-starred war OF
States, q venerable colonial build
which, though built for Church of
land divines, was known to the
federates as Falls church. Near
TODD @ substantial mansion house OF
o. plain, square style 80 common
nong the wealthy classes Of that part
Mrs. Dulany, O widow lady of elegant
and refined manners, with her son and
daughter. Edward had just reached
his majority, and IA then captain Of
the Fairfax Rifles, as successor OF
Captain Mari, who vas killed q few
weeks previously in q night charge Of
Federal dragoons. Susan, just seven
teen, was spending a few weeks with
an aunt In the city of Washington.
During the month of June, 1861, the
Federals established a picket station
at Falls church, and their lines in
Guided Mrs. Dulay's dwelling, but ex-
Guided her spring and stables. Though
very much inconv enienced by their
presence, yet the commanding officer
allowed her major domo, Daddy Ned,
to make t~ri-weekly trips to Washing
ton with his milk wagon without
molestation. His constant attendant
was his daughter, May, who was one
of her young mistress's maids, of the
same age and similar stature.
The family with whom Susan was
'ojourning had many friends among
''deral officers, and she soo- became
reat ~favorite, and more than one Of
lem worshipped at the shrine of her
Wit and beauty; but non could win
her heart, for true as the needle to the
pole, 1t was fixed upon q dashing
Virginia cavalryman, to whom she had
been previously ~betrothed. In parting
she promised him to ascertain the
time when the Federal army would
move on to Richmond. This informa-
tion was of vital Importance tt the
C~onfederates; without 1t, Bcauregard's
small force would be a slight impede
ment to the onward march of so great
and fully equipped an army as Nc
Dowell had marshalled. Unless
General Johnston, then in the valley,
could reach Manassas in time to unite
with Beauregard, the latter would be
crushed. The Confederates had many
agents in Washington f; but down to
ANBth Of July nothing positive had
been carried 10. ,Bcauregard. Satur-
Gay evening Before that date q bril-
liant array of uniforms shone in the
parlors Of Mrs. B., Miss Susan's
aunt, and among them the love-sick
r officer who was seeking to win her
IOI ~ Ody
window, with impassioned earnestness
he exclaimed
"Oh, Miss sue! will YOU not have
pity on me ?"
"Ah what can be the matter,
colonel You are looking quite we'll,
"Why, then, mon ami, my looks
fail to index my feelings. 1 have had a
vision, OF perhaps a dream. 1t seemed
was leading my regiment into the
approaching battle with the rebels,
and as charged, a. bullet struck me
in the chest, and whilst | was falling
into the arms of q friend l awoke." =
why that is indeed a frightful
dream But you must remember our
grandmothers have always taught us
that dreams go by c~ontraries, and I
am sur the rule applies with force to
yours, for their Is not likely to be any
more fighting, as all questions between
the sections are to be a adjusted by arbi-
tratiOn."
"Ah my dear young lady, l wish it
could be so; already enough blood has
been shed by brothers of a common
ancestry, to appease the masses of the
departed leaders who commence this
strife : (Sotto voce.) But alas peremp-
tory marching orders have been issued
for Tuesday morning next"
Twas this order, then, caused your
wretched dream? ?"
Eyes, no doubt, for I believe dreams
are the reproductions for the most part
of our waking thoughts"
Then | pity you indeed, as you are
Won't to have such horrid waking
thoughts :
"a truce to your badinage, me chere
mademOiselle; do be serious on the
eve OF our parting, perhaps to meet no
more!"
why, Colonel, l was never more
serious in my life, and | cannot but
think, as you are such u dreamer, the
order you mention came to you in a
dream"
Indeed, then, I will convince YOU
of it's reality, for 1 wish you to be
serious and listen to me-" Handing
her a paper, he continued "Here is,
inter nos, the general order from head
quarters; so you see there can be no
mistake"
"Oh can it be SO? How sad !"
And here the young colonel eloquent
ly told the story of his love for the fair
young Southern girl, in utter forget
fnlness of General Order No. /, which
h still kept in her possession. Mean
time, she scarcely heard the declara-
ton OF love, so pre-occupied was she
with the determination to keep that
paper fraught with the destiny of her
dear Southland. But she seemed to
give earnest heed to his burning words,
and whilst gradually ~concealing the
paper, pleaded her youth and thought
%lessness, but said with the true feel
ing of a lady, that If he should be
ordered into battle, she hoped he
would not only escape death, but even
the scratch of a wound, and he parted
with her, hoping he would return from
Richmond victorious, and fully claim
her heart. But alas !. the gallant
Colonel c. fell upon the field in a
charge which he led near the Stone
Bridge, and mirabile dictu as he fell
from his horse, aid-de-camp Captain
R received him in his arms
Trembling with anxiety our heroine
spent that night and Sunday in plan
ming how to pass the codon of guards
which surrounded the city. Indeed no
one could do 80 without q pass from
provost-marshal's headquarters.
Monday morning came, and with it
Daddy Ned on his usual mission. In
a moment she caught the idea. The
maid, May, dashed upstairs to see
Missy" 1t took our heroine only a
few minutes to explain to her faithful
maid that she must remain at her
aunts, as she herself wanted to visit
her mother. And so she donned Mays
gown and basque, and closely fitting
su%n-bonnett, with red shawl and thick
brown veil and lightly tripping out to
fba wagon. took her eeat beuide tho