The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1894-06-29


am not nun and have used this DISCUS
merely to pass the guards without exciting
comment. Col. Rutherford Is not only
friend of my father, but at West Point befor
this cruel war began, ] promised TO be hi
wife, and feel that my place II now by hi
side.' Miss Pelham, your secret Is sacred
and II any power on earth can save the life o
your lover II Is vested in you. Colonel" con
tinucd the surgeon, with Il cherry smile, "thi
is godsend, and ! shall leave you with you
new PHYSICIAN
Chloe took in the situation with equa
promptness. "Yo' amt t know dat Mis-
Patty ben yere tall or dat yo' seen me, an 70
kin present de compliment oh de doctor to oh
marster mn tell him dat Alassa Walter am do
dat"
patty" said the wounded man. after the,
had embraced, 81 know what you have risket
in coming here, and 1t was very sweet ant
brave in you to do so. Your presence ha,
given me new life. | feel better already, fol
! know now you have not forgotten me, and
That IN your heart, as In mine, you are still
my little wife. "Yes," said Patty, with sly
touch of humor, ''there has been no secession
here. The union is still preserved. And by
the way, Walter, do you know that this the
Fourth of July"
at shall be doubly memorable to us, then
Patty, for il live, as | feel ] shall, we will
=
country than as an anniversary of this blessed
day that has brought you to my prison bed
side to tell me that you still are mine."
In due time Walter was sufficiently re-
stored to health to be exchanged, but his
wound-a ball having passed through the
lungs-was of such character that he never
entered the service again, and soon after
reaching the north he sailed for Europe.
Meanwhile the war dragged on. Peace fol-
lowed. the armies were disbanded, and the
soldiers returned to their homes. BY some
good fortune that of General Pelham at
Hampton had been preserved from destrlc-
ton, though it was anything but the beautiful
determined to reOccupy it. The family had
been domiciled but a couple of months when
one day Patty decided that the old house was
sadly in need of paint. How this need could
be supplied or who was to perform the task
was question not easily answered. Her
father and brothers were in Richmond, Pri-
mus was in the field, and Chloe was maid of
all work. After revolving the problem in her
mind, ''Pll paint lit MYSELF said Patty
'Where there's will there's a way"
''Whar yo' is, da's cert'n sho'. Oars sech u
mons'us sight o. will bout yo', honey,
.twouldn't s'prize Tine eff yo' pull de whole
house down an start i'm fresh. But Wen
better be purity peert 'bout;it fore ole marster
comes home. kase yO' know he amt gwine to
stand no Sech nonsense"
''Well, nanny, Wen ride over to the suit
lers and get the paint this afternoon and
begin bright and early tomorrow morning."
Suiting the action to the word. the next day
found Patty at the top of ladder. paint pot
and brush in hand, working as if for dear
life. Under her calico dress and split bonnet
her best friends would not have known her.
She had been ut the novel task but few
hours when she heard the tramp of horses.
and before she was aware of it party of of
icers in fatigue uniform halted in front of the
house.
''By Jove,' said one of them, that's an odd |
sight in this part of Virginia. woman paint
ng! Wonder if she's one of the f. r. VS. in
lisguise. I'll find out ES1f3I9 ~
Patty heard every word, but looked neither
o the right nor left. .'Hello, painter?'
''Hello.' answered the voice under the sun
bonnet, scarcely able to keep back process
lion of merry laughs.
''Do you paint, mss?"
Don't you:see IldoT' plying the brush Wig
rously.
care you working for fun or business"
''Both." said Patty scntentiously.
''You have found your match this time.
toy.'' said one of his comrades.
swell, it is rather interesting. replied Roy
for her voice is like music. and I'll find out
Who she is before she's week older, hey,
Valter:" AT the mention of this name Patty
d. the first time turned her head, and had it
OF been for q strong effort ut self control she
Jould have fallen from the ladder. for there
at her love. bronZed with travel, trifie
rave perhaps, but the same old Walter she
ad parted with two years before.
1t was but the work of a moment for Patty
, descend, but she had scarcely touched the
round before Walter clasped her in his arms
nd gave her the kiss OF greeting to which she
las entitled. He then presented her to his
rother officers, and the party, alighting at
Ell request, took.seats OH the broad piazza. 1t
-as mutual surprise. On the one hand,
atty, not having heard from Colonel--now [
eneral- Rutherford, supposed he was still in
urope, while, on the other, Walter believed
er to be still in Richmond and was on his
ay thither at that time, having paused only {
day or two at Fortress Monroe to greet {
w of is old army friends. |
1t is unnecessary to describe the denOunc-
ent Of the pleasant meeting. Walter became a
constant visitor at the old Virginia home, $
Id, next to Patty, no one welcomed him a
ore warmly than General Pelham. A p
W weeks later General Rutherford and
S bride stood on the deck of the steamer at {
Id Point ell route for New York. And so. $
mid flowers and music and the blessings of
lends. ended a romance of war recalled by 81
e Fourth of July.
+. G. DE FoUNTAINE. q