The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-24

world. She will always have home
with us, Of course, while we have one,
as she has had for three years past, since
her father joined the, army and sent her
here. But her heart is broken
Lieutenant Townly occupied the best
guest chamber that night and saw moth
ing more Of the unhappy orphan, nor
indeed did he even think Of her while
In company with his betrothed, but
when he was going to bed she REQUIRED
to his remembrance, and he accorded
her sigh Of sympathy. At daybreak,
having to join his comrades early, he
arose and began dressing with soldier
like haste, but suddenly stopped short
in his toilet and stood as if paralyzed,
listening.
A girl s voice, fresh, strong and sweet,
caroled and lifted, not in the set meas
ures of any song, but in such an exu-
berant outburst Of roulades, trills and
fourishes Of melody as seemed the up
bubbling and outgushing Of a purely
happy heart, free from care and sorrow.
my Cod" he exclaimed to himself,
with look that was almost fright, "that
is Clara singing! lam sure Of it! know
her voice!' He sat upon the edge of the
bed, listened and gasped: "Great heav-
ems, what an utterly heartless creature
Or else grief has turned her brain.''
Miss Farwen appeared at the break
fast table and demonstrated the possess
or 0f o3,p1t re- 81 ~
the family added together. The ieuten-
ant looked upon her with icy disap-
prevail, but she did not seem to be aware
Of it. Finally he said in his most solemn
manner, IT learned last evening with
sincere regret Of your recent bereave-
ment, Miss Farwell."
"About papa, you mean?' she replied
laughingly. 'Oh, I guess it was not true.
There are so many stories flying about
now one never knows what to believe"
And with that she seemed to dismiss
the subject
He had no appetite. Her callous in
difference sickened him. Never before
could he have believed her capable Of it,
and the hideous question forced itself
upon him, "Are other girls like her, or
is she an exceptional monster?" Soon he
got up from the table and CHANGED to
glance out Of a window into the back
yard. There upon the wood pile, with
a piece Of corn bread in one hand and
his medicine tea" pot in the other, sat
the old vagrant darby. He was eating
his frugal breakfast and looking at the
groom bringing the lieutenant's horse
from the stable.
The young officer pondered gloomily
as he rode and had gone full five miles
Of the way back from Winchester to
General Fitzhugh Lees camp before a
certain suspicion occurred to him. AT
that point two widely dissimilar things
suddenly presented themselves in juxta-
position before his mental vision. One
was the heartbroken girl merrily sing
ing; the other the old darby on the wood
pile. And it came to him as an inspira-
ton that the presence Of the latter in
some way-if he could only see how
explained the astonishing change in the
former. It was by no means impossible
that the negro should have brought news
to Clara. Monroe was doubtless right in
looking upon all of that race as, poten.
TALLY at least, Yankee spies. Should he
confide his suspicious to the captain, he
, would get himself laughed at if he was
wrong and if right terrify and grieve the
family by what might very well happier
were the negro luckless enough to be
caught. After much cogitation he con
c1uded to keep his mouth Shut which
under most circumstances is about thu
wisest thing man can do.
General T. W. Rosser's cavalry cam,
from Richmond a fortnight later ant
! joined General Early with the avowet
= intention of sweeping the Invader
, out Of the valley" Lieutenant Townly
deeming that ga consummation devout
ly to be wished" since Winchester ant
Edith were in the debatable ground, oh
tanned permission to serve with them a
volunteer aid on General Rosser'
staff. When General Sheridan gave Vi
the project Of a winter campaign in TIL
mountains and fell back on Winchester
the Confederate cavalry harassed hi
rear SO daringly that he determined t
turn and give them a lesson on the dan
ger Of getting too close to him. The en-
suing trouble at Toms Brook Crossing
eventuated in an entire reversal Of Gen
eral Rosser's programme. The sweepin
was done, but his cavalry were tn
swept. They were scattered in a ma
= rout, some by way Of Columbia Furnac
s to the mountains, others up the vale
/ pike into the Massanutten range, all
! many never stopped until they got int
s General Early's camp south Of Noun
k Jackson. Lieutenant Townly was anon
d those who took the pike. He had bee
i sent to the front with orders, was Their
O when the tide Of battle turned and foun
: himself inextricably involved and hel1
: lessly carried along by the panic stricl
:. en- throng. Comrades were falling abou