Abilene weekly reflector., 1895-12-26
sHADowY FORD.
By CHARLES ". CLARKE.

they hesitated after Corporal Chadwic
said good-by ct the foot Of the fla
staff.
'ls there something more?" aske
the corporal, leaning on his crutch.
"Yes, Uncle Chad. wanted Myr
to see Gen. Reeve and hear abou
Shadowy Ford" said Newton, claspinl
with one hand the plump fingers Of hi
cousin Myra, and with the other littl'
Clintsrosy wrist.
The corporal shook his head sadly
"Gen. Reeve is dying, boy. lie tell
his tale no more. You will find hin
sitting on the west porch. lie likes tt
be there In the sun But he dou'tknov
his friends. He doesn't know even me
30 let Myra take look at him and
then run home"
Newton led them wondering down
the broad gravel walk toward the wide
front gate. They looked back to the
auttering flag, the vine-clad walls, the
veterans grouped beneath the trees;
and on the side porch they saw the
stout figure OF the general, seated In an
armchair
Newton had been awed when he
heard that the general was dying.
But Gen. Reeve appeared as natural
as ever sitting quietly In his chair.
They strolled around the great facade
until they stood at the foot Of the
steps.
The general opened his eyes and
looked down on them pleasantly.
"Ceme over and play with me, Ben,"
he said.
Newton glanced behind him, and
then all about in much perplexity. Hc
saw none near. To whom, then, was
the general speaking?
Come up here, Ben. Your mother
won't care" said the general, beckon-
ing feebly to Newton. 30 they all
went up and stood around his chair.
Myra looked curiously on his wrinkled
face and snowy beard, in such con-
trast with the new hat and glittering
cord, the neat blue uniform, and the
brilliant colors Of the grand army
badge on his breast, Newton was a
little timorous, and a little hurt. Tho
general had known him well, and now
called him Benl However, he ven-
tured to say, forgetting that the cor
poral had told him not to stop there:
''rhis Is my cousin Myra come to
visit us. And ] wanted her to hear
your story about Shadowy Ford"
"shadowy Fordr' The general lost
his pleasant smile, and instead look
Of pride appeared upon his face.
"Yes, sir. lam the officer who held
Hoods army back for twsnty-four
hours at Shadowy Ford. 1t won me
my brevct as general"
And facing about he spied the dump
Of daises Myra bore in her hand, and
TO which she had chung during the hour
Of her visit at the home.
The general put out his trembling
fingers and took them from her lie
held them up In the sunlight, smelled
them, and dropped his hand in his lap,
The general was crying This seemed
SO strange, SO terrible, that Clinton
looked at Newton, and Newton looked
Mt Clinton, and both had . mind to run
away.
what was Shadowy Ford?" asked
Myra. She felt instinctively mn inn
pulse to talk OF something that might
help to hide the generals emotion.
"Shadowy Ford was a place down
south somewhere. A river And he
kept anybody from crossing for day.
And 1t saved the army. And there Is
where he got his wound" exclaimed
Newton.
"I'll tell you why l fought SO hard at
the ford, Ben" said the general in a
whisper, "Inever told anybody before,
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