New-York tribune., 1896-11-29
MISS NARY"
THE STORY OF A WAR WIDOW

What dear little old maid said the North
ern visitor. the charming Southerner tripped
down the garden walk. prim little skirts gently
stirred by the autumn breeze. shawl neatly folde'i
over shoulders which had the slope Of the true
Virginia aristocrat. dark hair banded beneath
the close little bonnet-an ideal type OF spinster-
hood
Every one laughed Miss Mary? An old maid?
Why she's the fercest widow in the whole
Shenandoah Valley. She bit n Union soldiers arm
clean through to the bone once You must get
her TO tell you the story. it's very interesting.
The story was interesting decidedly 80.
you see" said Miss Mary. bending down TO
pick an invisible thread from the spolcss rag
carpet rug: you see. there had been "A good deal
OF trouble all along the valley because certain or
people said to be- giving signals by means
OF lights in the houses night to the Confederate
troops In the Blue Ridge heights. Sheridan was
encamped all round us and he had issued an
order tha, any house showing light after dark
should be burned to the ground II was regular
curfew"
what did YOU do?' murmured her hearer sym
patheticaly.
Miss Mary's laugh was delightful thing 70
hear No one would have suspected her OF mis-
fortune and certainly not Of the tragic experience
Of war "Oh. 1t wasn't pleasant. but We all SUM
bed into bed In the dark-those who dldht 20 L"
sleep with the chickens. Well. one night Jus' al
midnight. a messenger rode mp 10 our uoof VIII
A for II WIS Il llol' 'i'ih ''N " 49,
relatives telling mc that my favorite aunt ""S
diving OF course had TO read the letter. anc OF
course had TO have a light for the purpose.
went up into the garrct and lighted JUST one Nv
tie candle"-ah. Miss Mary what meant '''
odd CLEAN in your keen. dark eyes al 'hc '''o'
lection but II was seen ana carry '"' "VA'
morning a regiment Of soldiers filed into the yard
n,arch.d nm ON 90 the gallery and into the kitchen
o,, ,,roc.ed.d 10 turn the kitchen stove unslh"
down and so set fire TO the house MY '"'"'
.xpostula,ed with the captain. sno"'u ''e ''''
about my aui :, told him my mother was on ''' %
feeble and liable TO die from the sno'A- "'' "'''
b.r Nothing availed. the house w's "h'""" II. Il
dozen places and the so"'"'S "N'"
everything" , y,
"r ,ushel fran,lcany upstairs and down. Trying 10
secure the most valuable things. our mon'S
hadn, much-and the silver ana )e"''E ."'
children were asleep on the ihrd moor ''N.'s ,.,
r,,,a nan when the excitement; began. my little
,,, -, ,hr.. wears and my baby boy MY nfst
.houeh OF course had been FOR ihefn aiu ~ ~ 80
nurse was directed TO take them 20 a pi' eiri nm
81 .nid see her in me distance. my litir si' ~
, 0ou~ I'm so took ii FOR granted ih"y ""rr an A..
rg5, Bur suddenly had an n-Rra'lon 80, note
..Nt"as ,nii yo! iu-f though q -pifl' -PvN
va Dragging a small trunk ont "hen i. tn. '''' 81
WAS nothing less said 90 - your IN" ouar,ers.
,h. nurse there was my liiiie giri' @ bn,
;here va DO srurinr her hands ana crying. ne
Yss an h.,yy / couldn't done tote I'm oo." .......
I never stopped. I faT'y Ne" n p''H IAN. on ,h~
~ nt, hurry soldier barred the way tIri -
ioaxs pas, bat he caught me hy me -Do"S M -. ,p'
rrf lie Won know held me oui a. arm i"nS,n
- so',iin, stop 10 argue Tine "hs pi''''.- 80
,urk.d nv head down. h AZ ne nm p',r M % .n
- Jlet NV teeth meet He dropped III" v, n
=. ~ ,rampsr.l past ana calth' ~ NV ""''
1,.. In ,ime n. belcioih-- ""'" on u' .,, ,
"a e.h o., ~. old bitterness and storm sirrei
>fI.s Vsr,s mobile features for ~" Hoihr,' ~. ~
.be lranei back With hrr Own mHsI',,' % ~. - "
.,,,.i. -, laughter Wei. vel thus" n'N- af' ~
"A nv b,bvs A father ari I'm granin2'h'' an y
ror nv lear were invited 70 eat S'4N ';,,.' & n,'
So,r, ,, whrt il a heap sight NOR loH', nan
,~li,ns iac- against the Yankee i''' 10 ana nav"
oyr stipi,-r