The record-union., 1896-12-15
MISS MARY"
Story of q War Widow in the Shen-
andOah Valley.

What dear little old maid, said the
Northern visitor, as the charming
Southerner tripped down the garden
walk, prin little skirts gently stirred
by the autumn breeze, shawl neatly
folded over shoulders which had the
slope of the true Virginia aristocrat.
dark hair banded beneath the close lit
tie bonnet-an ideal type of spinster-
hood.
Everyone laughed. Miss Mary? An
old maid? Why, she's the fiercest war
widow in the whole Shenandoah Valley.
She bit 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 SO.
You see," said Miss Mary, bending
down to pick an invisible thread from
the spotless rag carpet rug; you see,
there had been a good deal of trouble
all along the valley because certain Of
our people were said to be giving sig
nails by means of lights in the houses
at night to the Confederate troops in
the Blue Ridge Nights. Sheridan was
encamped all around us, and he had
a light after dark should be burned to
the ground. 1t was a regular curfew." p"
What did you do?" murmured her
hearer, sympathetically
Miss Mary's laugh was a delightful
thing to hear No one would have SuS-
pected her of misfortune, and certainly
not of the tragic experience of war.
''Oh, it wasn't pleasant, but We all
stumbled into bed in the dark-those
who didn't go to sleep with the chick
ems. Well, one night, just at midnight,
a messenger rode up to our door with
a note for me. 1t was note from one
of my relatives, telling me that my
favorite aunt was dying. OF course
had TO read the letter, and of course I
had to have a light for the purpose.
went up into the garnet and lighted
just one little candle"-ah, Miss Mary,
what meant that odd gleam in your
keen, dark eyes at the recollection
but 1t was seen, and early the next
morning a regiment of soldiers filed
into the yard, marched up on to the
gallery and into the kitchen and pro-
ceeded to turn the kitchen stove up
side down, and so set fire to the house.
My father expostulated with the Cap
i'm, showed the letter about my aunt,
told him my mother was old and fee
BILE and liable to die from the shock
it did kill her Nothing availed, the
house was ablaze in a dozen places and
the soldiers began ransacking every
thing.
Il rushed frantically upstairs and
down, trying to secure the most valua-
BILE things, our money-we hadn't much
and the silver and jewelry. My two
children were asleep on the third floor,
taking their morning nap when the ex
citement began, my little girl of years
and my baby boy. My first thought of
course had been for them, and the ne
gro nurse was directed to take them to
place of safety.
Il could see her in the distance, my
little girl running about, SO 1 took it
for granted they We're all right. But
suddenly / had an inSpiration-you
know things are told you just as though
spirit spoke-I was dragging a small
trunk out when the voice-it was moth
ing less, said, Go to your children
Il dropped the trunk, ran down to the
quarters; there was the nurse, there
was my little girl, but-there was no
baby Law, Miss Mary said the stu
pid black creature, wringing her hands
and crying he was SO heavy l couldn't
done tote 'em bofe.'
Il never stopped, I fairly flew back
to the house; the nursery floor was al
ready in flames. On the stairs a big,
| burly soldier barred the way. 1 tried
to dodge past, but he caught me by
the elbows-Im not very big, you
know-and held me out at arms length
Il couldn't stop to argue, time was
precious, l just ducked my head down
bit at the fieshy part of his wrist and
| let my teeth meet. He dropped me
with an oath. l scampered past and
caught up my baby just in time. The
| bedcBothes were on fire.
! A flash of old bitterness and storm
stirred Miss Mary's mobile features foI
the moment; then she leaned back with
| her own musical Southern ripple OF
| laughter. We'll, we'll, those days are
past and my baby's a father. and I'm
a grandmother, and you. my dear, were
invited to eat Sally Lunn and drink tea
which is a heap sight more polite thar
telling tales against the Yankees. Let's
gIn and have orr simmer"