The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-12-30
AN APPOMATTOX.

AIN AL IOM "A L IVA.
They called her the Daughter Of the Con-
federacy in that southern city. She has u
daughter of her own now, who should, Of
course, be called the Granddaughter Of tho
Confederacy, but probably isn't. That,
however, is anticipating.
The daughter of cause so long dead
could not have been SO young and beauti-
full. She must have been the child of a
memory, that grows more beautiful with
each year and knows a new youth with
each succeeding generation.
She was very beautiful the day that
Howard Pearce saw her. He sat on the
window ledge of his second story office-he
was young lawyer from the north-and
looked down on Company X, - Tennessee
national guards, lined upat parade rest !"
He knew their captain, Saunders who also
was u lawyer and whose office adjoined
Pearce's. 1t was annual encampment
time, and X company was about to go to
the grounds at the foot of the Ridge.
"Order-harms!' commanded Captain
Saunders
"Cary-harms!"
"Shouldcr-harmsl Right for ard, fours
rhythm CHIP
Company X moved off up the street. AS
the last four swung into the column there
came clatter of hoofs on the pavement
and girl rode past the company and took
her place at its head, saluting the captain
grayely and with ceremony
"What beautiful grip Pearce exclaim-
ed.
She wore gray riding habit, with dou-
bic row of small brass buttons leading up
to two black stars on the collar. On her
sunny locks small gray SLOUGH hat rest
ed, tilted just the least bit over one eye.
She rode well.
Pearce leaned SO far from the window to
catch parting glimpse of the girl that he
almost fell. The crowd had dispersed, and
the young lawyer returned to his desk. 1t
was warm day toward the end Of July,
and he was not sorry that he had no bust
ness on hand that must be rushed. He re-
flected that as almost every one had gone
to the camp ground there was no reason
for remaining in the office, which the little
breeze that stirred out doors carefully
avoided.
Evidently the girl in gray had gone to
the camp ground. And with Saunders.
But Saunders was married-happily mar
ried, Pcarce hoped. Anyhow, he was glad
that Saunders was married.
That evening he sat before Captain
Saunders tent, with the captain, his wife
and Miss Moore-the girl in gray. To the
east of the camp ground the ridge rose in q
gentle slope. To the southwest, seemingly
towering Just over them, was the noun
tain,
Pearce's heart beat faster as the thought
came to him that 80 years before white
tents had marked the foot of the ridge as
they did that day But then they had
stretched for miles north and south.
Captain, he said, turning to Saunders,
"it is easier to get up the ridge than 1t was
once. There arc no men in gray there to-
night
"No," the captain replied but the sons
of some OF those men are there" pointing
to the company street, in which blue clad
figures lounged. "Loyal? Without doubt.
Listen!"
The bands, which had united for the
evening concert had just struck up "Tho
Star Spangled Banner" When the air was
recognized, cheer arose from the tented
wood
"Hear that" said the captain.
"Wait," said the girl in gray.
"For WHAT" Pearce asked.
"Thcy will play Dixie after awhile"
"What them"
"Then they will yell" she said, looking
at him with a bright smile and nodding q
confident You'll see or hear
And he did When the national air was
finished, there was brief wait Then tho
quick, stirring notes of "Dixie' started
the woods into life with sharp echoes,
which were drowned by one long, loud yell.
Pearce looked at the girl to receive an
expected II told you So" But she was not
looking at him Her cheeks were dark
with color, and her eyes, frightened by
excitement, were fixed upon the young men
tossing their caps high above the tents and
shouting with all their sturdy lung power.
II wonder" he unused, "if she hates the
north as she loves the southP"
When the tumult had ceased, he turned
to Saunders
"Well, captain" he said, what do you
say to that"
"Of course, they love Dixie, +" said the
captain earnestly. $50 do !. But there
is no deeper meaning in that cheer than
the love of memory. They are loyal"
Miss Moore sold that she must go back
to town.
"As it is late, shall have to leave my
horse with you, captain. shall send for
him tomorrow. I reckon can walk to the
train in this rig"
She looked down somewhat doubtfully
at her riding skirt Pearce said that he
would be glad to go with her, and though
it was not apparent in just what way he
could overcome the disadvantage Of the
long dress, she seemed to BIO grateful for his
escort.
Well, that was the beginning Of it, and
the end Is not yet An incident that occur
red under large tree in the old Confeder-
ate fort on the mountain may give hint
of the trend Of events
Pearce and Miss Moore were under the
tree because 1t was the shelter nearest when
rain suddenly began to fall, and it rained
probably because number Of young folks
Of the city had come up on the mountain
to spend September day that promised in
the morning to be pleasant
Mr.. Pearce was not in good humor. He
and Miss Moore had separated themselves
from the others. One topic Of conversation
had led to another, which in this instance
was q declaration by Mr. Pearce that he
was irretrievahly in love with Miss Moore,