The times., 1897-05-30
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES.
A story for Decoration Day.

Use to tote de bask't straight home-deed
| didn't know de dog was comin'," she
sobbed
But, Terry, this is the third time this
morning you have said L forgot / GER
tainly must do something TO make You
remember" and Miss Priscilla Walbridge
stood with haIf-vexed, haIf-puzzled ex-
preston on her face, looking down at the
penitent bit of black of humanity a, her
feet. Terry had been sent TO 4 neigh
bor's with a basket, to bring home fresh
eggs, and had stopped to play by the way
side. A big dog running past lad tipped
over the basket, and only mrishy mixture
of yOlks and shells was left TO tell the
tale. The ever ready flow OF tears came
to plead her cause, and it was d sorry
looking child that now stood ia the door
way, with egg bedraggled pinafore, bare
feet uneasily shuftling about, and over
flowing eyes
wat you all gwine to do, Miss Cilla?'
The tears ceased 10 flow, in wonderment
What could Miss ella do that would
make her remember? She couldn't DO any
thing herself: nothing ever seemed to
stick in that woody. little head OF hers.
Il really don't know, Terry. You go to
Aunt Jane now, and VIII think it over
Terry's face fell Aunt Jane was her
nanny, and the remembrance OF the eggs
and her probable reception at the cabin
when their fate was known brought forth
howl and a fresh burst of tears.
fulx
stand tLat noise | viii see Aunt Jane.
You run along and wash the basket, like
good child"
Miss Priscilla stood watching the two
short black legs fly over the ground To-
ward tile spring.
1t was fifteen years since the close of
the war. and aunt Jane, with this shall
imp, was all that was left OF the gallant
array OF field and house servants the
others had fled in the wake oe the home
ward bound army. 1t did not much mat
ter, Miss PriscilIa thought; there was
nothing left to feed them With, 10 money
to stock and seed the plantation, and no
master-father and sons We're sleeping in
soldiers graves Only Miss Priscilla and
signs of the past conflict-btillet holes in
its walls one chimney torn away by
passing shell, all tine windows boarded up
with the exception of those IN her apart
ments The Southern army had made
stand directly back of the house, on the
knoll, and the beautiful lawns We're deeply
furrowed by cannon wheels Miss Priscilla
said, ''It did not matter, they were only
rE...
grass had grown and softened the ruts,
they could he plainly seen, and We're
daily reminder, + such were needed, TO
Keep fresh in her memory those dark days
She was tail, dark-eyed, soft-voiced, a
trlIe tyne OF the Southern lady. No land
can least OF braver, truer, sHeeter women
than the South: no women have seen more
complete annihilation of al their hopes
aud all that they love tlIan they: and
this was the burden OF Miss Priscilla's
thoughts, as she stood looking across the
lawn TO tie orchard just beyond swayinS
aud lending in the breeze with its load
OF pink cherry blossoms looking without
seeing the beauty within her view She had
forgotten the present, and her thoughts
had gone back fifteen years She was once
more q briglt-faced girl OF sixteen, stand
ing with frightened eyes and parted lips,
watching the'array of battle on that very
knoll Again she hears tie ringing notes
of a bugle and the tramp OF horses feet
as company of cavalry dashes across the
lawn She hears sharp voice of COLI
mand: singing. whistling noise in tie
air overhead, and the great chimney flies
into dust IN the air, and then all is
dark.
When she opened her ewes q soldier in
the hated blue uniform was bending over
her. softly bathing her temples. What did
il anmean? Had there been a battle? Was
she a prisoner? She noticed two eyes of
blue filled with a pitying light. You are
better Miss Walbridge," said kindly
voice, land quite safe
She realized this was life once more,
and those around were her enerl.ies. Be
fore size could speak Aunt Jane was with
her and all others i'm the room had disa %
peared
Jane, tell me quick my MOTHER
''Dar's a heap happened, honey" whis-
pered Jane. in an awe-struck voice. DE
Yankees dun druv Marsa Cap'in's soeers
all cut Oh de kintry. an de Yankees dun
lihbin all ober de house, wild 'eeption %
ycus an ole missus 'partnents- Ole missus
tainted clean away-ain't cum TO yet"
Could she ever forget the days which
followed, when her mother lay between
life and death with a wasting fever. and
the blue-coated physician who stood ike
a sonby her bedside? How she Could almost
have forgiven him being an enemy for the
words OF cheer and watchful care Of that
loved nother-almost, but not quite, as
she realized that day out in the orchard,
when he had asked her to be his wife III
such a manly gentle way. Aflush mounted
TO the White, smooth brow even now in
memory OF her words: Marry you2--My
cointrv's enemies are mine. Never, never!''
And she had fled into the house to weep
in the solitude of her own room, for tie
tears would flow in spite Of the bitter
ness within her heart
Peace was declared, and the troops with
drawn soon after. II was quiet par ting
on his side, a half-defiant one ON iers,
though the dark eyes We're too heavy with
tears to note the look OF determination On
his face
During the following years everyone was
trying TO recover from the terrible effects
OF war. Once letter had come. IL was
after the death of her mother, when a
word Of sympathy opened "a spring OF ten
derness in her heart. ''You are alone now
he wrote Il know what that meaus Tor
you. VIII you allow me to extend to YOU
my deepest sympathy, and if in the years
To come you are ever in need of u friend.
will you can on me- to whom Il service
in your behalf would confer the greatest
happiness on earth2" She read the letter
over many times and hid il carefully away,
but never replied.