The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-01-22
TIE WAR WIDOW.
Uny "aiIss Mary" had Cause TO Remein-
ber Che struggle of Long Ago.


Uny "Miss Mary" uad Cause to Remein-
ber Che Struggle of Long Ago.
what dear little old maid!" said
h,e Northern visitor, us the charming
goutherner trlpped down the garden
walk, prim 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
little bonnot--an ideal type Of spin
sterhood.
Everyone laughed Niles Mary an
Old maid? Why, she's the ticrcest war
widow In the whole Shenandoah Val
Icy. She bit Union soldiers arm
clean through to the bone once. IcN
must get her 10 tell you the story, rs
very interesting" The story was in.
teresting--decidedly so.
you see," said Mary, bending down
to pick an invisible thread from the
spotless rag carpet rug, you sec there
had been a good deal Of trolLlo all
along the valley because certain Of oul
people were ealj to be giving GigDal5
by means OF lights in the houses at
night 10 the Confederate troops in thc
DJut INlNSO lltlGnlS. EILNl 4httIl W t'o VII
campod all around us, and he had is
sued an order that any house showing
light after dark should be burned 10
the ground. 1t wss a regular cu'!eW."
What did You DOR rlrrmurcd her
hearor sympathcticalJ.
Miss Mary.s laugh was delightful
thing to hear No one would have rus
pected her OF misfortune, and certain
ly not of the tragic experience or wcr.
"Oh, 1t wasn't pleasant, but we all
stumbled into bed in the dark-thocc
who didn't go to sleep with the chick
enc. Well, one night, Just at mid
night, q messenger rode UP 10 our door
with q note for nc. 1t was a note
from one of my relatives, telling me-
that my favorIte aunt was dying. OF
course. l had to have light FOR the
purpose. l wrnt UP into the garret
and lighted just one little clndle'-
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 proceeded to turn the kitchen s.oYc
upside down. and set fire to the
house. My father cXpostulated with
the captain, showed tine letter about
my aunt, told him my mother wCs old
and feoble and liable to die from the
ehock-t did kill her. Nothing avail
cd the house WIS ablaze In a dozen
places, and the soldiers began ran
sacRing everything.
II rushed fIanticolly W stairs and
A., t-,-t - l.. n1,,
able things, our moaey-we hadn't
munh-and the silver and tewelry. My
two children were asleep on the third
floor, taking their morning nap, when
the excitement began; my little girl OF
8 years and my baby boy. My first
thought, Of course, had been for them,
and the nogro nurse was directed to
take them to place OF safety.
II could see her In the distance, my
little girl running about, so / took ii
for granted they were all right. But
suddenly I had an inspiratlon-you
know things ore told you just as
though ep!rit 1poke-I was dragging
q small trunk out when the voice-it
was nothing le5s-said, Go to your
children
Il dropped the trunk. ron down to
the quarters; there wos 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 could
Mt done tote 'em bofe.'
Il never stopped. fairly few back |
to the house; the nursery floor was a.
ready In flames. On the stairs a big, |
burly colder barred the way, l tried
to dodge pact, but he caught me by the
oAbows-l'm not very big, you know
md held me out at arms length.
II couldn't stop to argue; time was
precious. just ducked my head down,
DIT at the feshy part of his wrist and
ct my teeth meet. He dropped me
with an oath. scampered past and
,aught up my baby just in time. The
bed clothes were on fire."
A flash OF the old bitterness and
storm stirred Mics Mary's mobile fea-
ures for the moment; then she leaned
oaclS, with her own musically South
,rn ripple of laughter. "Well. well,
hose days are past, and my bahy's q
ather, and I'm a grandmother, and
'ou, my dear, were invited to eat Sally
Aunn and drink tea. which Is a heap
more polite than telling tales against
he Yankees. Let's go and have oar
supper. Now York Tribune.