Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-18

Then back and forth their shining
needles flew in dressing the palr-bhs
doll I'm spangled tarlatan and PINK sa'i"'
and Willic's in full regimentals OF piue
gorgeous with golden epaulettes anu
braid. ars,
ITO think that should take the rrs'
Yankee officer into Richmond! Aioo
laughed as she laid the mimic genera Ia
the trunk.
Now the small hours OF the morning nau
come. The TWO women kneit tose.ne,
beside the bed. with their arms a'ou 49,
each other, as they prayed low. anu US vs.
sobs. for their loved ones anu H'',o1 co
and peace-oh. the peace una.
90 r., da,s later Alice stood by her open
-, T., ,ba hare barracks OF the foih'
-, Dooi,s army most. A company OF que
coated yellow. braided soldiers, win M,
-1.o1.', boots and clanking saOfes'
,e,,"red near with some curiosity. WINE
- ,,o,ng lieutenant. looking as II 'iuo"
ashamed Of the duty, stoopeu III
tion of the lady's baggage ,o,,s
..t4unnh, dolls-I don't suppose uons
ara contraband," said he. WIN o'',,e
And the young lieutenant laid Gown no
,aot,s With the abashed air OF a man WV
go himself rather out OF place.
.n,o,sr, said the sergeant, VINO wa.
.,e,tno He lifted them on hlgh, 70.
,ho men might see. Boys, we nai"' ~
soo,ng nothing Of this sort lately "o'"
they do take my eye!
,rbe mon crowded around. .,,
- cot three babies at home nysel,
,,,o,on said the old sergeant. apo.oe 80.
n,1,v ~ Alice. At the same time ne w.
orn1ioaIlv handed the dolls TO a soi0'o'
extended hands. ossoa hack
LIS doll was at once passed JAN
:,,oo -annarently the soldiers Wei.
atroid Of is feminine hhery'
yvulic,s they hailed with shouts ..o
"Sayl here's new way Oh Bun
blue into Richmond!' cried one, o,hor
"Canturin' our ofiicers! roareu ANU -
True blue general shou'eu a I''t .be
,,-,tb hovlsh Impulses they tossed 'he
oi stnffed officer from one to another,
9,',,In Alice stared for five SECONDS III
,sI.rteod expectation that the white,
~, -. "stufine" would break out az
l I,u, scam. Then her voice rang OUT
"Don't-oh. don't break them: gentle, e,
49,, don't They are for my childreh'
Tho IttIe mothers small hands were
o,asnod the tears glistening in her praVe
80, oyos How sheepish the men
looked And her appeal or CENT?
,,,c,"-ber cry. my children '-she WaS
a sbrewd little woman indeed III al
instant every cap was doHeu' anu 'nS
dou was back in the hands OF the yount
lieutenant. He handed 1t 10 lts o"nS'
with a bow, and turned again ~ 'i'
trunk ,.,,ooo,+ voune
That receptacle, to the innocent yo uf,s
;nsnector's eyes. was rather WoIu
tiiustrotion of poverty in the pretty
male lady. There were no piece gOous
The Gloves seemed all worn, the RIBBONS
,-ore sadly crumpled, the laces loohe'
,,i,a worthless things; all the faorlc'
were tumbled. .uo,,ord ,
with the words. Nothing contraoahu'
and a deep sigh of relief, the lleuteiian .
chalked some marks on the truhh' an, az
gladly clanked away, while the h'Ii'
mother laid the precious dolls again il
the uppermost place. .,,..orot
As She turned the key she Whispered
something so softly that 1t was never
heard on earth. H., IN,
Then she motioned TO negro VINO ma MAJ
heen waiting He took the trunk on III
shoulder, and set Off, folloWeu W ~
toward a cabin in the small Village '''"
Law beyond the military camp. 1850,
The debatable land-the district oCcu
I
Inv both-was now before Alice, ana srea
was her fear Of discovery.
Troops moving on raid or reconnois
! sonce are quick TO independent action
/ ord tbe Young mother knew that J. an
| band stopped her they might AGAIN eA
anime her baggage-with keeher Juus
/ ment than the nice young lieutenant Hd
/ shown. So she had determined Oh
midnight fitting.
"Y.s. I will soon be ready she SAID
rising from her brief sleep as a hesI
woman shook her gently by the shoulder
In the flare of the tallow-candle IN
face of Alice was as black as Durh
cork could make it, Not a trace re
NAMED of the dainty whiteness Oh ne
! hands. she had donned so much Oh ne
| disguise before lying down. Now u
| old negro woman Slipped coarse plai
/ d,ees like her own. on the young mother
/ and hid her brown curls beneath ram
/ bow turban?"
] How do / look, auntie|'
"Jes splendid, honey. 'ceppen dem lttl
feet. Heah-you take desc, an I'll
bar foot" 49,,
"Nebber mind what you likes. know
hes. De Yankee cabalry might cote
us: if dey see you ill boots dey suspe'
de troof Come; ives got TO step pear
You's my girl Mandy. mind dat honey
"Can we carry theseY' asked Alic'
taking up the mysterious dolls II III
trunk is lost, I'd like to save the dolls.
"Kyar 'em easy. But de trunk-Law'
dey nebber ketch Je1.'
"Saryant. missis," said jeff, as era
old negro entered. rs you ready no"
Time we was gone. Hit be broad ga
fore we get safe TO Mars Lees army
The dolls were thrust into pulu
horne on the black woman's head. -
stopped out into the darkness, ana AM
thumped along in the big shoes behind u
negro's hay-cart, in which her trunk We
| concealed. ILL.,,
They had long been walking IN sllehc
| when toward them on the nara ROAD cam
Gathering hoofs, and Halt" rang GU
The parley was a snort one Ior INC =
woman did the talking. a.
"Now come on, GAL" she cried, hhaIl
..you ewine poke long here all day
She clutched the bundle tighter, and we
an so fast that Alice could scarcely ke'
the pace. ,,,,,,s sbo,
+ho Garth. and the fugitives heard u
rattline and humping of artillery wagon
D., and nv these sounds ceased, ana shO
came. few and far between
Hope de pickets won shoot us II
neider side" said auntie, and hurried
still faster. -,
GRAY dawn was in the east when tn
roocbed a little log cabin. well within Il
southern lines. There Alice sank up'
the bed a pitiable sight. Tears hi
washed the black from her face
streaks: she had the piebald complexi'
of a toy cat. Auntie pulled away I
tnrban and held "a glass TO the YOU