Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-09-09

UuI pCupiC WCiO ""'N w w 6'''i'c 80
mails by means of lights in the houses at
night to the confederate troops in the
Blue Ridge heights. Sheridan was en-
camped all round us, and he had issued
an order that any house showing light
after dark should be burned to the
ground. 1t was q regular curfew.'
what did you do?" murmured the
nearer, alphabetically.
Miss Mary's laugh was delightful
thing to hear. No ore world have s'ls-
pected her Of misfortune, and certainly
not Of the tragic experience OF war.
"Oh, it wasn't pleasant, but VIZ vi
stumbled 10 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 the door With q
note for me. 1t was note from one Oh
MY relatives. telling me that my favor
it. aunt was dying. OF course had to
read the letter, and of course had 10
have light for the purpose. went UP
into the garnet and lighted Just one lit
tie candler-ah, Miss Mary, what meant
that odd CLEAN in your keen, dark eyes
at the recollection ?-"but it was seen.
and early the next morning afeglment
of soldiers filed into the yard marched
IN an to the gallery and into the liitch-
en- and proceeded to turn the Kitchen
stove upside down, and to set fire to-
the house. Ny father expostulated WIN
tiieeeaptain, showed the letter aboutmy
aunt. told him my mother was old and
feeble and liable to die from the shock
it did kill her. Nothing availed' the
House was ablaze in dozen places and
the soldiers began ransacking every
thing.
"r rushed frantically upstairs and
down, trying to secure the most Valuu-
hle things, our money--we hadn'tmuch'
and the silver and jewelry. My two
children were asleep on the third floor
taking their morning nap when the en-
element began. my little girl OF three
years and my baby boy My hrst
thought Of course had been for them
and the negro nurse was directed TO-
take them to place of safety.
81 could see her in the distance, my
little girl running about, so took IT
for granted they were all right But
suddenly had an inspiration-you
know things are told just as though a
spirit spolte-I was dragging a small
trunk out when the voice--it was
nothing less-said: GO to your chill
dren.'
n dropped the trunk and ran down
to- the quarters; there was the nurse
there was my little girl, but-there was
no baby. Law, Miss Mary said the
stupid black creature, wringing her
bnnds and crying, he was So heavy b
couldn't done tote 'em bofe.'
II never stopped. | fairly flew back TO
the house; the nursery door was al
ready in flames. On the stairs big
hurly soldier barred the way. TRIED to
dodge past, but he caught me by the
elbows-I'm not very big, you know
and held me out at arms length.
~ couldn't stop to argue, time was
precious. just ducked my head down.
bit at the feshy part of his wrist and
let nv teeth meet. He dropped me
with an oath. | scampeed past and
caught up my baby just in time. The
bedclothes were on fire.
- A fash Of the old bitterness and
storm stirred Miss Mary's mobile fen-
lures for the moment; then she leaned
back with her own unsteady southern
ripple Of laughter. "Well, well, those
days are past, and my babys father
and I'm grandmother, and you, my
dear, were invited to eat Sally Lunr
and drink tea. which is heap sight
more polite than telling stories against
the Yankees. Let's go and have OIL
supper."-N. Y. Tribune.