The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-04-16

tient, almost hopeful outwardly, even
if well-nigh despairing at heart.
OF the cause of her fainting fit she
spoke little, calling it mere reaction
from too high hope; but not even to
Bessie-her special pet and favorite-
did she once allude to the mysterious
writer of the warning, save to say,
finally:
81 can say nothing, dear. In these
days, when a mans life may pay forfeit
for one chance word, dare not speak. :"
And the strong woman shuddered, as
she added: Besides, God only knows! l
mag be wrong. Later news has proved
the truth Of that warning. 1t was
surely well meant and-timely. But by
this time the Virginia bank mast be
clear" She finished with almost a
groan: "Oh, srhen toW get away?"
And Bessie Westchester, with the del
icate tact of her race, forebore all ques-
ton; nor did she ever hint for the finish
of that brol1en-off warning about Fitz-
hugh, even while, woman-lil1e, she was
gnawed by curiosity, which had, in this
case at least, good basis of right to
question. Yet, as her guests lips re-
manned sealed and no allusion to him
escaped them more, the younger wom-
an remained silent, wondering sorely.
But this cold Sabbath morning
brought Mckee very early, and with
him anxiety and activity to all the
household At breakfast when he came
the family rose promptly from the I'M
finished meal at the news he brought,
and rapidly all viands within reach, all
contents of the ample pantry, that was
Mrs. Gray's prideful boast, were par
celed out and put in portable shape.
Great tins of boiling coffee soon Kissed
in the kitchen; passing bakers cart
was captured by Mckee and its entire
contents quickly went beneath long
knives in nimble hands.
For that morning was one of those
dies irae which IN ade every sympathetic
heart in Baltimor beat with heavier
throb-days which made firm lips trem-
BILE and strong hands clinch hard while
they forced tears to tender eyes of all
true women, southern or union in their
sentiment.
Rebel prisoners were to march through
those streets, a spectacle and warn
ing, not wantonly, perhaps, ito make a
Roman holiday" but because McHen-
ry, the Old Capitol and other border
prisons over6owed; and these men, I'M
exchanged, must go to prison-pens far
Their from chance of escape or recapture
by sudden raid.
In almost every residence along that
fashionable street-nearest route of
march to the northern depot-now
showed activity and hustle unwonted at
such an hour or on such day, and
many window-shutters bowed, then
closed, as eager-watching eyes saw no
approaching column, and their owners
went back to the work of love-
Then, after anxious waiting, the sad
procession wheeled into view from a
street below, the guard that encircled
it moving slowly, as ct funeral, to fit
the worn and painful step of many a
one who followed. And a long. dreary
line it was; pitiful to see, in it's evil
dences of wrecked manhood, often; OF
broken spirit, sometimes; Of wasted
hopes and longings, everywhere.
Old and young, the graybeard next
the fresh and beardless boy, hardy, lank
mountaineer and tender darling from
city fireside-all sorts and conditions OF
men of the south were there, marching
side by side to that doom more dreaded
than sudden death-hopeless imprison-
ment For the word had gone forth
that the starving south, eager to ex-
change consuming captured mouths for
useful fighting hands, was not to be re-
cuperated in that way.
"Robbing the cradle and the grave
already-as the northern leader put it.
to hold her wide border, she was not to
be given back those men she had
trained, through privation, peril and
hope deferred, to suffer and be strong,
Piteous was the plight of many a
prisoner, weak. already prison-worn
and as sick in body as at heart. Here
one who might be grandsire, toiling
along the stones with stoclsingless feet
scarce held to shreds of shoes by bits OF
Irvine; there, mere STRIPPING, blue
faced in the blast and shivering in thin
buttonless jacket, blowing his numbeC
hands for warmth. Again, bold, def
ant fgure-a newer capture, doubtless
striding along with head erect and deeI
defiance smoldering in his eyes; ant
close to him, the limping, shattered
remnant of man, hollow-eyed, with
sunlken cheeks and narrow chest, rackec
with coughing under the bleak Deem
Der wind.
In pairs, or fours, the prison-gane
moved slowly forward, many scarce
able to keep up even with the slow
time of the guard. And, in the lone
line, few were more than half clad
scarcely one with an overcoat, but som,
hugging the torn and filthy blanket, o.
the scrap of old carpet used in its stead
as very luxury of prison lott
Some men were hatless, or wholly
barefoot, victims of prison wear, or
worse, of wanton theft, which not sci
dom escaped the vigilance of higher of
fee and left those vile enough to pre-,
upon the helpless creatures in thei
charge
On almost every face, grayish pallor
familiar to all who watched the prisone
of that time,-a sickly, leaden ghastli
ness, as Of ashes, which accentuate'
more the pinched features and scenes
70 sink most Rnr-r. nrnc dnnrn hanlr |,