The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-07-29
WAS WORTH HAVING.

w AAeS W ~ -A-S - - 1890 - AZ W
} :. The battle Of Westport was q fiefc
and desperate fight, as Prices retreat
ing army turned southwark after tn
successful raid through Missouri. tn
enemy came up against them like grea
. pillows. Steadily and threateningl.
they moved to cut of their retreat.
All day long the incessant roar of tn
: cannon had sent a thrill Of horror t.
those within reach of its hoarse voice
The dead and the dying marked thu
path OF the army. Night closed days
: battle that could not soon be forgotten
The October moon looked colby down
upon the hard won field.
As night advanced here and there in
the distance we caught sight of the
glimmering camp-fires. We knew the
army had sought rest for the night; a
rest that would nerve the army for a
deadlier blow on the morrow.
Impatient and anxious walked back
and forth on the long porch that ex-
tended across the front OF the house,
hoping every moment to hear some,
thing Of our brave boys who had been
in the battles fore front all day.
happened to be guest at this house.
Lucy Eaton, our young hostess. was a
most companionable girl, and the es-
pecial pride Of the home. She had just
Joined me when we were startled by a
rapid volley of pistol shots fred a few
yards from the house.
THAT means death to some one," she
exclaimed, as we stood together silent
and trembling while the thick shadows
Of the night crept closer to us.
A riderless horse sped past as IL
maddened with fright. In few mo-
ments squad Of federal soldiers gall
Hoped swiftly and silently down the
road.
I'VE must see what this terrible
shooting MEANS" said Lucy as she
summoned the negro cook, Aunt Cindy.
from the kitchen to accompany us.
Frightened and excited, we began to
reconniter. A short distance from the
house We found q confederate soldier
shot through the legs and shoulder.
After many attempts We succeeded In
getting him into the house, where his
wounds were dressed. He was de-
lighted to be thus cared for, and said
he felt sure that he would be able to
Join his comrades in a few weeks.
Thu 90 ip{poH
upon the entire household regarding
our wounded soldier. Aunt Cindy es-
pecially was impressed with the nsces-
sity Of maintaining a strict silence on
the subject.
Laws o mercy" she calculated,
melody kin incinderate me into tellin'
one word. Miss Lucy sholy know what
she's bout takin' in half dyin' man.
Use side by side wild Miss Lucy; least
ways Use not gwine agin' her."
Next morning, fearful that some Of
the stragglers from the army might
discover our soldier and take him pris-
oner, Aunt Clndy stood in the roadside
and refreshed them as they passed with
cooling draughts of water. When the
last soldier had passed she commended
herself in extravagant terms for the
strategy she had used so satisfactorily.
We larned from our soldier that he
was Kentuckian and colonel in the
confederate army. Neighbors and
friends came and went as usual ex-
changing visits, yet we never divulged
In any way our secret, which seemed
almost sacred to US, and they never
entertained the slightest suspicion that
within the home was wounded soldier
constantly attended by a physician.
One day as I was sitting at the win
dow party Of federal soldiers on a
foraging expedition halted In front OF
the house. Our confederate was dos
ing in his chair. Aunt Cindy, with her
usual thoughtfulness, met them at the
gate. Cheerily her voice rang out as
she expostulated with them regarding
the propriety Of their making liberal
appropriation for themselves.
Now, look here, gemmens." she said,
Use Objectionable to you helpin' YER
selves, not cause you amt welcome to
we've got, but its kinder
hard on me and Miss Rebecca keepin'
up all by ourselves. Pears like 1t
would be more fittin' and proper for
you to go whar yo' can git more"
After much expostulation they SEEM
I'd quite willing to go where they
could git more" as they rode away and
Aunt Cindy returned to her work and
Ter guest breathed more freely.
The days wore on; weeks merged in
o months, and the colonel, who for
10 long had eluded soldiers and officers
If the federal army, surrendered un-
to the brave little woman
Who in the dark hours of the night
lad rescued him from death and ten
lerly nursed him back to health and
trength.
One night stole softly to Aunt Gin
y's cabin door and said:
"Cindy, can you keep a secret? II
ou can go to the parlor."
With wide-open eyes she rose to her
eet exclaiming:
"Fo' goodness. don't know what
lse gwine to happen"
After a few moments she shuff1ed
trough the hall into the parlor. AS
he entered she saw the minister stand
lg and the colonel with Lucy beside
i'm.
The minister was repeating these
ords: DO you solemnly promise, in
le presence of these witnesses, to love
nd honor?"
Aunt Cindy's face grew very grave.
he comprehended 1t fully. Her lips
owed prayerfuly. When the cere-
ony was ended she extended her hard
-own hands. Proud of being thus {
onored, she said:
"Massa Colonel, Gabriel hlsself
'uldnt make me tell less l chose"
Faithful, indeed, she had been.
A few days later the colonel stole
way under cover OF night, to Join his
d comrades in the south, and Aunt :
ndy renewed her promise again as
the sacred obligation regarding all
his affairs.
The rattle of musketry and the roar
cannon ceased at last After four
ars OF hard fighting there was a |
eat Homecoming Thu co1onol va