Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-07-22

entered, probably the finest in the house.
II was dimly lit by candles with II
shade III front, hut could see that the
furniture aud hangings, though old,
We're rich and costly. \ great bed was
at one side. shaded by a canopy of bro.
eadc. She crossed the room To the bed
side | saw that there was Il man lying
there. She reached for his hand aud
claSpcd it in her own. then turned and
faced mo >upcrbly, untlinching lik-
cned her in my mind to Il splendid ami
NAL at bay, and then drew back the
thought as She began to speak and her
soul flashed through her eyes.
Here is Capt Axworthv, She said
He lies here dying \ Union bullet
has made a hole in his chest. Make
/ him Your prisoner if you will-tiod will
soon release him. You think that he
came Ia spy. He came here because he
was my lover and hc knew that | was
alone and unprotected | say hc was.
for now he is my husband; we were
married an hour ago-you may have
met our rector ON the road. Since, sir
You are too late for the bridal-leavc us
leave uS-to our honeymoon !! She
sank down on her knees beside the he'd
and buried her face in its folds The
man raised feeble hand and rested il
ON her head. My head swan, my eyes
filled with tears. bowed rcvcrently
and backed from the room. had seem
the acme of human hcroiSm and of hu-
man agony. My soul was awcd.
Il stumbled along the hall. hardly
knowing what did. and down the
stairs. and To the door Then | rccol-
lcctcd myself and halted. What was
my duty. wondered: And while
stood there the old negro Shamblcd up.
'MiSSiS says. sab. fer You I occipy
de room To de front.
Il was expected to remain, 81 there
was the solution of the difficulty. | told
my men the condition of affairs. and
ordered them To the stable To sleep in the
hay, relieving each other on picket duty,
when returned to the house.
II was escorted to the old dining room.
and there tremendously served to Il very
frugal supper. Ii was the first time in
many months that had used real silver
or a delicate linen napkin, but our camp
rationS were better than the meagcr fare
IL which they were reduced on the plan
tation. and know that pride had inn
PEELED them to set their best before me.
But nothing would have tempted me to
eat Just then. | looked at the portraits
ON the wall and wondered what those
old DeverauX who roasted oxen whole
| for their rctaincrS would have thought
of such an empty larder but my mind
reverted 10 the woman above, and | soon
gave up trying To think OF anything else
For an hour or more sat motionlcsS
in one of the old Dcvcraux armchairs
thrilling with the conscientious of the
tragedy So near me- Then the door
swung open. slowly. She stood there
aud her eyes CLEANED like stars. but
She was pale a. death.
1T j. over. She said Simply. 'You
may see him. And 80 followed her
again.
He was lying on the bed aS before
the dim light barely revealing him
fully dressed i'll his Confederate uni
form. his hands on his breast claSping
his sword All. but he was handsome
man
We bury him tonight. she said III
a calm. cold voice Tonight Leave
him his sword His shroud will bc the
Confederate flag vnu do not object.
trust = And She looked into my eyes
again.
Madam, said. there is no honor
known To man that would not grant
to Your dead husband
She came to me close. and graSpcd
mp hand moment and held il to her
breast 50 that | felt the beating of her
heart. Then she dropped it, but | have
never cared to hold any other woman :
hand since.
II went To my room. Ii opened upon
the upper gallery. the same a. hers. |
thought il was delicate compliment 10
my honor she had paid me in placing
me where might spy on her if would.
Il sat 10y the window the livclong
/ uipht \ rart MAS driypu IN fhp dnor .
there were negroes with torches. ANA |
heard the measured tread a. of men
who carried a burden -rcvcrcntly. \
body wrapped in "A flag was placed III
! the cart. and stately, mutf,ed figure
was helped in beside it. and sat there as
| the cart was driven away The lights
disappeared among the trees, the rattle
of the cart died i'll the distance. and all
was still save for the rumbllng of dis
tant thunder
"Old Pomp,y handed me note in
the morning, before we mounted and
rode away Yes, boys, have that note
still | won't tell YOU what Is said
She only thanked me. made my re-
port To my colonel and" The
major paused
Well :" said Doc" DeSpard.
We'll repeated the major slowly,
two years after. | met that woman
and her husband Captain and Mrs
Ralph Axworthy-in Washington