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

. THE MAJORS STORY.


/
was saturated and raw. The group of
elderly men IN the New Amsterdam
Club rooms took great comfort III the
roaring fire round which they gathered
The talk driftcd comfortably from one
subject 20 another and finally touched
on the drama and the innovations of
several rising actors.
why is il. major. that You fight 80
Shy Of the theatres - asked Doc" DcS.
pard of II trip. white haired old fellow
who had been smoking his cigar near
the chimney corner aud who had said
very little. Everyone was silent and
finally the major spoke
Il went To the theatre great deal
when was young g-until | saw some
real acting. have never gone since.
The major was ore of the few vctcr.
ans of the Civil War who were rcticcnt
of their achievements; but he had been
known to tell Il story once or twicc-in
Just the right company and with such
simplicity and vigor that he had held
his listeners Spcllbound He had had
rare experiences. and when he rccountcd
them he emphasized the human side
and stuck to the truth. That was the
secret of his power.
The time, the company. the day were
auspicious. SO the major began:
MY regiment wasa part of the Army
of the Potomac. We had moved from
near Washington to Fortress Monroe.
and from there had moved. one hundred
and twcnty-onc thousand strong to-
wards Richmond. in two divisions, one
along the York River and one along the
| James.
Mcclellan had kept Us dawdling in
Maryland. he had taken us leisurcly
down the Potomac. and now we are
dawdling again. He made us into
fine army and then let rs 90 to rot for
lack of use We campcd on the Chicki-
heminy near Richmond, and there we
dawdlcd once more. Every man of Us
wanted action. We would have faced
any odds. and we cursed our chiefs
everlasting caution and procraStination
| He was fortunate fellow who got de-
tailed for any small rcconnoitcring par.
| ~ or skirmishing expedition.
"Onc day, about like this. only there
was thunder in the air and more
warmth. was called To my colonelS :
tent.
Lieutenant Vale. he said. you are
To take a squad of ten men and 20 to
the DcvcrcauX Mansion We have r.a-
son Ia believe that Confederate officer
"a >py-has got through the lines and
is hiding there The house has. been
watched \ picket reported that man
was seen To enter. He was shot at, but
got away Search the house. arrest
him. and bring him here Be quick
and don't fail
II took my order sautcd. and was
gone. II was dusk aS we left the camp
and rode along the road towards the
stately old mansion house indicated by
the colonel had enlisted from a New
England town. and had seen very little
of the world. but had found in myself
a strong sympathy for the proud high
bred Southern families We think of
our ancestors III New England aS they
do in the South, and people are not
always moving about. hut live in the
same place for generation after genera
tion. | knew how they felt about the
destruction of their old family places
| ragged at il. too.
This particular house was Il fine
type. and stood AT the highest point Of
the DcvcrcauX plantation, the stately
home of many generations of the old
family Ii was illumincd that night
and its lights twinklcd al u> through
the trees as we approached.
For moment the remembrance of
the great army of which | WAS Il part.
and the opposing force sleeping on its
arms for our attack over in Richmond.
faded from my mind fancied ! APP
preached the house as Il guest. that its
great. hospitablc doors. We're now. "a
often, thrown open to the ncighhoring
gentry. could almost hear the violinS
speak and detect the aroma of fragrant
punch.
"As we drew rein at the door
the cloud of fancy covering the
grim truth was dispellc,l, and sickcncd
AT my task The father and sons Were
perhaps dying on a far away battlefield
while the wife and daughters kept their
lonely vigil AT home and well stood
for all they dcSpiSed and ahhorred. As
swung off my horse determined 10
show them that chiyalrv lived in the
North as well a> in the South. Iou
sec was not without romance in those
days
AN old negro servant came to the
door He was trembling poor old fell
low asked for Mr. DcvcrcauX
"'MaSsa DcvcrcauN' : gone to thr wah.
sab.
81 would like To see your mistress
then
He opened the door Il little wider
and passed into the great hall after
giving orders To my men TO surround
the house He left me standing there
and mounted the stairs He was gone
so long that began Ia feel uneasy, cs-
pecially as heard hurried movements
above. But u step sounded on the STAIR
and the rustlIng of a woman dress; |
looked up and saw coming toward me
one of the grandcst sights man could
ever Scc-a magniiiccntly beautiful wo-
man, with regal air and an eye that
caught mine and held il She WAS
dressed like a queen. too-in a simmer
ing white satin might have thought
her dress unusual for such time. but |
did not The costume seemed appro-
pirate for her under any circumstances.
"She stood in front of me with a
proud look on her face. Her eyes still
held mine bowed as To sovereign.
nd-upon my honor, couldn't say I,
word Then il occurred to mo TO show
her my order. So fumblcd in my pocket
and brought il out She did not even
look AT it,
- know what you have come for
she said, and her tones thrilled me.
'lou have come here tu search for the