Smyrna times., 1899-08-23

- "hlUe satln. L might have
'nought her dress unusual for such
tlme' but 1 did not. The costume
seemed appropriate for her under anv
circumstances.
one stood in front of me with
proud look on her face. Her ewes still
held mine. L bowed as to a SOVEREIGN
aho-upon my honor, couldn't say a
WORD. Then it occurred to me to show
her my order, so fumbled in NV mock
ct and brought it 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 to search for tbe
Confederate officer, Capt. Ralph Az
worthy. He is here, and l will take
you to him.
L looked at her in stupid wonder.
She saw my look and smiled slightly.
though L saw that her forhead was con.
tracted with pain. She turned. and
without speaking followed her up the
stairs and along the upper hall to the
tront room on the left. She opened
the door softly. l hesitated. and she.
seeing it, made gesture for me TO
follow.
1T was large square room that we
entered, probably the finest in the
house. 1t was dimly lit by candles
with a shade in front, but [ could see
that the furniture and hangings, though
old, were rich and costly. A great
bed was at one side, shaded by can
opy OF brOcade. She crossed the room
to the bedside. | saw that there was
man lying there. She reached for his
hand and clasped it in her own. then
turned and faced me superbly, un-
hlnchlng. l likened her in nv mind
to splendid animal at bav. and then
drew back the thought as she began to
speak and her soul flashed through her
eyes.
Here is Capt AxwOrthy, she said.
He lies here dying. A Union bullet
has made hole in his chest. Make him
your prisoner if you will-God will
soon release him. You think that he
came to spy. He came here because
he was my lover ana he knew that l
was alone and unprotected. 1 say he
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
brldal-leave us-leave us-to our
| honeymoon! She sank down on her
knees beside the bed and buried her
face in its folds. The man raised
feeble hand and rested on her head.
My head swan, my eyes filled with
tears. [ bowed revently and backed
from the room. / had seen the acme
of human heroism and of Human agony.
| My sOuld was awed.
81 stumbled along the hall, hardly
knowing what L did, and down the
stairs, and to the door. Then L recol-
lected myself and halted. What was
my duty, l wondered? And while l
stood there the old negro shambled
up.
"'Missis says, sab, fer you t occipy
de room to de front.
81 was expected to remain, so there
was the solution of the difficulty. 1
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 l returned to the
| house.
81 was escorted to the old dining
room, and there tremendously served
to a very frugal supper. 1t was the
first time in many months that had
used real silver or delicate linen nap
kin, but our camp rations were better
than the meagre fare to which they
were reduced on the plantation, and
know that pride had impelled them to
set their best before me. But nothing
would have tempted me to eat just
then. 1 looked at the portraits on the
wall and wondered what those old
| Deveraux who roasted oxen whole for
their retainers would have thought of
such an empty larder; but my mindre-
verted to the woman above, and soon
gave up trying to think of anything
| else.
"For an hour or more 1 sat motion
less in one of the old Devereaux arm
chairs, thrilling with the consciousness
of the tragedy SO near me. Then the
door swung open, slowly. She stood
there and her eyes cleaned like stars,
but she was pale as death.
"'It is over she said simply. You
may see him. And so followed her
again.
''He was lying on the bed as before
the dim light barely revealing him
fully dressed in his Confederate uni
form, his hands on his breast claspin