The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-15

mounted his horse. then turning once
more to Margaret. asked:
"Why do You come 60 far from home
to sew?" 4 vi Z. 4 7 =.
II didn't want anyone to know about
the flag, you know" she REPLIED.
| s"Ard are you not 'afrald?"
Not when-when-" she hesltated.
mot when what?" and the general
smiled ut her confusion.
mot when Harold's around. abe said
and the lump in her throat almost
choked her. 81 y
And who Is Harold2 YourEbrother?
mo. sir, not exactly" said Margaret.
I'm his friend" 81 : 7
understand. think we'll move on or
Harold won't see you the next time he
comes this way. Good-by, Margaret"
"Good-by, general" she said In a
trembling tone. !,
AS they moved away Margaret's lips
moved In silent prayer. Her first
thoughts we're of thankfulness toward
| God. !. m
She clasped her hands together in her
lap, her form shaking from head to
foot. Death, DEATH" she muttered
once again. mo. no, thank God; no
no." =,
| MuERdTeI.'-ahE
She started at hearing her name.
The name was repeated in q hoarse
whisper.
Eyes. Harold H! she said, "1'm here"
Again that awful voice.
Yes" 3itG
"But where are they?"
Gone. Harold" she said; gone"
my Godl" exclaimed he, rising to
sitting posture. what have done?"
Dazed, he sat looking about him.
Then. without uttering word, he
pressed his lips to the flag. a1{sa
He picked up his ibnyonet and stood
looking at Margaret. Once more press
Ing the flag to his lips, Harold turned
to Margaret and said:
GO, Margaret. God bless you, and
Old Glory" j755h
Through tho thicket she scampercd.
pressing the precious bundle to her
breast. Once. twice she turned and
looked back ut the solitary sentinel on
the brow OF the hill. Then through
narrow gully. over stlle or two, and
Pixies Ditch was reached. Along Its
side she ran. her eyes directed toward
Mammy's hiding place. Coming oppo-
site to the cluster Of bushes she leaped
over. calling to the negress as she did
so. b
Eyes, Miss Marg'et," said Nanny,
Use comm. But don't believe you'll
recoknize me. Look at yo' po' old man.
my. Amt awful? Jes' look at dem
bumpses NIL ober me-"
why, Nanny, what Is the natter"
asked Margaret, looking ut her in won
der.
"Bees, Miss Marg'et," replied Nanny.
"Dcy's got nest in desc hyar bushes.
1'ze teen' a-battlln' wild 'em all after
noon"
But why did you stay there, Nam
my?"
Because I'd ruther fight bees N So
jers. What's good To- desc hyar pro-
tumbrances?"
Moist clay" said Margaret. "Come
over to the ditch and I'll put some o."
Nanny locked on In silence as Mar
garet applied the little pats OF clay.
When her face and hands began to as
sume polka dot aspect. she said:
Guess l better fall In de ditch any
way. It'd sabe go heap OBJ work"
The distant boom OF q cannon caused
Nanny to leap to her fest "D'vo
heah dat. Miss Mars'et? Dey's comm.
dem sojers Is: tell yo' dey's COMM"
This time 1t was Nanny who led the
race. Her previous little rum" the tor
ture she had endured among the bushes.
even the bee stlngs themselves, were
forgotten In her onward flight. After
each boom OF the cannon Margaret was
urged to quicken her pace Suffering
from want OF BREATH Mammy's voice
grew fainter and fainter, until It was
only wheeze. When they reached the
Winston homestead Nanny sank In a
heap upon the reraHda. It was many a
day before she finished telling of the
marrow 'scap pc" she had had.
Margaret sat hong at her little table
that evening. The dear old flag lay neat
ly folded before her. andu pom It lay her
worn little Bible. She read until her
candle began to sputter, then quickly
uadressed. Draping the Stars and
and Stripes over the head OF her bed.
she crept beneath the covers. All night
long she held one corner of the en-
ble1n 60 her breast. and each time she
awoke she pressed 1t to her lips.
When next she saw It 1t was thing
Of tatters. Harold himself carried It on
that memorable day when the gallant
little body of men came marching
home. soiled. ragged, unsightly. It
blew in the breeze. Its beauty was gone.
But for Margaret and Harold It held
secret charm; there was beauty to It
that they never forrnt Tho Owl