Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-07-27

IN gray, would win a victory.
Soon the rattle of musketry wa
heard; then riderless horses dashed
back and limping stragglers in blu,
went slowly by to the improviset
hospital in the deserted schoolhouse
Some stopped at the white hous,
door and were refreshed with butter
milk by Col. Gray as he anxiousl,
asked news of the fight. A party Of
surgeons and hospital attendants re
quested refreshments and he cour
teously asked them to stay for sup
per. "Grandma," assisted by hel
servants, ministered to them, but tn,
girls would not see them. The,
told of the fight; how they had tried
time and again to advance, but had
been obliged to retire; that Col. Per.
cy Wyndham was captured after gal.
liant fighting and that the leader OF
the. Rebel cavalry had been killed
This language was used: "Mere men
could not resist them. We can
stand as much as most men, but de-
mons were too much for us. We had
to back down this time anyhow"
Col. Gray listened with grave at
tention. Although an earnest Union
man, Gen. Ashby was his friend
and he said; "The report of Ashby's
death follows every skirmish." Mai.
Rankin replied courteously; 81 fear
you will find it true this time, Col.
Gray, for at every house we passed
this afternoon we heard weeping.
When the Federal officers had gone
the girls rushed in to ask what sto-
ries "the horrid old Yankees had
told" When the sad news was an
nounced they refused to believe it;
they would not admit that their hero
Ashby was killed, but they could on
ly wait in their anxiety. "Cupid
would soon come" and they would
"know ALL" Cupid, tall negro
man, was the body guard of Capt.
Hilary and his brother. He had
cared for them since their babyhood.
lie had taught them to ride, hunt
aud swim and when Charles entered
the army as captain Cupid went too,
as his cook.
Night came. but they could not
sleep. Piling pillows upon the floor
they gathered around "Grandma,"
who tried to soothe the frightened
girls, while "Uncle Douglas" prayed
that these awful times might soon
cease and his beloved country once
more be at peace. They sat in dark
ness, lest they arouse the suspicious
of the yankee sentinel, whose tread
could be heard as he paced to and
fro on the street below.
A tap at the back door was an
swered by Uncle Douglas, and in a
moment Capt. Hilary held his sister
in his arms. "Thank God!" she
whispered. go my boy! is Temple
safey Is Cupid with youg
eyes, yes, dear; we are all right,
but nearly starved"
The girls gathered eagerly around
their daring visitor, while Cupid,
stationed near the door 10 guard
against surprises, was at once sup
piled with pies, cheese and biscuit
-"Valley fare
The young people spoke in whis-
pers. AS the tallow candle fllckered
it cast strange shadows; and as one
ray fell upon the blackened face of
the young captain the girls laughed
Historically. Nellie whispered: GO
Charlie, that is so dangerous! You
might be caught and they would call
you a spy"
so, no fearl We are two runaway
slaves. Don't look so scared, little
girl. You ought to hear Cupid boss
the yankees, They always let him
pass with any 'brudder' he may have
along. But we must be gone in an
hour" continued Captain Hilary as
he ate the lunch brought from
some hidden recess.
"Charles," said Nellie, "you must
tell us something. You are not like
yourself. Gay words don'tdeceive us.
Something is wrong. Is tit isn't
-Ashby?"
81 thought ! could tell Uncle
Douglas first" he answered sand let
him tell you all afterwards. ltwasn't
very brave In me, was itp" And
then, with voice that all his soldiers
pride could hardly steady, he told
them of the gallant death of their
paladin. "You must listen quietly
and be very brave" he said; "walls
have ears" If you CRY out they
will suspect you; and even if we es-
cape they will burn your house if
they think you have harbored us.
They are rather sore over this even
ing's fight anyway. Ashby was
killed while leading wavering reg
iment to victory. We did not dare at
first to let the men know the leader
they thought invincible was dead,
so we covared h;o fana o. oooo