The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-11-02
M4 4ESSSe' U.s. T.
>ptMkH w HARRYSllllNE[Is ,,AeDs
Copyright, 1899, by j. b. Lippincott Com.
pany. All rights reserved.
CHAPTER Nv,

took refuge upon the veranda of
little cottage that fronted cross
road near Mechanicsville while his ar
tillery Numbered by and numbered
in position to face the enemy. Men,
horses and officers were worn out with
fatigue and hard fighting and eager
for an opportunity to snatch few
hours of rest. The two great armies
had entered upon the memorable
seven days fight which was to swing
around Richmond and leave a bloody
path to Malvern 1lill. The cottage
seemed deserted, but presently an
aged negress made her appearance
from somewhere and pathetcally at
tempted to extend it's Inequalities to
the officers who began to swarm into
the yard. Clin"ing to her skirts was
a little girl of six or seven years,
whose fair complexion, blue eyes and
silken curls bespoke a patrician par
entage, but whose frail figure and in
cessant cough gave evidence of q
fatal weakness.
'Her ma is done dead, sah," said the
old woman. respectfully, when Col.
Somers hurriedly questioned her con-
corning the family, "an' her pa left
TO you-all come; done come yistiddy
an go right back to town. He don't
stay hyar anyhow"
'But that child must not remain
here; she is in danger every moment.
You must move out!"
"Whey we goin' move, sab? Don't
know nobody any better off'n we are
roun' hyah. Marster tell ME to stay
right hyah. an 1 goin' ter stay hyah.
Better TEX yo' folks an move on, sab,
whey you started" Somers had other
things to think about, and turned
away. Very likely the movement next
day would carry them beyond the cot
tage, and the danger was not press
ing at the moment. In the morning
tho child might be sent to the rear
if necessary, and tonight he rather
welcomed the adjuncts of refined life.
He had use for the old woman, for
he was but recently out of hospital
and somewhat spoiled by nursing. He
made himself and officers comfort
able in the best rooms after the man
ner of old campaigners and prepared
for the short rest which he SO much
needed.
Somers had made the necessary dis
positions and, left alone upon the porch
for a moment, his thoughts reverted to
the cherished memento in his locket,
the worthless message of love which
had SO mystcriously reached him. 1t
was lust one slender curl--thc curl
that had touched his cheek, he was sure,
and with it name. They were enough;
no words could have summoned up
more wildly the scenes of that dark
ened wing-room, nor have told him
more eloquently that within the eX-
cited city there was one heart which
held no hatred for him. 1t was no hour
for dreaming, and he reused himself
to the present. Around him were con-
tending hosts of doomed men, the spir-
it of war lowered over the rude camps,
and death lurkcd in the shadows, eager
for his harvest. From the distance, the
echoes of dropping shots came family
to the ear, and presently what seemed
to be a small volley. This volley
claimed his attention and that of the
junior officers, and he had ordered q
sergeant up to inquire as to the cause,
when the sound of rapid hoof-beats APP
preached upon he road. and in the dim
light as he waited a frightened horse,
pursued by half dozen troopers, sped
by. Presently the men returned lead
ing the captured animal and carrying
it's late rider. The latter was youthful
and clad in confederate gray, which
was drenched with blood and covered
with dust; for the wounded rider,
clinging desperately to the name OF
the horse as he lay extended upon its
neck, had finally fallen and been
dragged until the weight stopped the
runaway. The face of the unfortunate
fellow had escaped, and SO young and
so fair was it, even the hardened SOL
diers were touched.
"He insists upon seeing an officer
said one Of them. "Claims to have So.
crets to tell"
''Place him upon the porch and call a
surgeon. Where did he come from?'
Somers was strangely affected.
Don't know, sir. He came riding
headlong through the rebel pickets.
think, and they shot him. We didn'1
shoot at all. for at first the horse
seemed to be loose, and when we die
see the young fellow on him, we knew
he was too near gone to escape. W.
had orders gainst unnecessary alarms
and SO we ran him down." The surgeon
came and laid open the jacket of tn
now unconscious sufferer. He wave'
back the curious group and motione'
for Somers to approach.
"a woman!" he whispered.
us it possible! To my room-to m
room!" The rough soldiers again lift
ed the frail form tenderly and place
it upon the bed inside. A hurried e.
animation disclosed the wound; she
from behind had passed entirel
through the body.
"She cannot live" said the surgeon
gently, as he arose and covered up til
white form. "There is not the Sigh
est chance for her" The sentence {
death seemed to inspire her with SUI
den consciousness. She opened hi
eyes widely, and they rested in wonde
upon the blue uniforms and strang
faces.
"What has happened?' she aske
weakly. "Where am II"
"You have been wounded, madam
said the surgeon, BADLY wounded; b'
you are in friendly hands,"
"Ah!-Raymond-to me-that