Waterbury Democrat., 1901-04-01
EsT a E; THE
 s BY ARR e ~ sssa MsSf- -9'As4fEb Ebll EbbllAsn'
Copyright. 1899. by J. B. Lippincoet Com.
 pany. All r'~efs reserved.
CHAPTER XIV.

 tilIery thundered by and unlimbered 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 bloody path to Malvern Hill. The cottage seemed deserted, but presently an aged negress made her appearance from somewhere and pathetically at tempted to extend it's Inequalities to the officers who began to swarm into the yard. Clinging' to her skirts was U little girl of six or seven years, whose fair complexion, blue eyes and silken eurls bespoke a patrician par entage, but whose frail figure and in- cessant cough gave evidence of a fatal weakness.
 "Her ma is done dead, sah, said the old woman, respectfully, when Col. Somers hurriedly questioned her com cerning the family, ..an' her pa left 'fo' you-all come; done come yisttddy 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, sah? Don't know nobody any better off'n we are roun' hyah. Marster tell me to stay right hyah, an goin' ter stay hyah. Better tek yo' folks an move on, sah, 4 ,.%e 1,r, Al he.s 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 ang at the moment. In the morning the child might be sent to the rear if necessary, and tonight he rather. welcomed the adjuncts of refined life.i 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 campa1gners ana preparcu for the short rest which he so much needed.
 Somers had made the necessary dis- positions and, left alone upon the porch AOA a. 0IOlACAt, HIS bO the cherished memento in his loclxets the worthless message of love which had so mysteriously reached him. It was just one slender curl-the curl that athadtouchedh his cheek, he was sure, and with it a name. They were enough;l j no words could have summoned up more yivid1y 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. It was no hour for dreaming, and he reused himself to the present. Around him were cons tending hosts of doomed men, the spir- 1t of war lowered over the rude camps, and death lurked in the shadows, eager for his harvest. From the distance, the echoes of dropping shots came faintly to the ear, and presently what seemed to be small volley. This volley claimed his attention and that of the junior officers, and he had ordered a sergeant up to inquire as to the cause, when the sound of rapid hoof-beats ap- preached upon the road, and in the dim light as he waited frightened horse, pursued by half dozen troopers, sped by. Presently the men returned lead- ing the captured animal and carrying its 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 mane of the horse as he lay extended upon it's 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 se~ crets to tell"
 NPlace him upon the porch and call a surgeon. Where did he come from?n Somers was strangely affected.
 Don't know, sir. He came riding headlong through the rebel pickets.. [ think, and they shot him. We didn't shoot at all, for at first the horse seemed to be loose, andswhen we did eeNhe young fellow on him, we knew he was too near gone to escape. We had orders against unnecessary alarms, and so we ran him down." The surgeon came and laid open the jacket of the now unconscious sufferer. He waved back the curious group and motioned for Somers to approach.
 "A womanl" he whispered.
 "Is it possible! To my room--to my 2oom!" The rough soldiers again lift ed the frail form tenderly and placed 1t upon the bed inside. A hurried ex- animation disclosed the wound; shot from behind had passed entirely through the body.
 She cannot live" said the surgeon, gently, as he arose and covered up the white form. There is not the slight est chance for her" The sentence of death seemed to inspire her with sud- den consciousness. She opened her eyes widely, and they rested in wonder upon the blue uniforms and strange faces.
 What has happened?' she asked, weakly. "Where am IF"
 s'You have been wounded, madam" ]" said the surgeon, "badly wounded; but you are in friendly hands,
 "Ah!--Raymond-told me-that he had-had arranged with-the picket to pretend only to fire--oh, they haye-4 killed mel" She shuddered, but with sudden return of full consciousness she