Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-11-14
DAPPLE'S
MISTRESS
A Story of the Civil War.


Virginia farmhouse; the speaker a
slight. bright faced girl, gracefully
mounted on small, gray pony.
The sun was dropping out of sight
behind the green hills, and far away
down the silver bend of the Accoceek
came the tramp of retreating troops.
with now and then the muffled roll Of
drum or the sbrill bray Of bugle.
old Virginia. the queen mother of the
sunny south, was overrun with soldiers.
devastated by fire and sword, shaken
TO her very foundations by the thun-
ders of the civil war.
Colonel Moreton was far away from
his pleasant home in the front ranks
OF death and danger; but Irene, his
only child, still braved the terrors of
invasion and remained at the farm
house with her invalid mother and a
few faithful old servants.
Gathering across the grounds an hour
after the retreat Of the invading troops,
something attracted the young lady's
potice-a PROSTATE figure under the
shade Of the great cottonwood tree.
stop. Dapple. We must look to
this
Dapple stopped. and Miss Irene
leaped lightly from her saddle. and
throwing the silken relns over the
pony's neck. she went tripping across
the grounds to the spot where the
figure lay.
II was a tall. soldierly figure. clad in
army blue. with pale. worn face and
an abundance of curling chestnut hair.
Colonel Moretons daughter looked
down upon the seuseless soldier with
all her woman's divine compassion
stirring within her bosom.
Poor fellow she murmured, laying
her soft hand upon his brow. Il wish
l could help him.
The soft voice and the softer touch
called back the veterans wandering
senses. lie opened his eyes and looked
up in the young lady's face. Great,
luminous, handsome eyes they were,
that somehow reminded Irene OF her
brother Toms eyes, and Tom was
down in the trenches in front of Rich
mond. The compassion In her heart
stirred afresh She smoothed back the
tangled curls from the soldiers brow.
My poor fellow" she said. Can l
do anything for your
He struggled up 10 his elbo with a
stiAed groan.
My horse threw me-" he explained.
"and they left me behind, l think l
must have tainted from the pain.
thank you very much, but | can't see
how YOU can help me. | suppose | must
lie here till they take me prisoner, and
I'll almost as soon be shot"
Irene smlled-a smile that lighted her
dark. bright face into positive beauty.
Il am IN the enemys country" she
said, but If you Will trust me think
can help yen. AT least | VIII see that
you are refreshed and made comfort
able"
She put her hand TO her bosom. and
drawing forth a tiny whistle she put II
10 her lips and blew a sharp little blast.
Dapple prIeked up his gray ears aud
came cantering TO her side. followed
instantly 10y colored manseryant.
You see. smiled Miss Irene, flash
Ing heaming glance on the soldier,
Il hold my reserve forces at Il
moments warning. Here. James help
this gentleman 10 the horse and then
ride for Or Wcrter 10 dress his limb"
James obeyed without word. and by
the time the sun was fairly out of sight
tie Union soldier. refreshed and made
comfortable. lay asleep in the best
chamber of the pleasant old southern
mansion.
Meanwhile on the long veranda. Irene
watch. her slight. willowy figure
ped IN scarlet mantle. her hosSy.
resses floating on the winds
hy. as the midnight stars
ud glittcred overhead. above
low OF the river. above the
uStle OF the forest leaves
and clang. the roar and
ug troops
flushed and her lus-
She crossed the
step aud tapped
1c guests cham
ace
'ed whispered
'H1ft il you r.
and
o ., finst
She fol
: Prisoner
b. @ lis
=, FeeLe,y' %
eaSpiDs