The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-10-11
THE GIRL
l IN GRAY
How She Surrendered to a
Yankee From Illinois.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

X anKee From ILLINOIS. x
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
1t was during an encampment of Con-
federate Veterans that Howard Pearce
first saw her. She wore a gray riding
habit with Il double row OF small brass
buttons leading up TO two black stars
on the collar On her sunny locks a
small gray SLOUGH hat rested, tilted
just the least bit over one eye. She
rode well.
Pearce leaned so far from the win
dow to catch n glimpse Of the girl that
he almost fell. 1t was a warm day
toward the end of July, and he was
not sorry that he had no business on
hand that must be rushed
Evidently the girl in gray had gone
to the camp ground, and with Saun-
ders. But Saunders was married
happily married. Pearce hoped. Any
how, he was glad that Saunders was
married
That evening he sat before Captain
Saunders tent. with the captain, his
wife and Miss Moore-the girl in gray
To the east Of the camp ground the
ridge rose in a gentle slope. To the
southwest, seemingly towering just
over them, was the mountain.
Pearce's heart beat faster as the
thought came TO him that 80 years be-
fore white tents had marked the foot
of the ridge as they did that day. But
then they had stretched for miles north
and south.
Captain" he said turning to Saun-
ders, "it is easier TO get up the ridge
than it was once. There are no men in
blue there tonight"
mo" the captain replied, but the
sons of some of those men are there"
pointing to the company street, in
which blue clad figures lounged.
Loyal? Without doubt. Listen"
The bands, which had united for the
evening concert, had just struck up
THE Star Spangled Banner" When
the air was recognized, a cheer arose
from the tented wood.
Hear thatY' said the captain.
Wait" said the girl in gray.
"For WHAT" Pearce asked.
"They will play Dixie after awhile
"What them
Then they will YELL" she said, look
ing at him with a bright smile and nod
ding confident You'll see or hear
And he did. When the national air
was finished, there was a brief wait.
Then the quick, stirring notes Of
"Dixie" started the woods into life with
sharp echoes, which were drowned by
one long, loud yell.
Pearce looked at the girl to receive an
expected Il told you So" But she was
not looking at him. Her cheeks were
dark with color and her eyes, bright
ened by excitement, were fixed upon
the young men tossing their caps high
above the tents and shouting with all
their sturdy lung power.
81 wonder" he unused, eff she hates
the north as she loves the SOUTH"
When the tumult had ceased. he turn
ed to Saunders.
"Well, captain" he said, what do
you say to thatY
"Of course, they love Dixie" said
the captain earnestly. $50 do |. But
there is no deeper meaning in that cheer
than the love of a memory. They are
loyal"
Miss Moore said that she must go
back to town.
"As it is late, | shall have to leave my
horse with you, captain. shall send
for him tomorrow. l reckon / can walk
to the train in this rig"
She looked down somewhat doubt
fully at her riding skirt. Pearce said
that he would be glad to go with her,
and though it was not apparent in just
what way he could overcome the disad-
vantage of the long dress, she seemed
to be grateful for his escort.
Well. that was the beginning OF IT,
and the end is not yet. An incident
that occurred under large tree in the
old Confederate fort on the mountain
may give a hint of the trend of events.
Pearce and Miss Moore were under
the tree because it was the shelter near
est when rain suddenly began to fall,
and IL rained probably because a num-
her of young folks Of the city had come
r ND ON the mountain to spend Septem-
! her day that promised in the morning
to be pleasant.
Mr.. Pearce was not in good humor.
Me and Miss Moore had separated
Themselves from the others. One topic
conversation had led to another,
Nich in this instance was declara-
by Mr. Pearce that he was ire
Ably in love with Miss Moore and
she refused to make him happy