The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-08-16
THE GIRL
| In GRAY
How She Surrendered to a
Yankee From Illinois.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

| federate Veterans that Howard Pearce
! first saw her. She wore gray riding
habit with a double row of small brass
buttons leading up to two black stars
on the collar. On her sunny locks a
just the least bit over one eye. She
| rode well.
| Pearce leaned so far from the win
dow to catch 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, at is easier to get up the ridge
than it was once. There are no men in
blue there tonight"
"No," 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. ListenY'
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 that?" said the captain.
wait" said the girl in gray.
"For whatY' Pearce asked.
"They will play Dixie after awhile"
"What them"
"Then they will YELL" she said, look
ing at him with 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 81 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, "if 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 memory They are
loyal"
Miss Moore said that she must go
back to town.
LAS it is late. shall have to leave my
horse with you. captain. shall send
for him tomorrow. ! 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 10 just
what way be could overcome the disad-
vantage of the long dress, she seemed
TO be grateful for his escort
| Well, that was the beginning Of 1t,
and the end is not yet. An incident
that occurred under large tree in the
old Confederate fort on the mountain
may give 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 it rained probably because a num-
Der of young folks of the city had come
up on the mountain to spend Septem-
Der day that promised in the morning
to be pleasant.
| Mr. Pearce was not in good humor.
| He and Miss Moore had separated
| themselves from the others. One topic
of conversation had led to another,
which in this instance was a declara-
ton 10y Mr.. Pearce that he was ire
trievably in love with Miss Moore and
that II she refused TO make him happy
he should be forever miserable. At a
critical stage of this declaration rain
drop kissed the girls cheek.
ooh, it's going to rain!' she cried.
| The next instant the downpour be-
gan. and both rushed through a breach
in the earthen wall of the fort to the
tree. whose branches, to which the
leaves yet chung, offered protection.
There they stood in silence for several
minutes, she busily brushing ralndrops
from her hat. which she had taken off,
ana he watching her modify.
The silence became oppressive, and
she glanced at him curiously and APP
pEehensiyely from under her lashes.
He caught the glance and. moving to-