The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-09-05
THE GIRL
l IN GRAY
How ehe Surrendered to a
Yankee From Illinois.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

~ WAS uurllS IN eHcumpWe0t OF Con-
federate Veterans that. Howard Pearce
first saw her. She wore a 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
small gray slouch hat rested, tilted
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 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.
10 the east Of the camp ground the
ridge rose in 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, ut is easier to get up the ridge
than 1t 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 Listen!"
The bands, which had united for the
evening concert, had just struck up
"rhe Star Spangled Banner" When
the air was recognized, a cheer arose
from the tented wood.
"Hcar that| said the captain.
wait" said the girl In gray.
"For what" Pearce asked.
NY " III Ilay DlAlS dlleE NV uIID.
"What theuT'
"Then they will YELL" she said, look-
Ing at him with bright smile and nod
ding a 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 II told you So" But she was
not looking at him. Her cheeks were
dark with color and hen 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 mused. III 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 that"
"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.
"As 1t 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 60 with her,
and though 1t was not apparent In Just
what way he could overcome the disad.
vantage Of the long dress, she seemed
10 be grateful for his escort.
Well. that was the beginning Of it.
and the end is not yet. An incident
that occurred under !. .arge tree In the
Did Confederate fort on the mountain
may give hint of the trend of events.
Iearce 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
70 be pleasant.
Mr.. Penrce was not In good humor.
He and Miss Moore bad separated
themselves from the Others One topic
OF conversation had led to another,
which In this instance was a declara.
tIon by Mr.. Pearcc that he was ire
trieyably In love with Miss Moore and
that II she refused to make him happy