The Republican journal., 1901-08-22
THE GIRL
l in GRAY
How She Surrendered to q
Yankee From Illinois.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

1t was during an encampment of Con-
federate Veterans that Howard Pearce
first saw her. She wore gray riding
habit with double row of small brass
buttons leading up to two black stars
on the collar. On her sunny locks
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 glimpse of the girl that
he almost fell. 1t was a warm day
toward the end of July, and he was
not sorry that be 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.
Pearces 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, lit 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 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 thenY'
'"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 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.
II wonder" he unused. ''if she hates
the north as she loves the south"
When the tumult had ceased. he turn
ed to Saunders.
"Wen. captain" he said. what do
you say to thatY'
'Of course. they love Dixie" said
the captain earnestly. $50 do |. But
there 10 no deeper mea ming in that cheer
than the love OF a memory. They are
loyal"
Miss Moore said that she must 60
back to town.
"As It 10 1sl shall have to leave my
horse with yos.scaptain. shall send
for him tomorrow. l reckon can walk
to the train To 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 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 ncioent
that occurred under q 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 beca use 1t was the shelter near
est when rain suddenly began to fall,
and it rained probably because num-
Der of young folks OF the city bad 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 declara'
ton by Mr.. Pearce that he was ire
trievably in love with Miss Moore and
that II she refused to make him happy
he shouId be forever miserable. At q
critical stage of this declaration a rain
drop kissed the girls cheek.
"Oh, it's going to rain! she cried.
The next instant the downpour be
gan, and both rushed through 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 severa
minutes, she busily brushing raindropl
from her hat. which she had taken OF
and he watching her moodily.
The silence became oppressive, ant
she glanced at him curiously and ap
prehensiYely from under her lashes
He caught the gjanre and. moving to
ward her, said