Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-14

IremulOuS SOunu, Out gradually gaming " q
fierce drumming. which stiled the homely
noises of the night.
The girl stirred uneasily in her sleep and
sighed; then suddenly found herself erect
in her bed, tensely awake and palpitant
with alarm. The familiar darkness of her
room seemed as protecting bulwark. but
from beyond-from far in the north, she
judged-came with increasing intensity that
heavy hammering upon the pike. She arose
quickly. struggling with a vague fear, and
made her way to the window, there to lean
far out, listening with a quickening heart,
vainly straining her eyes against the dense
blackness of the night.
Out of the volume Of sound leaped sharply
the clatter of the leader, the pursued, driv-
ing madly down the, slight decline to the
creek, the resonant booming as he crossed
the bridge; clatter again as he breasted the
rise AS he neared the house there seemed
to be momentary cessation of this sound,
wherein that of the pursuers rang with
terrifying prominence-but only for the
fraction of an instant, when once more the
hoofbeats Of the fugitive took up the dom
inant note Of the unequal duet soon, how
ever, to WELD to the rushing roar of those
who followed. An invisible whirlwind swept
pasta very nightmare OF creaking leather,
and faded rapidly into the distance.
For awhile she remained at the window
quiescent, but definitely troubled because Of
what the incident might portend. What
could 1t mean (she asked herself but the
coming of war-that war which hitherto had
seemed so remote, so almost unreal at
times?
And If not, why then had the perennial
peace of the Valley Farms been broken by
this hideous clamor by night. this flight of
fear from the lust Of blood? If war was to
come what should be the fate Of her in
valid father and herself? It could not
surge about them, she knew, and leave
A fash of vivid light illumed the land
scape; then came crash upon rolling crash
of thunder, and the rain In torrents. She
crept barefoot over the cool, wide hall to
the door of her fathers room. where she
crouched for an hour or more, listening for
his stentorious breathing till at length the
storm had spent itself and her fears were
stilled; he had not walked. And so to her
bed and the swift, tranquil sleep of youth.
She was reused by the singing of bugles
and the stir Of drums. From her window
as far as the eye could see the valley
swarmed with blue-coated soldiery, regiment
after regiment, pouring in at the base of
Round mountain in the north. pressing
steadily toward the gap in the south. The
earth vibrated to the tramp OF many feet
in time to flies and drums. And there!-and
THEREON every hand wavered and tapped,
RUSTY blood-stained and battlefront, the
flags Of her country.
Presently veteran regiment swung down
the pike and debouched into the field oppi-
site, making way for a detachment Of cav
airy which passed at rapid trot. The
men broke ranks; one of two Immediately
crossed to the house. A dozen followed; in
a trice half the regiment pressed about the
kitchen door and the well curb.
She dressed hastily and descended to the
kitchen, where she found highly excited
negro cook vigorously repeliing the humor-
ously amorous advances of tattered
scamp-a sergeant by his stripes
"G' long now, yo' whftemen,' she shrilled.
'fAh amt got no ordehs. All done tole yo'.
Dinah d do mos anytin' foh uh Union
sodger, but she amt got omission. Gwuf-
fun heah, all tells yo!
Then he fell back. removing his cap and
bowling as the girl entered. Excuse me.
Miss
But the girl interrupted him.
''Dinah, cook everything you can. Make
coffee-have 'Lige bring up hams from the
smoke house. and"
Deed. Missy Betty, Dinah will. Oh.
thank de-"
you're most kind, Miss" said the ser
Kind" she echoed. "what-why. you
poor boy, you look half starved"
The man smiled; he was at least ten
years her senior.
1--WE are" he confessed. IA night march
sharpens up appetites fearfully. We can
only thank you now, but I'll see that you
are paid"
Indeed, you must do nothing Of the sort.
This is the least we can DO"
A negro boy tugged at her sleeve.
missy Betty, Massa wants yo'"
When she re-entered the kitchen 1t was
deserted but for Dinah. The last soldier
was disappearing around the corner Of the
to rejoin his command.
"Dinah, think you'd better tell 'Lige to
ride over for the doctor"
''Lawsy, Missy. he amt worseT
mo, don't think he is worse He Is ex-
cited and irritable he worries about Fred.
you know. He blames me for letting him
go. Poor father!'
'Poor III Missyv'
from the servants sympathy. She stood
irresolute in the hallway until presently
sanctuary offered and she went to 1t gladly
"a sacred place, ever inviolate from sun
light; quiet, cool, fragrant with pot-pourri.
It had been her mothers room
Painting, she sank upon the bed. Tne
singing pain of her fathers injustice. love
and pity for him. fears for the safety, for
which trembled in the air; these stirred
her Her mind turned to her absent broth
err, the well-beloved black sheep of the
family, a runaway to the wars. she had
silence-had deemed It but right that he
should go. For this she was so blamed!
AS II she did not care. as If, since his de-
parture her life had not been one constant
prayer for his safety;
BY degrees she came 70 the reiief OF tears
and wept convulsively then In an instant
lay still, strangitng q sob In her throat,
acutely conscious of an Intrusive presence.
She could plainly hear a rapid breathing,
sharp and regular, go different from the
soft flutterlng of her own. She steeled her
self against the terror which gripped her
heart and rose, intending fight: but be-
tween her and the door, dimly outlined in
the half light, doomed q tall, erect, boyish
figure. She shranks back.
''Fred!" she cried. erasping at a fugitive
hope. us it you. deAfTF
..No-not Fred"
..Then-then who are your Her voice
rose Historically. NE@ !
"Quiet! o. for Cod ssake. quiet! All.
beg your pardon, but opuidn't bear to hear
you crying like tai you mustn't. you
know. am sorry1Sh$ye frightened You,
but -
who are you, s{ra Why should / be
quiet?
please. beg Of you! I'll explain: II
am here on duty" The boy stiffened him
self, and with a touch Of youthful bra
yado, added. Pm on special duty and
must not be caught. It's important. really.
No one should know-you wouldn't have If
you hadn't cried so's
She marked the soft infection of his
speech. suspicion; crystallizing in her
: