Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-09-19
CHAPTER xxIL
cOSrrSUED.

fold their hands and cry. Madame
Souvestre. IN whose mansion Fairfax
was receiving such tender nursing,
went ont every day 70 sew for the
army. At the Livingston home was
where most of this work was done. a.
least so far as Madame Sonvestre's
circle was concerned. and there, from
early morning until the dinner hour,
a throng 90 ladies cat and stitched
and wrought with lively, Is not happy,
chatter. keeping mp brave show OF
nerve aud confidence. while their .
husbands, fathers. brothers and lovers +
dug snd shoveled with pick aud spade /
IN the muddy sand. building line Of I
breastworks from the river near Chal- /
mette across 20 the swamp.
Madame Souvestre was considered
the most favored one of her circle.
To have a brave, young soldier.
wounded almost 20 death, a. her
speciel charge. 70 care for IN her own
house. with her own hands, seemed 70
all those noble-hearted and patriotic
women the very highest possible
honor.
Il an just as jealous OF you as
can be-" said Mrs Livingston, one
dav. after the sewing task was over
and the other ladies had gone away,
"and I think 1t selfish Of you, dear.
not 20 alloy me even 20 see your brave
young patient.
"But the doctor forbade it, you
know, and said that he mnst see no
one-no one must even speak 20
him-he must have absolute quiet
Yes, that was just what he said, abso-
lutte quiet
''You viii be falling in love
with ham, Hortensc, Mrs. Liv-
ingston remarked, after Int
tie further conversation had dis
closed Madame Souvcstrc's enthusi-
astic admiration OF tlc young man s
personal appearance, "auo that wni
be romantic-it will be like novel.
What dil You say Is his Nance
FAIRFAX. Ii has O noble sound
hasn't it2 But. no, with q little
sigh. "tAere is no more romance To-
me"
Madame S0uvestro's husband has
been killed ia q ducl only a month al
ter her marriage, two years gone 10y
Re was q noted swordsman, but whc
he met Colonel Loring under thu due.
ing OAKS. il was Death that he fence
with, aud he was run through AT ia
third pass.
'Forsive me, dear" cooed Mr..
livingston, taking the petite form !
her arms. Il am always saying som'
thing foolish. You arc zoo good az
sweet 20 Lo the victim OF my teasin
tongue
She kissed her and then held her .
arms,length 10 look lovingly az ho
"You are so beautiful, dear, that
I were man 1 know / should ste
YOU. couldn't help it,"
Madame Souvestro laughed, hal
blushing at her friends enthusiast
She broke away and said.
Il must 20 back 10 him; he needs
grea. deal OF care, that hero OF mine
Mrs. Livingston stood smiling
the door when her friend was gone.
"She loves him already, the ht
warm. hearted witch" she muse
"and il he's even hale a man he W
love her. Heigh-ho. / wish this "
was overt
She clasped her hands, and
light faded ont OF her face II was
every evening after the ladies W.
all gone and the house had beco
silent. She nearly always Went 70
dinner with tear-stained lace a
with feveush eyes.
Fair,@z did not improve as rapi'
As Madame Souyestre had hoped
but he bore up bravely enough O
showed little sign of dangerous Il
Iessness until the night OF the 18th
January, when CrapaUd Crapous
went back to the army.
'rhey need me, " the dwarf 81
sand 1 want 10 60. You eau do W
out me Tor few hours"
He smiled in his hilcously affect
ate way and fondled the sick -,
hloodiess haZd.
Madame SouvestTe tried 10 persu
him no. to leave her. but he could
be iSduenced. he had received v
that the battle would be on before
light OF the following day, and
creole blood was hot with fight
Il will be back to bring you
news OF the victory before suuse
morrow" he said, with queer Or.
tic intOnation.
Then ne kissed the hand OF Fai
and was of.
Madame Souvestre cried little
cast herself upon pfleuleu,
hands held forth beseechingly.
Fairfax watched her as If thr'
some sweet mist of tenderness.
plump little figure. the peri
poised head, the softly rounded
and beautiful, tiny hands were
bewitching auxiiiaries 70 the
childlike, almost sanity face uPt1
IN prayer.