The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-06-16

! faces OF the men in the crowd. The
. wrath in his eyes did Tot alter her de-
! cision 70 single him out. Her woman's
instinct noted his military bearing,
whitening hair and saw the knight err
rantry beneath the anger in his eyes.
Please. will you-alI tell me the name
Of this town." she asked with the IN
mistakable southern accent.
Mound Valley, miss" replied the ma
jor, lifting his hat while the sound Of
her clear low voice brought back the
memor of running Kentucky brooks
and his mother.
Missouri" hopeflly asked the girl.
NO, Kansas" replied the major puZ-
zled at his own reluctance.
Her much repaired straw hat had
slipped back exposing her fine oval face.
1t was difficult to be sure, but under
the tan Of much exposure, Il the light
Of the western sun, he thought she paled
with the look of worry which deepened
IN her brown eyes.
You're six miles over the state line,
volunteered the hack driver.
The girl glanced back under the wag-
on cover. looked thoughtfully down at
the trembling old horse, hen straight
ahead at the wooded river bottom, and
back again at a welI-flIed grocery VIM
dow.
The men stood about staring curious
Iy and awkwardly, making no offers Of
assistance. Movers were an every day
occurrence in that sunny climate, and
were as a rule to be regarded with sus-
riciOn. Before the major could gather
his wits, the girl shook the reins weari-
L. ~ Il lN--- a-I ~ -hnII,
+ vehicle ratified on down the sloping
| street to the foot Of the hill, around
| the road by the mill. over the little
bridge that crossed the race and was
| hidden from sight by the tender green
| willows of the river bottoms. There
was noticeable a ~lessening of tension
| among the men.
Reckon, now she never meant to git
| strayed across the line said the hack
| driver; an I couldn't see nobody back
under the cover. If they was anybody.
| they was lyin' fiat on the bottom"
Well, she'll find company down by
| the river. The banks are full of cam
pers." said the capt in, trying to re-
lieve his mind OF all responsibility.
Major Anderson was silent, ard
| thoughtfully looked through his mail.
The battle of Antietam was wholly for
| gotten in the memory of the girls pa
thetic dark eyes. He thought of her as
a stranger unexpectedly precipitated
| into the midst of those she no doubt re-
| garied as enemies to a lost cause. She
| came between him and his busy plans
| for Memorial Day, when, in his full
majors uniform, and riding his blood
| ed mare, he was to head the procession
as lie had u~nfailingly done for many
years. The girls soft voice. bringing
memories of the old home. torn and
scattered by dissensiOn. fingered in his
ears as he tried to enjoy his after-sup-
per smoke.
If 1 had only proffered her some as
sistance." thought the major. His con-
science arose in its might and made him
utterly wretched. He thought of the
lonely ~gently-bred girl, campaign that
night among the gypsies, tramps and
emigrants who haunted river banks. He
fidgeted about the house uneasily. snap
| ped GROSSLY at his Old hOuSekeeper, and
finally went To the stable n let out
his beautiful mare. Down over the
/ m~ill-race bridge, through the willows
and across the big river bridge. the
mares hOOfs beat time to the mans
uneasy heart. At the other end of the
bridge were the white tents of he cam
pers, thanked by their canvas covered
wagons. y dozen lazy columns of
smoke curIed up from the fires. \ dark
| sWarthy man with great gold earrings.
was watering horses at the river bank.
| His eyes roved greedily over the mare
as the freight glinted across her satin
I skin and tho no in~ rri,rcI hn, l~;J11
with cautious pride as he ~dismounted.
| OdorS of fried fish n coffee still inger-
ed in the air. out the campers were
grouped about the pitiful wagon with
| the patched cover. There were poverty
stricken emigrants moving west, gyp-
| sizes going nowhere in particular, and a
plentiful s~prinkIing of children and
| dogs.
On the thiu of the old wagon sat the
| girl, her lace hidden in her hands, sob
bing as though her heart would break
The campers drew back. abashed by
the majors commanding presence, bu
| the girl sobbed on.
Her father just died" whispered a
! sympathetic emigrant woman, an she
| amt got any money TO bury him with
She didn't have enough to buy any
supper even. fer she's used up every
thing docterin' an movin' him arounG
the country"
TIL" girl caught the whisper. looke5
up and instantly recognized the military
figure. gray hair and trUsty eyes she
had singled out from the crowd befor,
the T">tn:ic-. She sprang to her Zee,
ana faced the old soldier with the tear:
Sltter.ug upon her cheeks.
The majors eyes We're dim as h.
bowed low before the s~orrowing figure
4 should deem il a great favor TO b,
allowed - assist YOU Miss -
Lee. Rachel Lee supplied The sir
proudly. My father was Major LIE,
Of the Confederate army"