The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-09-17


by Jove sent shell after shell into the
very midst OF the Confederates.
But long before the earth rocked I'M
der the explosions of Battery Il the
widows flying feet carried her swiftly
toward her son. A trailing vine--or
was II rein ?--canght her foot. and
she stumbled and fell
When she sat up and looked around
her she was shielded by huge bowl
der Its gray face rose out OF the en-
erald greensWard like wall. behind
which she now covered, trembling.
quiyering in every nerve.
The tops OF distant hills were all
crowned with batteries. In every d.
rection as far ms the eye could reach
the woods were tlcckcd With flashes.
They leaped from the haze Of low ~
Ing smoke like lightning. Straight
across great fields long lines of men
moved until the guns on the top OF
the hills yomited fire. Then the lines
wavered, swayed uncertainty and dis
appeared In the woods from which
they had emerged.
They came out of the woods ia even
lines. They sought cover again IN rag
ged, disordered masses. Sometimes
they came out again, advanced, Were
torn apart and melted away In haze.
The battle ragged all around her, AS
far as eye could see the flash and
sound of bursting shells met the eye
and smote the ear. Gazing now WIG
eyed at the rain of missiles that filled
the air, shrinking, clinging to the rock
in the midst of that chaos Of terror
spreading sounds unparalleled in his
tory, the widow stared as one who saw
not, who heard not, like one to whom
all sounds We're a terror.
The struggle had been in progress
five mortal hours when a mass Of men
and horses emerged from fringe of
woods just below her. The guns near
the widows house belched fire, the
mass of men and horses advanced
steadily. Another and another mass
came after them until the entire slope
was covered An arc OF fire from the
batteries above them smote the seeth-
ing, surging waves of humanity, men
and animals dashed against each other
In Wild dismay, and the declining sun,
seen through veil Of smoke, seemed
70 hang motionless in the west as the
wavering, INITIATED lines of assault
faded away in mist.
Then a silence, a grim silence as fear
full as the uproar Of all the battle
sounds, fell on the scene. The stiffness
was oppressive. Birds notes were
hushed; the shrilling of insects ceased.
All the earth was as silent as burned
out planet.
AS far as the eye could see the wild
ow looked on broken fences, crushed
wagons, horses lying in uncouth
shapes, vague specks that looked like
broken and twisted fence posts. These
last lay sngly and in groups far apart
from each other and at all angles.
They covered the slopes whichever
way she looked.
She was gazing now across the hill
who're Gettysburg lay when another
gust of musketry swept up the slope
Another followed and yet another
fainter still. Something battered on
the bare rock. The leaves of the tree
near her trembled, then the rain that
came to quench the thirst of the
wounded and dying descended.
Was it the sweet relief from the
steady roar. the confusion. the multi |
piiclty of shifting scenes and sounds |
and from that crushing silence that |
soothed and Gained the widow or did |
nature send solace and blessed sleep |
with the rain?
AT all events the widow slept
When she awoke with a start the |
earth was dripping She rose on the
instant. all her faculties sharpened. |
There was no rain of iron or lead now. |
1t was Gods merciful gift to man that
refreshed and sweetened the slopes |
once more.
She experienced no difficulty In pass |
ing the weary. battle worn guards. |
They scarcely turned to look at the 81
lent figure flitting past them.
She turned bend in the road. |
There. not 200 yards distant. she saw
her house. A dull CLEAN of dying en-
bers told her some one was lying there. |
Perhaps it was Battery Il. As she |
neared the house shadOwy forms re- |
solved themselves into tired men
buried in sleep. the embers into neg
lected camp fires.
But where were her sweet peas: /
Great rents were cut through the vines;
half at least had been trddden into the
ground by mems and horses feet.
Yes, and there was cap. She picked |
II up apd beheld the letter b.
Now She was seized with a horrible /
trembling. She put a hand over her
heart aud pressed on. on through her
ruined plots and vines. Not a sound