The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-11

derson's brigade was marching from
the encircling woods. immediately in
front was the encampment of the Con-
federate brigadeS, and here was the
secret of Woods rejoicing, for it had
been deserted several hours. Taking
fright. the Confederates had fed in
the night. leaving the mounted out
post as a blind to cover the retreat.
His warning to the sentry had done no
harm. and Capt. Woods reputation
was saved.
The fire famed up brightly, and the
Capt. Wood of other days awoke to
his surroundings with a start. THAT
showed that l did not fear to do
right" he said to himself.
Yes" the nnbidden thought sprang
up, but what has that to do with this
case? Are you showing mercy now?"
Il am insuring my daughters hap
piness."
How do you know" Knocked the
other self. rs she not capable of
choosing? Is McLanes poverty a
cr..ne? What else is there against
him p
Many times the colonel travelled the
weary mental round, always approving,
always condemning. At 10 o'clock he
was back again to the giant soldier
beneath the tree. Somehow the man.
meteor who had crossed his mental
sky but once in forty years, but whose
light had proven torch to his feet,
seemed intimately connected with the
perplexity. His memory seemed to
supplicate-this time for another
Southerner. 1t was another little war;
this, the crisis of the battle.
The room was dark now; the fire had
settled to bed of Goals. glowing dim
ly on the hearth. The colonel. sunk
in his easy chair. seemed to hear the
roar of the thunder. the patter of the
rain: to feel the two sharpshooter, s
guns at the Ready" kneeling beside
conscious figure leaning on the long
gun:
Jesus, lover of my soul.
Let me to Thy bosom fly"
A splendid baritone voice of peculiar
timbre sang the verses, the familiar
words made more attractive by the
singers Southern accent. How great
was the power of Imagination, to bring
back the mans very voice.
But this was not imagination. The
song was being sung; it was ringing
through the house on that instant. In
amazement he rose and crossed the
hall, pausing in the doorway of the
parlor. His daughter was at the piano.
McLane, the Southerner, was singing.
Grace had told him of her fathers de-
cision, and the words we're at once a
prayer, benediction and a farewell.
you sing WE'LL said the colonel
quietly, as the last stanza closed.
THAT is my favorite song, Mr.. Nc
Lane"
"And mine, sir. sing it often"
Grace had turned from the piano in
surprise at her fathers presence. Her
eyes were trimming, but she smiled
bravely.
ut is an old hymn" went on the
Colonel; 'others of your family may
have known and liked it. Your uncle,
or your father, perhaps?"
If McLane thought it strange, this
sudden interest in his affairs on the
part of a man who had just refused
to consider him as a son-in-law, he did
not show it. He answered readily and
simply. ut is my fathers favorite,
too. In fact, he thinks it saved his
life once"
would you mind telling me the
story?"
Grace, her eager lips half parted,
gazed from her father to her lover
and back again. Something strange,
and of which she knew not the drift,
was happening; but her wonran's at
titude was favorable, and the soft
color mounted to her cheeks.
well, you see, sir" began McLane,
"he was a Confederate soldier and in
'63 he was left with an outpost to
guard the retreat of Guthries men in
Kentucky. Guthrie heard that he was
to be attacked at daybreak, SO he left
in the night. General Lee had forbid
den an engagement.
my father was the farthest picket.
He expected that the attack would
be delivered from across the river in
front of him, and that he would be the
first. to fall. Just before daybreak
something told him his hour had
come. 1t was storming, and he thought
of mother, who had promised to wait
until after the war for him. He
couldn't retreat until ordered, for that
would be cowardly; but he was afraid,
he said, so he sang. All this may not
be of interest to you, sir"
ION the contrary. it is Of the deep
est interest. Pray, go on"
His instinct, or reasoning, as to the
presence of the enemy was correct,
for he had barely finished the second
stanza when Union officer jumped
up from the bushes just ahead, and
warned him to watch out. At the
same instant the commander OF the
outpost discovered the Union troops in
force to the west, and the assembly,
was sounded They mounted their
horses and got safely away. The in
fantry of the main body had seven
hours start, and the Yankees never
caught up."
Did he tell you when and where
this happened?"
Yes, he did. II was
Let me tell" said the colonel. 1T
was on the Smoky river, Oct. "a, 1868,
and was the Union officer"
Half an hour later the comparison
of notes had been about completed.
and the war brought to a satisfactory
conclusion. Grace, bright-eyed and
very happy. sat between the two men
on the sofa, and McLane surrepti-
tiously obtained possession OF her
hand. He was casting about for some
method of asking permanent possess
sion Of IT. when the colonel himself
solved the problem.
Il want to see your father, John. -
he remarked for the tenth time, and
l think he'd like to see me. But that
can be easily arranged; of course he'll
be here. and yOur mother too far the