The Clovis news. [volume] (Clovis, N.M.) 1907-1929, 1912-02-22

E""A ALZ2 "Z
excuse for pressing on; my orders did
not positively compel me to proceed,
and nothing appeared along the way
70 lead me TO suppose that harm Of
any kind threatened that peaceful val
ley. Everything meeting my eyes evil
denced that here. at least, was with
its attendant horrors had not come.
Totally without the beaten track OF
those great armies which had battled
so hercely for the Shenandoah. It had
been traversed only by q few scouting
and foragins parties. and so short had
been their stay that even the rail
fences remained undisturbed to guard
the fields. and nowhere did l note out
ward signs Of devastation. 1t was vir-
ginia as | recalled it in those old days
Of peace and plenty, before civil strife
had sown the land with dead.
What possible excuse. then, had 1
for going there? In my wi heart
knew | had none, or one so poor and
selfish / scarcely burst whisper It even
to myself: yet / rode STEADILY IN. Inn
PEELED by my own weakness, or drawn
irresistibly by fate-whiehever the
real cause ] know notZl would at
least look upon those walls that had
once sheltered her, would learn If pos
sible If she was yet there. Then
well, in tho bondage Of my passion
hoped for what might happen, as
every lover does.
It must have been two o'clock; we
had baited our horses, / remember, an
hour previous; and the Sergeant had
enjoyed his MONDAY siesta beneath
the shade Of a great bush bearing pur-
pie blossoms. The road we had been
travelling since early morning wound
in and out among great trees. and
crossed and %reerossed the little stream
called the Cowskin until almost
thought we had lost our way. We met
with no one IN all the long days rid
ing. o even a stray negro, and in
deed it was some hours since we had
passed a house Of any kind. Leaving
the brook behind US we toiled slowly
up a long hill, and at the top Burgay,
riding beside me, pointed to the west
ward.
Cap" he said. thar is Their Minor
place"
The very sight Of it in the distance
was a thrill-a great white house
placed well back from the road and
almost hidden from sight by nne,
large trees an old-fashioned, big,
roomed house It looked to be, built
after the colonial type. a wide veranda
upon three sides, with fiuted columns
to support the o~verhanging roof.
"Hain't no signs es fer es ! kin SEQ
OF any trouble havin' Cured. thar,
Jed said slowly, his shrewd gray eyes
roaming over the peaceful scene
somebody ter hum tew. fer ther
chimley is a smokin'."
OF course. o / was there, the only
sensible thing for me to do would
have been to ride openly to the front
door, and thus learn all / desired. But
what man who loves. who is continual
ly swayed by hopes and fears. by
strength and weakness. ever does the
sensible thing? had certainly in.
tended doing so at the start, but now
my nerve failed me. She was the
wife Of another. / could not confess
mad ventured to come to her in love
nor could I look into those clear. hon
est. questioning eyes and lie.
Haiti" ordere- Sergeant"
Il am here, Captain"
Take your men down into that hoi
low yonder, and remain there until
; return. Better post a sentry on the
hill mere"
1T viii be done, Captain"
t Il shall not. probably, be absen.
more than an hour so don't permit th'
men n stray"
dot is it, Captain / viii be mi
dem an over"
rode down alone into the thicl
e woods at the foot Of the nil, and dis
e mounting. tied my horse to a saplng
D Then on foot / struck across thu
fields. my intention being TO come n
by the way of the negro quarters a
the rear. In hope Of meeting some on
from whom might inquire relatiy'
20 the great house and It's inmates.
1t was a slight upward trend O
land had TO traverse, and although
the house was a most slightly objec
and stood upon the very summit Of th'
b elevation. yet so surrounded was
with trees. both fruit and Ornamental.
was enabled to make hut little of u
L situation until approached the ou'
d buildings. met with no one. no
a could / perceive any negroes abou
the slave quarters Yet the place di
e not bear the appearance of deseruoT
There were horses in the stable, a ca
g was curled up on one Of the cabi
e door steps, and smoke continued I
IA pour 10 a dun yellow cloud from In
I kitchen chimney Altogether ther
n was much 10 the situation TO ppzzl
10 ever. and no longet regretted that
D. had exercised some caution In my al
u proach
* The orchard, with the remains OF
e. garden. lay between the house and tn
it stable. protected by a low fence
a. whitened pickets SO far as coul
observe. q contained nc occupant an
.d pushed oDen the gate and ktarte