The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-01-18


continue 10 singe my wings until the
flame devoured me. Now, however, as
we actually drew near to where l sup
posed she might be, felt my earlier
courage fast deserting me. Nor was
l furnished with even the slightest
excuse for pressing on; my orders did
not positively compel me to proceed
and nothing appeared along the way
to 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 fercely for the Shenandoah, 1t had
been traversed only by few scouting
and foraging 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. It 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 I
for going there? In my own heart
knew had none. or one so poor and
3liish : scarcely burst whisper II even
-c mvscf;. yet ] rode steadily on. I'm
'i', '5 my own weakness, or drawn
. ... 3N hichever the
~ would at
least look upon those walls that had
once sheltered her, would learn II pos
sible If she was yet there. Then
well, in the bondage Of my passion
hoped for what might happen, as
every lover does.
1t 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 recrossed 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. not even a stray negro, and I'm.
deed 1t was some hours since we had
passed house of any kind. Leaving
the brook behind us we toiled slowly
up long hill, and at the top Bungay,
riding beside me. pointed to the west.
ward.
Cap" he said. thar is ther Minor
place"
The very sight OF II In the distance
was a thrill-a great white house
placed we'll back from the road and
almost hidden from sight by fine.
large trees an old-fashioned, big.
roomed house It looked to be. built
after the colonial type, a wide veranda
upon three sides, with fluted columns
to support the overhanging roof.
"Hain't no signs es fer es | kin see
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'."
or course, now 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
l had ventured to come to her In love.
nor could look into those clear. hon
est, questioning eyes and lie.
Haiti" l ordered. Sergeant"
Il am here, Captain"
Take your men down into that hol-
low yonder, and remain there until |
return. Better post sentry on the
hill here"
1t viii be done. Captain"
Il shall not, probably, be absent
more than an hour. SO don't permit the
men to stray"
Dot Is 1t, Captain. I will be nit
dem all over"
l rode down alone into the thick
woods at the foot OF the hill, and dis
tied my horse to a sapling.
Then on foot I struck across the
helds, my intention being to come In
BY the way Of the negro quarters at
he rear, in hope of meeting some one
rom whom ! might inquire relative
% the great house and its inmates.
1t was a slight upward trend OF
and I had to traverse. and although
he house was most slightly object
md stood upon the very summit of the
elevation, yet so surrounded was 1t
With trees, both fruit and ornamental,
was enabled to make but little of Its
situation until I approached the out
l met with no one, nor
'ould l perceive any negroes about
he slave quarters. Yet the place did
lot bear the appearance OF desertion.
There were horses In the stable, a cat
vas curled up on one OF the cabin
loor steps, and smoke continued to
l..