The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-31

was destined to last ten long, weary months.
 General Lee sent as large force as he dared detach under Early, once more to march down the Shenandoah valley and threaten Washington Sheridans orders from Grant were | to press Early and cut Lees commun1- 1 cations by which he got supplies from l the rich valley for his dwindling army l This was a large contract for the I young commander of the Army of the l Shenandoah If he could fulfill it, i Richmond was doomed and the days 1 of the Confectionery were numbered.
 Moreover. this was the region where l the prestige of the Federal arms most ! sore1y needed reIla bilitation. 1 Hence the desirability, as Grant said. I of Sheridans driving the enemy out of 1 the valley and of leaving nothing there 1 to invite their return. With some idea l of the magnitude of the task before 1 him, but confident in the strong back
 ing and broad discretion given him by l the lieutenant general, Sheridan made 1 his plans to sweep the valley so clean
 that crow flying over it would have l to carry it's rations.''
 The defenders met this move with 1 relatively small force, but including as
 many troops as possible who had pre- l viously tramped the Winchester pike with ''Stonewall'' Jackson's foot cav
 alry.' Among these youthful veterans l now led by Jubal Early was Colonel
 Robert Ellingham-still Bob to his V1r- l ginia comrades, as once again he faced 1 homeward.
 1 Homeward indeed he marched, yet with strange feelings of anxiety and | l1v c. 1 tune had taken of late pursued them i now even beyond the Blue Ridge
 mountain walls? Far south, in Geor- l gia, Sherman's army was marching vic 1 toriously to the sea. The Confederacy l had been cut in twain by the fall of Vicksburg and again by the loss of At lanta. Now Sheridan proposed to es-
 tablish a line of communication with i his base of supplies at Washington
 that would subdivide Virginia and iso-
 late Richmond. The hardshfps as well
 as the horrors of war, were now com
 ing home to the people of the valley as
 never before.
 But ripened summer was all around, and outward peace and plenty abound ed that late August afternoon when
 Ellingham galloped up the sunlit linden
 avenue to Belle Bosquet- Gertrude rushed out from the veranda to meet
 him. She was re-enforced by buxom
 and animated young person wearing a blue dress of military cut and a sol dier's cap.
 Why, Miss Buckthornf' exclaimed
 Bob fiinging himself from the saddle and throwing the bridle of his horse to
 Josephus Orangeblossom. the negro
 hostier. who grinned an effusive dental welcome. ttIt is a delightful surprise to see you here-makes me think the war is over''
 rThank you. Lieutenant-oh, pardon
 me, I mean Colonel El1ingham, of course," responded Jenny. Hearts
 ease has come over to the valley, and
 so has papa-with General Sheridan.
 I hope there won't be any serious mis-
 understanding Meanwhile I am
 prisoner of hospitality. and I'm in no hurry to be exchanged"
 And now, Robert Gertrude went i Hl eagerly, prepare yourself for more
 news. Some one else whom you know 1 Is coming
 ..Madeline-but. no''-
 1 But yes. How did you think of it?
 She was in Washington visiting Mrs
 Haverill, and urged her to come over
 here and see us-tIlat before I knew of 6
 keep their plans so secret, you know.
 But Madeline accepted the invitation,
 and she's coming anyway
 'Rcrrah!v cried Bob. dustered out of all self control Well, Sis, that's big | surprise you've sprung-and now, let's see what I can do in the same line. You have announced Madeline, maybe
 I can give you some information about her brother Kerchival.''
 Gertrude uttered little cry and her hand trembled as she laid it impulsive- i ly upon her brothers shoulder. Yes he continued, with sudden
 seriousness. you know. Sheridan is | bringing oyer lot of people He has the whole Sixth corps of the Army of the Potomac, under Major General Wright, understand, besides a divi- sion of the Nineteenth corps, and I
 don't know how much of the Army of Western Virginia, with General Crook. Besides, they say he is especially strong in cavalry, under Torbert, with such brigadier troopers as Wilson and Mer- ritt and Custer. Our General Early has got some re-enforcement- from Long streets corps and will try to make 1t interesting for Sheridan when he
 comes down Winchester way. Yes, girls, as I was saying, we expect to have rather busy time.''
 Poor Bob said this in an offhand,
 fippant tone, but he was in an agony of apprehension lest he should be far away from Belle BosQuet when Made
 line West arriyed-if, indeed, she did safely reach that destination.
 His fears in regard to the first part
 of the proposition were quickly real ized. The very next day he was or dered to join his regiment at Shep- herdstown, on the Potomac, where the Federal army was starting its vigorous offensive campaign
 Madeline West, as gentle and loving 1 as she was loyal and courageous, came