Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-06-20

balance ana feli down tne Silppefy straw
cackling and fluttering, full in the strang-
er's upturned face. The startled man
springing to his feet, found himself staring
into the barrels of PrisciIla's formidable
weapon.
"March out of the barn, if you pleaseP
she ordered, in the strangely even tones
caused by suppressed excitement. "You
are my prisoner /! II you run, I'll shoot
Don't think ! can't, for father taught me,
and can hit a man as well as a target. y
The soldier, who still seemed dazed
with sleep, stumbled obediently along,
while Priscilla followed, with her pisto
carefully aimed. Out of the barn-yard
she marched him straight to the LOOM
house, where Candacy sat plying her
shuttle.
"Open the cloth-room door, Candacyp'
commanded the girl, and Candacy, accuS-
toned to obey without question, did as
she was bid. The man in blind, stumb-
ling fashion entered the dark apartment.
Priscilla Immediately closed the heavy
door and turned the ponderouS key in
the lock; this done, she sank into chair,
weak and trembling with excitement.
"Lawsy, missy, amt you Skeered O.
dat man ? He look lax a sho-' -'nough
Yankee sojer to mel" whispered the
awed Candacy.
81 found him asleep in the barn." said
Priscilla, who, now that her task was ac-
-complished, felt strangely faint and sick.
"And I'm going to keep him locked up
here tonight. In the morning I'll send to
town and tell them TO come and take him
to prison"
"But he mought have some knives and
pistols bout him. and get out and kill us
all tonight! Better lemme 60 call Ant'ny
out de fieP and SEN TO town right away p
urged Candacy. in terror.
"No," said Priscilla, nobody is to
know about him till they come to take
him away. brought him here just to
keep Nanny Jane and the servants from
being scared out OF their wits. You can
sleep in my room tonight" continued
Priscilla, to quiet CaIdacy's fears. "You
can come up to my room now. Pm max
ing Liza's twins some slips, and you can
sew on them while Pm reading Ivan
hoe"
But Candacy shook her head. "My
mind too unsettled to listen to novel;
books now, missy. I'd be thankful TO
hear piece out'n de Testament, please,
ma'am."
So when they were safe in her own
little room, Priscilla opened her Bible to
read to Candacy. And in the chapter
that she read were these words: 81 was
stranger, and ye took me in: Twas sick,
and ye visited me: was in prison, and
ye came unto me-"
Priscilla was an ardent Confederate.
To her young mind the soldiers OF the
other side were monsters OF iniquity.
Was not her own father lying wounded
in far-off hospital because OF them !?
But-and the words seemed to sound in
her ears as if a "stil small voice" had
spoken them, 81 was sick, and in prison,
and we came unto me-"
This soldier of the Union was her
countrys enemy, but he was in prison,
and she must minister unto his needs.
She was not a Christian, else.
That night, when the early supper was
over, the servants gone 10 their homes
for the night, and only Priscilla and Can
dacy in the house, for Antony, making
the rounds of the quarters, had not yet
come, Priscilla spoke. "CandacY," she
said, "we must carry that man some sup
per. There is NOTHING left but some cold
corn bread and meat, so you must broll a
chicken and cook some rice"
Now Candacy was too well-trained to
"talk back" although privately she con-
sidered cold bread and meat quite good
enough for Yankee prisoner. 1t did
not take her long to boil the rice in a
skillet over the Goals and broil the chick
en-. When the dishes were ready, Pris-
ella placed them on tray, with silver
knife and fork, napkin, a goblet, and a
pitcher of creamy milk.
Candacy watched these preparations
with silent wonder. Here was her young
mistress preparing a meal tor this miSer-
able Yankee as if he were some thigh
quality person
"Now," said Priscilla, "you take the
tray, and I'll carry the pistol, and Ian
tern and matches. The moons shining,
so we won't light the lantern till we get
10 the loom-houSe. Antony is already in
bed. heard him come in, so we must
Mt make any noise, or we might wake
him."
Carefully they made their way across
the back yard to the loom-house. Pris-
ella lighted her lantern in the large room.
She could hear no sound from the inner
chamber. Unlocking the door win:
trembling fingers, she bade Candacy en-
ter with the tray, while she followed with
the pistol and the lantern.
The soldier was lying on pile OF mat
tresses placed in a corner OF the room;
he was awake, and sat up, blinking at
the light of the lantern. Indeed, he was
a very Misunderstanding enemy. Even
in that din light he showed plainly how
wretchedly unkempt and haggard ne was.
.I've brought you some supper" Pris-
ella said, gently, while Candacy, setting
the tray on a stool within his reach.
promptly retreated behind her mistress.
With look of wolfish hunger in his
eyes, the man limped forward and took