Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1912-03-01

name devOured me. Now, however, as
we actually drew near to where sup
posed she might be, felt my earlier
courage fast deserving me, Nor was
| 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 evs-
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 ! note out
ward signs OF devastation. 1t was Vir-
GINA 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
for going there? In my own heart
knew had none, or one so poor and
selfish scarcely burst whisper it even
to myself: yet rode steadily on. I'M
PEELED by my own weakness, or drawn
irresistibly by fate-whichever the
real cause | know not-l would al
least look upon those walls that had
once sheltered her, would learn if pos
sible If she was yet there Then
we'll. 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 stray negro, and in
deed it 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 Bur gay.
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 thrill-a great white house
placed well back from the road and
almost hidden from sight by fine.
large trees an old-fashioned, big
roomed house 1t looked to be, built
after the colonial type. wide veranda
upon three sides, with futed 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 smokin'."
Of 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
had ventured to come to her in love,
est questioning eyes and lie.
Haiti" ordered. Sergeant"
81 am here. Captain"
Take your men down into that hol-
low yonder, and remain there until
return. Better post sentry on the
hill mere"
st will be done. Captain"
II shah not, probably. be absent
more than an hour, 80 don't permit the
men II stray
Dot is it, Captain will b. NIT
dem all over
| rode down alone into the thick
woods at the foot of the hill. and dis
mounting, tied my horse to sapling.
Then on foot struck across the
fields, my intention being to come in
by the way OF the negro quarters at
the rear. in hope of meeting some one
from whom | might inquire relative
to the great house and its inmates.
1t was slight upward trend of
land | had to traverse. and although
the house was a most slightly object
and stood upon the very summit of the
elevation, yet so surrounded was 1t
with trees. both fruit and ornamental,
was enabled to make hut little of its
situation until approached the out
buildings | met with no one. nor
could perceive any negroes about
the slave quarters Yet the place did
not bear the appearance of desertion.
There were horses in the stable. cat
was curled up on one of the cabin
door steps. and smoke continued to
pour in a dull yellow cloud from the
kitchen chimney Altogether there
was much in the situation to puzzle
ever and | no longer regretted that