The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1912-03-11
CHAPTER XIV.
Ellen.

Ellen.
Wy autumn / was one of the young
X est colonies in the Federal
army. Thus IL was easy for me
IL to lind brief furlough WREN
we passed near. Leesburg on our way
to the Blue Ridge Gap, and I then
ran down for look at our valley.
I found DR.. Bond in his little brick
office at the top Of the hill overlook
ing the village. 1t was he who first
showed me the Richmond papers with
lists of the Confederate dead. Colo
mel Sheraton's name was among the
first saw. He had been with Cum
ming's forces, closely opposed to my
own position at Bull Run. His son
Harry, practically at his side. was Sc
riously. possibly fatally. wounded and
was now in hospital at Richmond.
showed DR.. Bond the last writing
of Gordon Orme and put before him
the Bank of England notes that I had
found on Orme's person, and which.
by the terms of his testament. l
thought might perhaps belong to me.
"Could use any Of this money with
clean conscience" I asked. Gould it
honorably be employed in the discharg-
ing of the debt Orme left on my fam
ily?"
"a part of that debt you have al
ready caused him to discharge" the
old doctor answered slowly. you
would be doing wrong If you did no.
oblige him to discharge the rest"
l counted out and laid on the desk
before him the amount Of the funds
which my fathers memoranda showed
had been taken from him by Orme
that fatal night more than a year ago.
The balance of the notes tossed into
the little crate. and with no more ado
we burned them there.
We concluded our conference In re-
gard to my business matters. I learn
ed that the coal lands had been re-
deemed from foreclosure, Colonel Meri-
wether having advanced the necessary
funds: and as this now left our debt
running to him, instructed DR.. Bond
to take steps to cancel 1t Immediately
and to have the property partitioned
as/Colonel Meriwether should deter
mine.
"And now. Jack" said my wire hair
ed old friend. "here's something you
ought to see. 1 saved it for you over
there the morning you threw it into
the fireplace"
He spread out on the top Of the
desk folded bit of hide. Familiar
enough it was to me.
"You saved but half" I said. "The
other half is gone"
He pushed fake Of snuff far up
his long nose. yes" said he quietly
81 sent it to her some three months
ago"
"What did she say?"
Nothing, you fool. What did you
expect?
"Now. my son." he concluded saw
agely, 81; you ever dreamed of marry
ing any other woman dash me IL
wouldn't come into court and make
this indenture witness for you both
for her as well as you! Go on away
| now, and don't bother me any more"
Our forces passed up the valley of
Virginia and rolled through the old
Rockfsh gap. We overspread all the
Piedmont valley and passed down to
the old town of Charlottesville. 1t
was nearly deserted now. The gay
southern boys who in the past rode
! there with their negro servants and
set at naught good Thomas jefferson
intent OF simplicity in the narrow lit
tie chambers of the old University of
Virginia now were gone with their
horses and their servants. Today you
| may see their names in bronze on the
tablets at the university doors.
I had CHARTERED my men about the
quiet old place when heard the voice
of my sentry challenge and caught an
| answering word Of indignation in a
woman's voice.
A low. single seated cart was halted
| near the curb, and one of its occupants
was apparently much angered. saw
her clutch the long brown rife barrel
which extended out at the rear over
the top Of the seat. "You git out'n the
road. man." repeated she. cor I'll take
! a shot at you for luck. We done come
| this fur, and reckon we en- 60 the
| rest the way"
That could be no one but old Mandy
| McGOyern. For the sake of amuse-
+, ment I should have left her to make
her own argument with the guard had
| 1 not in the same glance caught sight
| of her companion. trim figure in close
fitting corduroy of golden brown, a
wide hat of russell straw shading her
| face. 1t was Ellen!
Her face went rosy red as l has