Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-01-26

Drought the information that the long
dining room where had passed the
night on guard had been converted in
10 a temporary hospital.
Irrssolute as to my next action,
passed out into the upper hall. 1t was
deserted and strangely silent, seem
ingly far removed from all those ter
rible scenes so lately enacted In the
rooms beneath. My head by this time
throbbed with pain, | desired to be
alone, to think, TO map out my future
course before proceeding down the
stairs to meet the others. With this
in view l sank down in complete
WEAKNESS upon q convenient set
tee. My heavy head sank back
upon the arm Of the settee. and
ueep sleep closed my eyes. 1t
as in my dreams | felt 1t first--a
Aght, moist touch upon my burning
toreAeao--and imagined l was a
ch..d once more, back at the old home,
cslessed by the hand of my moth
ac Dut as CO Usness slowly re-
urned / beg te regnze dimly where
WIS. and & vas no longer alone
q gentle hal0 was stroking back the
-ir IRON on telapies. while the
arrest upii my eyelids revealed
ne folds a dst& alue skirt pressing
close to my side instantly realized
.ho must be ar. and remained
motloniess al souid better con-
troll my first Rwlse impulse.
She spoke no word, and | cautiously
opened my eyes and glanced up into
her face. For time she remained
unaware of my awakening, and sat
there silently stroking my forehead,
her gaze fixed musingly upon the
window at the farther end Of the hall.
Doubtless she had been sitting thus
for some time, and had become alb.
sorbed in her own reflections, for
lay there drinking In her beauty for
several moments before she CHANGED
to glance downward and observe that
| was awake. l think the very In
tensity of my gaze awakened her from
reyerie, for she turned almost with
start and looked down upon me. AS
our eyes met, warm wave of color
dyed her throat and cheeks crimson.
Why" she exclaimed in momentary
confusion. Il supposed / should know
before you awoke and have ample
time to escape unobserved. dis
covered you lying here. You were
resting very uncomfortably when
first came, and felt 1t my duty to
render your position as easy as pos
gible. did not forget that your ia
tigue came In our defense"
Gould you not say in yours?'
corrected. But I have already been
more than repaid. Your hand upon
my brow was far more restful than
] can tell you-its soft stroking min
gled in my dreams even before awoke.
1t brought back to me the thought OF
my mother. do not think have had
woman's hand press back my hair
since l was q child"
There was look Of pain upon your
face as you lay sleeping, and | thought
1t might ease you somewhat. / have
had some experience as nurse. yon
know" she explained quietly. "You
mentioned your mother; IL she yet
living7"
She is in Richmond, stopping with
friends, but since my capture we have
lost all trace of each other. / was
reported as having been killed in ac-
ton, and l doubt If she even yet
knows the truth. Everything 10
so confused in the capital that
it is impossible to trace any
one not directly connected with the
army, once you lose exact knowledge
of their whereabouts
Your father, then, is dead?"
HE yielded his life the first year
of the war; and our plantation near
Charlottesville has been constantly in
the track of the armies. One rather
important battle, indeed. was fought
upon it, SO you may realize that 1t 10
now desolate and utterly unit for hab-
itation."
The house yet stands?"
1.-THE chimney and one wall alone re-
manned when I was last there" re-
piled, glad OF the interest she exhib-
tied. Fortunately two of the negro
cabins were yet standing Doubtless
these will form the nucleus OF our
home when the war ceases: they
win prove tribe better than the
mere sky"
THE south Is certainly paying ter
rible price for rebellion" she said so
berly, her fine eyes filled with tears. II
am sure have tarried here quite a.
long as I should. now that can be Of
no further service"
As she gathered her skirts in her
hand preparatory to descending the
stairs, / yielded to temptation and
stopped her. Right or wrong I must
yet have one word more.
II beg of you do not desert me SO
soon. This may prove our final meet
ing-indeed, / fear 1t must be; sure
ly, then, 1t need not be so brief .
one?"
Our final meeting7"
She echoed nv words AZ fhnugh