The Washington times., 1913-09-09
THE TIMES DAHL
THE PATRIOTS
The Story of Lee and the Lost Hope

, him, and Grafton knelt down by his
side. The young man. scarcely more
than q boy, was trying to speak.
| Captain" he WHISPERED, those let
tiers you will see. that she
gets
II WILL" answered Grafton.
| Death was an everyday matter in the
! army, but II never came home person
| ally to any man without his being
deeply affected by it, and this soldier OF
| the enemy. although he had frustrated
Graftons errand. had saved the lie,
the honor Of his wife; and Grafton was
You win find the address there
4 tell her : died Tor my
country. Could you say
. a prayer, do you think
Grafton had never prayed for anyone
| before-that is. he had never voiced
anyone else's prayer in public-and he
| felt q natural hesitation, false shame
| in doing II now, but the request was
one that he could not refuse. He took
of his hat and the men OF his detach-
.ment followed his example.
what shall 1 saS?' he asked nerv-
ously.
Il guess anything'n do So long
as It's . prayer"
Grafton was a churchman and. like
all Episcopalians, he was familiar with
| the splendid liturgy of his church. But
! he was as one stricken dumb at that IN
slant. He could not remember a single
one of the familiar prayers.
You will have to
hurry" whispered the dying man pain
fully, ''f am to hear
Lord" began Grafton. desperately.
| be merciful to me ." sinner.
1t was a strange phrase. yet perhaps
there could be none better on man
lips when he appears before his ffhal
! Judge.
That's good. A sinner
be merciful - to me-
That was all. Grafton rose to his feet
and faced the officer.
II must 20 to General Stuart" he
said. If 1t is not too late Can you give
me a horse?"
Take any one of those we have cap
tured," said the officer, although horses
are scarcer than men, and blamed
sight more precious"
1t used to be after battles and skir-
mishes, SO 1t Is said. that commanders
horses did you lose?" and then after ex-
changing comparisons. What were
your casualties among your men?" Yet
men were scarce, too, In those struggling
days when the Confederacy was slowly
being CONSTRUCTED to death by GRANTS
tremendous columns.
Aided by the lantern. Grafton picked
out the best horse, and, bidding the COM
mander of the detachment goodbye. gal
loped on ahead Of him down the road.
He knew that 1t would be perfectly
futile to try to reach Todd's Tavern
now. The Union troops must be there
in force by this time. He intended TO
strike down the Shady Grove road. turn
north at the Blockhouse road, In the
hope OF intercepting Stuart. In case his
,h@ hox han ah l1
liver the message. He was thankful for
what he had heard Of her progress from
Elson's meT. The anxieties that had
overwhelmed him during the long hours
measurable at the thought Of Ariadne.
alone. wandering around that wilder
ness, in danger from friend and foe
alike, seeking Stuart, with possibly the
Union Army in possession of the roads.
He had lost much time and could not
like one possessed. If he could reach
Stuart by daylight he might not be too
late. But the way was long and the
horse was very tired. 1t was dawn be-
fore he came to the bridge at the old
Block House. As he hurried down the
he saw cloud of dust in the road be-
low, and above il the nodding figures
of horsemen. His own horse was liter
ally at the end of his strength. There
was nothing he could do. He was on a
bare hillside. There was no conceal
mcnt possible To escape. if there was
necessity, was not to be thought Of.
Grafton therefore went down the
hill. The approaching troops might
be Union cavalry. although the
chances were against II. At any rate
lie must go on. AS he approached the
h"rscmen nearer he saw that they
were Confcderates. Instinctively he
int hi h,f
;rave beast was done for. He faltered
and fell dying as Grafton .eaped
from him and ran down the hill to
tie bridge. at which he arrived just
as the first regiment Of Hampton's
advance crossed II. The men stared
hard at him. but he explained that he
was from General Lee, and demand
ed to see their commander. In few
moments Hampton stopped before
MIN.
Captain Grafton" he exclaimed,
recognizing him at once.
YES, general I have orders from
General Lee to General Stuart. Whers
Is he2"
Back on the Brock road, near AL
sops / believe"
Are you retreatirG?"
Does this look it," laughed Hamp- |
ton. pointing ahead
General Lee says that General Stu
art iS-
"Oh, you needn't bother to deliver |
that message. We've had it." |
GraftOn's heart leaped in his breast. |
'Did my wife get there?"
'She did. And told us late last night |
Just what you would say. I'm down |
here to cover the Shady Grove road" +,
"Longstrect is marching toward |
you. He can't be more than a dozen
miles awav now, and Early is coming
down the Catharpin road. He will be
here during the morning."
Good" said Hampton; "I guess we
won't have to fight for It,"
"a don't know about that The
Federal troops are In force at Todd's
Tavern and will probably come down
me Catharpin road. II you get there
bcfore LonRstreet or Early does
'Oull have a chance at them"
Wen get there" answered Hamp.