The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-01-04

ened by firing in the distance up the
valley to the southwark Jenny Buck
thorn, in an adjoining chamber, heard
their voices and Joined them for COM
partnership and sympathy. Alas. what
a changed, subdued Jenny within the
last twenty-four hoursI
The girls dressed hurriedy in silence
and came downstairs. Already Kerchi-
val West, haggard and excited looking.
was pacing the veranda like Gagged
animal. Barket had been down to the
pike for reconnaissance and now came
back with startling news.
ITS a battle, sure!'' he said. AN
Sheridan away, the divn only knows
where. Begob, they must have attack
ed by surprise before the screech o.
dawn, judgin' from
''Who has attacked? Who is sur
prised?' demanded Kerchival with fu-
r1ous Impotence.
1.-The inimy has attacked US, sor, an.
what's more, they seem to be drivin'
things before 'em. By the direction of
the firm it should be our left flank
they have bounced upon instead of the
right, where they were dacintly ex-
pected. Sure, thin rebels have no po-
likeness nohow"-
"Do you mean to say our troops are
falling backF'
''Weu, sor, 1 did hear some cavalry
ga1lopin' down the pike, but whether
it was ours or theirs or only Mosby'a
gorinas, that 1 can't tell yez.''
Then I'll go and find out for my
self!N Kerchiva1 cried fierceIy. making
a move into the hallway for his hat
The sudden exertion proved too much
hi h0 inf ir
clutching with one hand at his breast.
"HarkI There is the firing again,
worse than ever. and it is coming
nearer said Gertrude, unconscious of
a certain exuItat1on in her tone eff
General L0ngstreet only has-I mean,
if really he''-
HE can never drive General Sheri-
dan back-of that am certain spoke
up Madeline with unwonted spirit
LET US go-oh, pardon me- Gertrude
ladies' beg said Kerch1val, start
ing up. then at once seating himself
again.
But they all had risen, as impatient
as ne was, and hurried out.
Kerchival and Gertrude took the
path up the elevs ton to where the big
cottonwood tree overlooked the valley.
Jenny and Madeline fingered on the
veranda-
$50 on, go onr' muttered Kerchivai
instinetively feeling for his sword and
looking ioweringly in the diresa4on
from which came the roar of the
guns Flight to a finish and have it
over. Keep the battle to yourselves.
I'm out of it,
sister Madeline says that now she
fO oh
my or no enemy"
"And she is right, Anything else
would be worse than treason I can't
pray. Can you, Gerrude?"
Eyes. All, Kerchivalr'
He leaned against the tree, his hand
clutching at his breast again
''Your woundl Let me call the sur
geon, Kerchival.''
wound! have no wound to bother
about now. You love meP'
Look. There are soldiers running
through the woods Oh, what shall
we do?"
The firing, very close now, was
faster and more furious than ever. 1t
seemed to have given Kerch1vaI West
new breath of life
Never mind thatp' he cried delfrious-
Iy- ITS only a battlei Say that you
"Be quiet. Kerchival, dear. / do love
you. I said SO last night before every
one. only you didn't hear me. said
| the same thing at Charleston when
| first we met. And some one I told
wrote it In ietter-that letter which
| General Buckthorn gave you and told
| you not to read unless I became IN
ruly. am not unruly, am 1, dear2"
mo, my precious girl! Nothing can
| separate US now. That letter"-he
! searched in his pockets, but could not
| find it "Ah, remember They must
have taken 1t when was laid out by
Thornton's dagger. And-a miniature
I had-that's gone tooi''
Josephus Orangeblossom on mule
without saddle dashed up from the
| direction of the pike, shouting:
| Miss Gertrude, Marse Bob he done
! Eak "a gyard aroun' dis house, but 'tain't
40 use now, for de Yanks is runnin
away. Yves got 'em licked, missy; we
sho' has?'
ITO Be COntinUed)
To clean a white felt hat put a small