Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-20
girl wrapped in a faded blue army

coat.
Anne Delforth's brown eyes hard.
ened as she gazed on the hated blue
Of the Federal army.
evil you please tell me II | am on
the road to Richmond" asked the
stranger, pleasantly.
! eyes" returned Anne. She swept
her hands toward the distant city.
20, l hope I am not too late 'her
lips %quivered.
"Too late TO see the Yankees pill
lage the city," sneered Anne.
"Ah, you are cruel the girl flashed
reproachful eyes at her. "All OF you
~southerners are cruel-like that. Do
you believe we northern women have
no hearts, that we want to send u
brothers and husbands and sweet
hearts to death?'
Anne was ashamed.
"I am sorry I said that" she ad-
mitted, slowly. But / nave seen my
mothers life shortened by this dread
full war; l have lost two brothers and
my father-and now
"And now?" the other girl was
leaning down.
There was one left to me-and I
have just heard that he has fallen
ended Anne.
"Oh!" sighed the other in a bro
ken voice. ut is hideous. Let me
tell you-the man IL love is fight
ing there, and l have come from New
York to seek him-I have been four
weeks on the journey-l have suffered
hunger and thirst and bitter insult
for his sake-to reach him before any
thing happens. l have to ask his
! forgiveness before 1t is too late. We
quarreled and l must tell him l am
sorry-but- but can any human
being come out Of that alive?" Her
hand shook as she pointed and her
voice was lost in an earth-shaking
roar from the battlefield.
Anne Delforth reached up and took
the slender brown hand in her own.
l"Come,', she said gently, come and
rest and eat dinner with me. Tonight
one of the servants will guide US to
the battlefield, too, have an errand
THERE
"You are kind, I will come gladly"
said the girl YEARLY, and she slipped
from the saddle into Anne's arms.
Anne ministered to the northern
, girls wants as she refreshed herself
in the bare, sunny bedchamber that
| was Anne's.
Esther Lawrence told her story to
Anne's eager ears and in exchange
she listened to the heart-breaking
history that Anne had to unfold.
"And now, Noel" Anne's voice
choked suddenly.
Esther laid an eager little hand on
! Anne's arm. But the man-Henry
said that his master was still alive
she protested, land, Of course, have
mo means of knowing whether Robert
is alive and well-or otherwise; but
we will go to the battlefield tonight
and search for them and II we can we
! will bring them back here with us.
How can we get through the lines?'
Henry will give us the counter
sign and Uncle Peter can harness
your horse to the carryall and drive
ms in. You are wearing a federal
cloak and Henry will let me have the
one that he brought-he found 1t on
the field as he left"
Their plans were laid and after
a late dinner, over which uncle
! Peter and Aunt Chloe lowered with
excited interest In the beautiful young
lady from the North, they made their
preparations to leave at twilight for
the field of battle.
When the hour arrived Anne and
Esther, each wrapped in a blue army
! cloak. and with a basket OF restora'
tives between them, entered the
carryall and were driven off.
Henry, covering and subdued was
seated beside his parent on the front
seat.
The sounds of battle had ceased but
over in the southwest there burned
a ruddy light, and the girls knew that
somewhere marauders were busy
, devastating property. 1t m1gnt come
the turn of beautiful Bellemead n
day-any hour.
Uncle Peter stopped we'll outside
the lines, and with Henry's whispered
word the girls managed to fl1t past
the tired sentries without challenge.
1t was a gruesome task they a
set themselves to find their loved
ones on that field where thousands
lay dead and dying under the high
riding NOON.
In the pale moonlight the girls
fluttered fearfully from one silent
form to another. Others were tnere'
surgeons and nurses, but they gave
no heed to the girls.
Anne's SUDDEN piercing cry was a
warning note to Esther Lawrence and
she soon reached the others side.
Noel Miles was lying near the edge OF
a. little wooded knoll, his head pillow
ed on a tuft Of grass. Near him lay a
blue-clad form silent and still.
~ have found him." cried Anne,
ioyfully, as Esther came near.
"Anne-dear little Anne" smiled
Noel happily; where's that rascal,
Henry-I missed him."
Hes coming, DEAR" murmured
Anne.
"I would have bled to death if it
hadn't bene for that Yank over there
-he bandaged it for mel want him
looked after-he's white, clean
through.
and turned the face Of the man to
The girls glanced at the quiet blue
clad form and then their eyes met.
They did not tell their fears to Noel,
but, as by/one accord, they went over
the moonlight.
Esther gave a startled cry and