Tombstone epitaph., 1916-05-28

monsters cs distorted imagina-
ton went Gathering through on
their horses stopped to rest in the shade of the
trees which lined the streets. Saome Myers was
working with her mother in the sitting room pre-
pairing the midday meal. Mrs Myers not one
TO wall and weep at the approach OF armed men.
She proceeded calmly about her routine housewo
without waillng
For time Salone wound the strips of linen and
cotton rapidly as did her mother and gave no
more thought to the outside noises than did the
Older woman; but at length the girl heard louder
noise than usual. II was the tramp of body of
infantrymen coming up the street. She was only
human, and ran to the front window and threw it
up. large squad of Confederates were bringing
some Federal prisoners into town.
There were signs of increasing excitement
among the Confederates. Orderlies went clatter-
ing up and down the street, and men were clean
ing rifles in anticipation of immediate conflict
Nothing happened that night Salome slept little
All night long the military shouts were ringing
sharp orders and sudden challenges echoed
through the streets.
In the morning she darted to the window There
was net sign OF the Coafcdcrates They had
gone. A little after breakfast another rumble and
elatter was heard All dashed TO the windows
peered out. then tore into the street yelling like
mad II was the Union mer. gallcpng in They
poured past in seemingly inexhaustible numbers
The villagers, free to mngle once more ran about
excftedly. Salome soon found her place among
the girls OF her own age. who thrilled and
awed as she
Suddenly the cry around: "Buford's cavalry
Is coming. They've ridden all the way from yir-
ginia without a stop" and a cheer OF welcome
followed the news over the town.
When they had passed an orderly dashed
through the town calling upon all the villagers TO
go to their cellars. The battle was about to begin
As they were filing into their houses the first guns
roared out. and gradually grew in number and
volume until the windows chartered steadily in
| their easements. All day they crouched in the
cellar. Now and then bullet would strike the
buildings, and sometimes the glass from q break
Ing window would tinkle that they could hear
it from the recesses Of their retreats. Troops
went rushing by. sometimes silently sometimes
with loud huzzas.
Late in the afternoon Doctor Fulton came to the
head of the stairs and called down. He asked IL
there were any women below who could help
care for the wounded Mrs. Myers replied that
of course there were and started up the stairs.
Salome would have followed, but her father halted
his wife A.c tried to persuade her of the danger.
But the good woman was determined. and conse-
Quently they all went up. The Catholic church
close by had been turned into a hospital
The girl darted out of the house and across the
lawn. At the church door she halted. She did
not dare look inside Horrible groans, shreks
and cries were echong in the interior. couple
Of men brushed past her with one OF the stretch
ers between them. She glanced down. face
covered with blood was all she saw. A weakness
gripped her heart and she staggered to one side.
Someone inside was cursng with persistent bias
phemy. Somehow the vigor and naturalness of
the act brought back her selfpossession, and she
marched inside. The floor was covered with blood.
Men with legs or arms gone were rolling and tum-
bling still, silent figures. Others were scream
ing and clutching at their mangled bodies in help
less and maudin suffering. sickening odor sent
the girls head Keeling again. At her feet a man
lay watching her with dull bleared eyes. She
dropped knee and trI-ti - sneak to him.
She had no voice. Her hand trembed md she
started violently she touched him. Finally she
stammered. What can do for you?"
Nothing" he murmured slowly. I'm going to
die" and he smiled feebly. II was too much. She
fed TO the church steps. quverng and sobtlng in
long gasps-
IL was near sundowi: and the end ~ horrible
day The babel grew worse ana worse. Doctors
ss bloody as any of the wounded men hurried
here and there Nurses ran in and out bearing
bandages and buckets of water. Slowly Salope
rose TO her feet She would go back in, she could
bear it now she thought, and acting on the i'm
pulse inspired by she knew not what, she scurried
back into the shambles. She avoided glancing at
the room but knet at the head of the man to
whom she had first spoken. He was brighter and
smiled when she raised his head for q draft OF
water She opened his clothing and found
wound in his breast She bathed II gently. A
doctor passing told her that the man had been
shot through the lung and that his spine shat
tered There was no hope. She looked down at
the doomed man with great eyes. He tug
Ring at his belt and pulled out q pocket Bible