The Bolivar County Democrat., 1923-11-17
By Janet cA. Fairbank
Copyright by The Bobbs-Merrill Co.

more bad news from the front"
AIMS frightened eyes interrogated
him. "Chancellorsville" she whis-
pered. unwilling to voice the possibil-
ity of loss at that important point.
Yes =. Another defeat"
But l thought we had twice as
many men there as the Confederates?"
Lee is a great general. Ann, and
the sooner we Federals realize 1t the
better. They say the loss of
life is ppalling-perhaps twenty-five
thousand men killed, and many more
wounded"
Into AIMS mind rushed realiza-
tion Of Hendricks in deadly peril.
After all, until they were reassured of
his safety in this present terrible bat
tie. she would not tell her guardian
what she had written; she would spare
him that much.
In the morning the sun shone bril-
liantly; high clouds moved majestical-
ly about a faraway blue sky, and the
breeze, even in the city, was laden
with the odor of fruit trees in bloom.
1t was the sort of day that Densley
would have loved, and Ann was sorry
that he had not lived to see 1t. After
all she thought, 1t would have been
better for him to be buried on the kind
of rainy day he hated.
Her guardian went with her to the
services in his neighbors house. but
ha ,l-n hn 70 ri
to the cemetery. so Ann went alone.
and stood on the fringe of the small
group of mourners. She felt that the
ceremony had strangely little to do
with Densley, who had talked so much
of the joy of life, and so little Of this
numbing sadness. She wondered at
herself for not feeling more acute
grief; she clenched her hands until
the nails bit into her soft palms. and
still she could not force herself to an
emotional crisis. She wished that she
were the sort of girl who cried easily;
it would be better than this sensation
Of all the world falling away ,faNp. her.
Floods of tears, felt,
would be inadequate, and hted
herself because she stood, SsVA1 and
composed, with her whitesfips closely
set @%H
In Washington squaSeE a great con-
fusion awaited her everything was in
a whirl of excitement; even old Joseph,
who opened the door for her, was
tremulous with agitation, and Mrs.
shrill, came clearly out to her from the
drawing room. She was there, ele-
gantly emotional upon sofa, while
Fanny was wiping her eyes beside her,
and Hendricks father was striding
about the room, redfaced and incoher-
emily profane. Mr.. Cortlandt was
standing, very still, in the window.
There was something ominous in
the air, and Ann halted abruptly. ut
is Hendricks" she cried. HE is
deadr'
Mr.. Renneslyer reassured her.
Hendricks Is a hero-that's ala
regular hero! Damme, no one would
have thought 1t when he was boy
| have a letter from his colonel: Hen
bricks distinguished himself in a night
neutrality-suspicious. bravery, he says.
They've made him a captain-at twen-
ty-two, by Cd"
There was an instant's silence after
this outburst as Mr. Cortlandt came
over to Ann and took her hand. She
was glad that he stood so as to shield
her face from the others.
you must be very proud, my dear"
he said, tremendously. 1--WE must all
be proud Of Hendricks"
The girl sank into a chair, dazed by
the sudden reaction. Into her mind
came, unbidden, Densley Howard's
casual depreciation Of Hendricks in
action; she had an instant's clear
vision of him, red-faced and domineer-
ing But her guardian was right,
just now, for while, she must be
proud; she should have no place for
any other emotion.
There came great jangle at the
doorbell, and every one already In an
emotional state, started nervously.
Joseph brought in note, and Mr..
Cortlandt ripped 1t open. "It is from
Horace Greeley" he said. at is
marked Important He glanced at
the brief inclosure and turned sudden
ly white.
what Is it?" Ann whispered.
Mr. Cortlandt did not seem to hear
her; he might have been alone in the
room for any attention he paid to the
people gathered there. He reread the
note aloud, stupidity, as if he had not
mastered its contents.
Dear Friend: 1t is my sad duty to
inform you that in the official list.
sent me for publication, Of men who
have gloriously fallen at the battle Of
Charlottesville, the name of your
nephew, Hendricks Renneslyer ap-
pears. l can say nothing to soften your
grief-nothing to His voice
trailed off into silence as Mrs. Rem
neslyer interrupted his reading with a
loud scream. and Joseph burst into
lamentations. The room was suddenly
filled with a clamor of sorrow. Ann
stood very still. half-stunned by the
shock She looked over at her guard
ian, and saw his face become old and
gray under her eyes She went over
to him and put her arms around his
neck; she was trembling violently, and
Mr.. Cortlandt slipped his arm about
her, and drew her close to him.
| I.tJ 4 h