The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-11-16

|
maid. She had but one thought in her
mind-to get to the train before 1t
started, for now added to her wish to
find out If 1t were true that Hendricks
lived, was desire to drink more deep
ly this exhilarating draught of excite
ment. She would find out about Hen
bricks, and then, somewhere, she
would find hospital.
Her drive TO the station-dashing
through the crowded streets and
swinging crafty around corners-was
gorgeously exhilarating, and her, spirits
scared in response. The station was
the center Of excitement, and the
streets leading to it were filled with
people; they tossed aimlessly about,
regardless Of the hot July sun, and
shouted and gesticulated. AS she
drove through the crowd Ann caught
scraps of news; the Confederates were
concentrating their forces north of the
Potomac river, and Harrisburg was in
great danger. Here and there she
heard excavations of General Lee, but
oftener a glimpse of an exultant face
betrayed the presence of a secessionist.
Little groups Of men in blue uniform
marched past her, clearing the street
as they went, and once an army band
swung along at the head of a whole
shrill clamor of flies.
The train stood putting and ready
| before the station, and six or eight SOL
diers hung out of every window,
shouting to their fellows on the plat
form. and waving indiscriminate
greetings.
Ann was Godsend to them; the
entire train waved at her, with wild
gaiety. She could scarcely make her
way through the crowd, and when she
finally reached the ticket window the
agent hesitated over her request for
transportation to Frederick City, but
the eloquent plea Of her deep mourn
ing, as well as the governors sigma
ture on the pass she mutely offered
him, overcame his scruples. When the
train started she was sitting in it, sur
rounded by admiring young soldiers
who were joyfully disposed to forget
their threatened baptism Of fire in the
presence of the pretty girl. There
was no question, today, Of her with
drawing from their attentions; the
| boys were wildly excited at the
prospect OF an immediate battle, and
Ann was softened by grim realiza-
ton that these skylarking youngsters
might be among the Inflated ten thou
sand for whom sinister preparations
were being made; she would not have
snubbed them even if she could have
done so, which was doubtful. They
swarmed about her, firing eager ques-
tions at her, and told one another that
she was "a plucky one, all right ~
Their very numbers made her at ease
with them.
The train made poor time; often it
backed mysteriously up the track it
had so laboriously traversed, while the
boys shouted hilariously, We've
changed our minds We aren't going
to fight the Johnnies, after all p
and sometimes it stopped for long in
tervals, for no apparent reason. When
that happened the soldiers swarmed
out along the right Of way, shouting
and leaping like little boys. One of
them brought stalk of goldenrod
back to Ann, and she stuck it in her
belt. 1t made gay note of color on
her black tweeds. She fdgeted I'M
easily at each new delay, for she was
still afraid Of being turned back. Even
trainlOad of forlorn prisoners
caught in a raid and rushing north.
ward. did not distract her for long
At the Monocacy river three miles
from Frederick City, they came to a
! final halt. The bridge was unsafe, the
train men announced, and every one
was hurried off the cars into the blind
ing heat of late June afternoon. I'M
mediately the officers began collecting
their men in some sort Of order; as
Ann stood, bewildered, waiting for
events to shape her next move, she
saw the advance column march off
down the rUtted, dusty road.
AS she stood somewhat forlornly a
young captain came hurrying up to
her. "Where are you going?" he asked,
CURLY.
ITO Frederick City," Ann replied,
turning wide and confident eyes upon
him. II am trying to find Captain
Renneslyer. He was with the Fifty
fifth New York. Do you know where
that regiment Isl"
"No-and you can't go wandering
around this country. There's likely to
be a battle almost anywhere, any
time. The best thing you can do is
to 60 back to Baltimore"
81 wouldn't think of doing that"
Ann protested.
Sorry" he said, "but back you go.
Get right into this train again-the
| one you came down In. 1t will be
| leaving in a few minutes"
81 won't do anything of the kind"
Ann declared furiously.
The officer laughed. "I'm In COM
mand here" he reminded her. tits
an order"
To escape further humiliation Ann
went into the car and sat down. She
was vehemently angry, but quite i'm
potent. Presently a covered black
wagon drove up to the train, and a
crooked old driver climbed laboriously
down to open the door in the rear
Ann watched him curiously: there
was nothing else for her to do. A bevy
of young women swarmed surprisingly
out Of the wagon; 1t was incredible
that it. could have held SO many hoop
skirts. and so many agitated and flut-
tering girls. A calm nun followed