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Show THE DIXIE 10 For The Republic Heavy hung the purple .mist over the low rolling Blue Ridge mountains. The morning sun cast its long rays on the roof of a beautiful colonial mansion nestled in a tiny valley among stately pines and prickly holIt was early morning in ly shrubs. far away Virginia, yet along the road could be heard the hurrying feet of familiar black horse carrying the monthly mail, to Hollypine manor. The horse halted with a rear in front of the white pillard veranda of the and was ivy covered homestead, greeted by a laugh and a call of to its rider, from a merry faced girl of eighteen, with dancing-blaccurls and laughing blue eyes who skipped down the steps. Well, Dick, we are certainly glad to see you. IIow are all the folks at Hilldale? Fine, Carol, never better. I know you will be delighted when I tell you what I have for you. Can it be a letter from Kirke? You know he is to finish his course at Harvard in June, and will return to us in July. Exactly, but something that is of interest to us all, the circular letter, came last night. We read it at home. Oh! how I long to join the patriots and follow that wonderful man, As Richard Henry Washington." said this his fine form straightened and his clear gray eyes sparkled. Carol had known since last fall that Richard would cast his lot with the Virginia troops as soon as Mrs. Henry could persuade herself into letat ting him go. His winter-cours- e Cambridge had only strengthened his desire. Dick, when you talk like that it were a man, bemakes me wish cause I, like you, would become a devoted follower of our Virginian, Washington. Ever since I saw his serene face at Trenton this winter I have longed to aid him in our struggle for independence from the mother country. But Kirk is so different, you have heard him talk of his little parish-to-band argue about how some people seem to believe in Love thy enemies and war at the same time. But Richard, come into the house, mother will be delighted with your presence. Why Richard, how pleased I am to see you. Do come in. and rest be : sa-luti- . e, 1 OW L said fore your return to Hilldale, the handsome matron, Mrs. Alan, as the two young people entered the d living room of cheery, the Alan home. Carol, my dear child, I thought you were never going to ask him in, Mrs. Alan gayly reproached. Quite the opposite Mrs. Alan. reI would hardly turned Richard, give her a chance, so busy was I in talking about the army and the circular letter which tells of the glorious victories at Lexington and Trenton. cried the dame, I am Good, convinced that Taxation without representation, can never be maintained in tli e colonies, yet I do hate to see the flower of them killed to prove it. Summer and fall had come and gone, and the hills of Virginia were gray and cheerless. Kirke had come home from Harvard with his D. D. Late in the fall he had decided to give up his dreamed of parish and He was become a Son of Liberty. now near Philadelphia, at Valley Forge, closely watching with the others the movements and ravages of the Hessian troops. Richard had enlisted early in the spring as one of Washingtons Aides, and was also at Valley Forge. Carol thought of all this as she sat on a great rock one' Her afternoon in late November. black glossy curls under her scarlet riding cap, hung to her shoulder. Her crimson habit, falling on the ground, appeared the only bright The spot in the colorless landscape. war did not seem so glorious to her now as it had the summer before when she had persuaded Kirk to enlist. War in its best stages was terHer life had rible, she thought. been lonely and very dreary since Kirk and Dick had gone. She missed them dreadfully because they had been her sole companions during her She gazed at the eighteen years. small gold band that encircled her left third finger and thought of the vow she had made when Richard had placed it there on the eve of his departure. Still looking at it she sigh-- ; ed, Oh! war is not made to gladden the present, but to secure peace for future generations. Rising, she mounted her horse and rode slowly The sun, down the mountain side. casting slanting rays on the distant hills, was momentarily illuminating the valley and a wave of patriotism swept over her, she must not mur white-panelle- mur, for, only through patriotism and loyalty could the desired end ever be made. It was a bitter cold December, and the valley was covered with snow. The suffering of Valley Forge was intense, but unknown at the time, by those who might have helped. Carol had gone to the barn to direct the bedding of her favorite horse. As she passed the opened door of the hay loft she heard the labored breathing of a man, hurriedly she climbed the ladder, and there in his ragged regimentals of blue lay Kirk, in a high fever. His face was flushed and he talked incoherently How cold my feet, they about, wait! are bleeding, I cant charge the snow is so deep. wait! wait! She sankon her knees beside him, she thought,, It cant be,' Kirk is She knew that he not that kind. had not enlisted with the fiery that had compelled Richard to enlist; yet his sense of duty was great and he was not a slacker. Deserted? Kirk deserted? never! She rose to her feet, wondering what to do. Should she call mother and fathThen Kirk began to speak er? Oh! we must have supplies, again. supplies for Dick and the troops. cried Carol Supplies, supplies? as a rush of real joy came over her. is that what you want, Kirk dear? Yes, yes, my father is Calvin Alan; he will send supplies to Washington, take me to him. I must get to my father. For a moment he seemed conscious, then he fell into a heavy sleep. An hour later a horse was seen swiftly skimming over the frozen ground. It carried a girl dressed 'in a crimson habit, who was notifying all the outlying homesteads of the necessity for immediate relief to be sent to General Washington at Valley Forge. The following day Carol and her father started out with a wagon train of provisions for the suffering And rightly did General soldiers. Washington say when she had safely reached the Camp. She did all this for you, for me and for the Republic. Katherine Miles 21 A generous heart should scorn a pleasure which gives others pain. |
