He sighed deeply as he
thought that it would lead away from the girl to whom he had devoted
his life, yet not because he owed it to her. "If we could only
remain together," he thought, "she would learn to give all that I
give. The dear little girl is just learning that she is a woman, and
is bewildered."
Major Jones, who had been skirmishing to delay the Confederate
advance, allowed his men and horses to rest when the enemy paused
for their mid-day bivouac, and so had come about a cessation of
hostilities during which both parties took breath for the coming
struggle.
Miss Lou was suddenly awakened by a jar which shook the house,
followed by a strange, unearthly sound. For an instant she was
confused, thinking night had come, so dark was her room. Springing
to her window she threw open the blinds. A black, threatening sky
met her gaze, the sunlight hidden by a dense bank of clouds, above
which towered golden-tipped thunder-heads. The appearance of the
ridge puzzled her. The cannon were there, a puff of smoke rolled
heavily from one of them; but excepting a few gunners just about the
pieces, the long line of men and horses had largely disappeared.
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