Hilt to Hilt; Or, Days and Nights on the Banks of the Shenandoah in the Autumn of 1864; From the Mss. of Colonel Surry of Eagle's Nest

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: VHT I DID NOT RETURN WITH LANDON.- I Turned quickly. Within three paces stood a young lady of slender and graceful figure, exquisitely fair complexion, large, brilliant eyes, and dark auburn hair, a few stray ringlets of which escaped from one of those small, round hats worn in 1864. The figure drooped; the eyes were swimming in tears; but there was something calm and proud in the countenance, which indicated an entire absence of anything like fear. For an instant every one gazed at her in silence. How could she have reached that spot without our knowledge ? A glance indicated all. Upon a flat tombstone, half hidden behind the trunk of the willow, lay a veil. It was evident that the young lady had witnessed all from that spot, the drooping leaves of the weeping willow concealing her. "I will read the burial service," she said, in a low voice, and advancing toward the graves. " I have my prayer-book, and am not afraid." There was something proud and tranquil in thoselow tones; and the voice, like the face, made a profound impression upon me. I looked at Landon. He had become extremely pale, but exhibited, otherwise, no emotion. Making the young lady a profound bow, he said, with frigid courtesy: — " I thank you, Miss Adair ; this is an unexpected meeting.' "Yes, sir, my appearance no doubt astonished you," came in the same calm tone, though the bullets were whistling above; '' and yet it is easily explained. You are aware that I live near, and this evening I walked down by moonlight to visit the Chapel. When the fight took place I stayed, and when the men begun to dig the graves for these poor soldiers, I thought I might be allowed to read the service over them. Was I wrong, sir? 'Tis little for a woman to do for her defenders." Landon listened t...