LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2358, 24 October 1881, Page 4

LITERATURE.

"IN THE MORNING." A TKUE INCIDENT OF THE WAR, • Do you see that young lady in white talking with Clarke ?' The speaker was a tall, distinguishedlooking man of thirty-five in the uniform of a cavalry colonel in the Confederate service. The time was a summer night in 1863; tho place, tho hotel parlcr in a small village in Middle Tennossee. The occasion was a "hop " given In honor of the presence of a detaohment of "Forrest's Cavalry," the daring riders whose names are household worda in Southern homes, from the mountains of Tennessee to the valleys of tho Mississippi. The young lady referred to was a pretty, graceful girl, with dark gray eyes, waving hair of a dark, reddish gold, and the exquisite complexion that accompanies it. 'Who Is she?' asked the Colonel's companion ' That is Picton's sweetheart, Miss Garnett.' ' Not the same that saved his life after Shiloh?' said Capt. Barclay. • The same,' rejoined Col. Terry. * She is a little creature to do such a thing, hut she did. Tou see she was in the neighborhood at the time of the battle, and somebody told her that Picton was killed. She went over tho field and found him, badly wounded through the lungs, but still alive. She sent a boy that she had brought with her to hunt up a surgeon, and she stayed by Pioton. The boy found Dr. Cowan, and when they got back Miss Oarnett had raised Pioton up, with his head on her breast, bo that he could breathe more easily. Dr Cowan examined tho wound without moving him, and told her that he waa afraid it was hopeless, for the least motion, even leaving him down again, might produce a fatal hemorrage. If he could be kept perfectly quiet until morning and the bleeding checked during tho night he might have a 'bare chance of pulling throngh.' 'Well,' said the brave little woman, 'he shall be kept quiet, for I will stay jast hero and not let him move.' And, by George she did ; she never stirred all night, and in the morning they carried bim to the nearest house, and she nursed him till he was out cf danger.' 'That's a sweetheart worth having,' said Capt Barclay, with a glanoe of admiration at the subject of their conversation. Half an hour later Col. Terry was at Miss Garn&tt's side receiving a warm greeting that told that tho two were faot friends.

' Tell me of all my friends in the old battalion,' she said presently. 1 How many ? ' ha asked quizzically; .'more than ono ? '

' I mean what I said,' she answered, -with a merry laugh and a quick, bright blush. ' I have heard from "one "of them very recently. ' ' Does Charley know you are hero ?' asked the Colonel. .

'No ; it is not a w*ek since I loft Memphis. Will they join you here J ' ' They ? ' he replied inquiringly. 'The rest of the command, I mean,'she replied, blushing again. ' A portion of it may, but for that part yon are particularly interested ii I cannot say. You know they are with the old General, and their movements can't be counted on with any great certainty.' • They are the comets of the servico,' said Miss Garnett. ' Quite as erratic, at all events.'

' May I have the pleasure of tMs dance ? ' said the Colonel as the band stsuok up a quadrille. ' I know its useless to ask you for a waltz.'

The dance over, he led her to a chair, and a'tc-r a moment's gay badinage, was about to resigo his place ia favor of the other claimants for ber smiles, when he saw a sudden ghastly pallor overspread her features, ' Miss Alioo, you are ill I ' he exe'aimed anxiously. ' Let mo get you some water.' It waa scarcely a minute before his return, but even then he was shocked at har white, drawn face.

' Call my sister! ' she said to another gontleman with her, while Col. Terry had g.ne for tho water, aud both had reached her at tho Batne time.

' I.uoy, take me home,' she wHspered, 'I am dsing.' ' Oh, no, darllug,' said her sister, tenderly, ' you will be well ia the morniDg.' As quick as possible the carriage was called, and the sick girl placed in it. When they were just starting Col. Terry wished them good night, expressing his hops that Miss Alice would have recovered by morning. She put out her hand, and exerting her strength, said distinctly, 1 Yes, i shall be well in the morning. Tell Charley—' her voice failed, and, lifting her slim white hand, loosened the flowers she wore at her breast and put them into the colonel's hand. * Give these to him—yes—in the morning.' Her voice died away to a faint whisper, and her head fell back on her sister's Bhoulder. The lady who had acted as their chaperon hastened to apply restoratives and tho carriage rolled twiftly away. The next morning when Col. Terry called to inqnire after the invalid he had no need to ast. iir from the door there floated the mournful insignia of death. Shocked beyond expres~iou, that hardy soldier turned away, unable then to even offer his services if they w ere needed. He went ai'ain after a while and saw Mrs Cameron, the hc3tess of the shters during their v*sit. From her he learned the brief details of Alice's death. Her attack had beau a sudd«n spasm of the heart, and she had never rallied. She had not spoken but once, and they her lover's name, and a repetition of the words, ' iu the morning.' ' Poor Charley, who will tell him V groaned tko Colonel when the lady's: voice ceased.

'You are his best friend,'she answered ' I think no oko else could do it 80 gently.' ' I can't,' he replied, shaking his head. 'I would rather ft:ce a battery. Why, you don't know, yctt can't think how his very life seems bound up in her ; and now—' r Jhoy buried her next morning; six of Picton'q £r£°nds carried his dead love to her grave and then came sadly back, each questioning who would bear the tidings to the gallant sabreaur fat away with the old brigade. That night the order came to join the main command, and by daylight the troops wero miles away. As they reached the vicinity of the appointed rendezvous ade-' sultory firing warned them of an approach- j jog conflict. Presently they formed themselves in the midst of 3 portion of the

command, drawn np in a pleoe of woods overlooking a sloping field, whioh on the opposite side rose to a shorp eminenoe, on the brow of whioh was posted a Federal battery. Farther to the right the firing had become sharper, and soon the roll of musketry swept all along the lino. 'I say, Barclay,' called Col. Terry, as that officer passed him, 'have you seen Pioton yet?' And as Barclay shook his head, added, ' Tell the boys not to let him know ye*. Wait till this is over.' 'All right; I'll tell thorn,' answered Barely, as he rode away. ' The old general will be wanting that battery the first thing they know,' said one of the men, as a shell exploded over their heads. 'They had better keep it quiet.' « Thar, what did I tell you V he added, Mting off a huge piece of ' long green ;' 'thar go the Mississippi boys now.' Ab he spoke a tawny column moved out of the woods and swept gallantly across the field. Bnt as they reached the centre a murderous round of grape and canister tore through their ranks and tho column broke in cenfusion. Three times their leader rallied them to tho charge, and three tlmea they were shattered by the galling fire. * Tell you what, boys,' called out the private who had before spoken, ' thar's fun comin' now ! That's Gang's bugle. Tho ' old regiment want some of the pie !* Ho stooped and felt his saddle girth as ha spoke, then straightened himself and waited for tho command, for he was ' one of the boys.' The nsxt moment there was a ringing cheer from tho ranks as General Forrest rode up. • Boys,' he exclaimed, pointing with his sword, ' I want that battery captured. One regiment has tried, and couldn't take it. Now I want you boys to do better than that. I am going to lead you, and I want you all to follow me' Another cheer was the answer, as the men fell Into the ranks.

' Charge 1' and down tho elope rode the gallant' old regiment,' never faltering as the grape shot sweeps through the serried ranks, closing each gap as it was made by the deadly fire ; on, on, following the lead of the tall figure at the head of the column, till they rode right over the death-dealing guns, • sab'ring the gunners there,' and the woods gave back the ringing echoes of the famous •rebel yell,' as the victory was won. * Won! Yes, but at a fearful cost. That fatal slope was drenched with the blood of the Southland's bravest sons.

After that charge Col. Terry found himself face to face with Charley Picton. 'My God, how can I tell him?' muttered the colonel to himself as the gallant young fellow rode toward him, holding out his hand. 'U takes the old regiment" to do up things in style!' he said, grasping tho oalonel's hand. 'Say, Terry, did you see Mlsb Alice? Coleman has just got back from Memphis, and he told me she had gone on a visit to some friends in O.'—

But a 3 he spoke he suddenly put his hand to his side. 'I am shot,' he gasped, faintly. It was true. A stray bullett had struck him in the side, and Col. Terry caught him as he reeled in his saddle and rode with him to the field hospital. When the surgeon examined the wound he shook his head doubtfully. ' I know a nurse worth twenty doctors,' whispered Picton with a smile. /Terry, oan't yon fetch her to me ?' Throughout the night the colonel stayed with him. Once he wakened and repeated the question he had asked just before he was shot.

' I saw her, yes,' the colonel answered huskily. 'She sent you some flowers.' The blue eyes lighted up with a tender glow, and Picton held out his hand. Silently Col Terry took from his breast pocket the withered flowers, a spray of ivy and a half opened white rose, and laid them in the ontstretched hand.

The wounded man slept. But in a couple of hours he awoke, much worse, and the sur geon in his rounds told the bronzed watcher that the end was very near. ' Terry!' and the colonel bent his head to catch the faint accents. ' I'm dying, I wouldn't mind—only—poor Alice! Tell her gently, please—she loves me, you know—and I, oh, Terry !it is hard to leave her. My poor darling.' For a moment the colonel could not answer. Then, choking back a sob, he said, slowly and distinctly : ' Charley, Alice is waiting for you. You are not leaving her, but going to her.' A bewildered, tronbled look came into the wistfal blue eyes. ' Doa't you understand me, Charley ? She is dead. We buried her there in C -. I couldn't tell yon before, dear old boy. But now you will be with her before you have time to grieve after her. She died with your name on her lips, murmuring of meeting you in the morning. 0 He understood now, and a smile of relief flitted across his pale lips. ' Dear girl,' he murmured, ' I am so glad she will not have this grief to bear.' Then he slept again and the hours passed on until the eastern sky brightened with the solemn dawn light. ' Terry!' The word was but the faint eat whisper, bnt the watcher instantly bent his head to listen.

' It is morning,' came the faint, gasping accents, and again the white lids drooped over the blue eyes. Five—ten minutes passed. Then Colonel Terry lifted the dead hands and crossed them over the pulseless breast, reverently covered the still, white face and turned away.

His two friends had met once more—'ln the morning' of a fadeless day.—' Courier Journal.'