Cloverdale Union High School - Spectator Yearbook (Cloverdale, CA)

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She turned as she spoke and ran toward the large tobacco barns at the back of the house, which concealed them from the Confederates. Marjory pulled open the door of the largest. The daylight was fading fast and it was very dim within, but the girl, familiar with the place from childhood, found her way easily to the spot she sought. This was a loose board in one corner. She pushed it aside disclosing an opening about eighteen inches wide leading to the space under the floor. In happier days before the war it had been a place of conceal¬ ment during games of hide and seek. Now it was to save a man’s life. Marjory pointed to it and said, “There, you can lie safely until they are gone then I will bring you food and help you to get away. ’ ’ Thanking her for her help he slid into the opening, she pushed the board back into the place leaving him in total dark¬ ness. She next pulled some bunches of tobacco leaves over the place and left the building. As she came into the open air, Marjory heard angry voices at the front of the house. She entered by the back way and flew up the stairs to her own room, which commanded a view of the front of the house. Raising the sash softly she looked down. In the dim light she saw a group of men and horses gathered about the steps. One of the men, with his foot resting on the lower step and his bridle over his arm, was speaking to a person hidden from Marjory’s sight right by the roof of the porch. “I tell you madam he must be here, for we saw him and another person go behind your house not five minutes ago and he could not have reached the woods before my men surrounded the place.” “How dare you accuse me of hiding a Yankee, sir?” came to Marjory in her mother’s voice. “Me! the wife of Colonel Carew, one of the most loyal Southerners in Lee’s army. You insult me sir! Leave the place instantly! ’ ’ “Madam, you mistake me,” said the officer politely but firmly. 11

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I am completely exhausted. Unless you show me a place to hide they will take and hang me. Wont you help me? At this appeal, all her fierce resolves against the Yankees melted. Ah! for the fickleness of woman. 4 ‘I pity you.” she said moving nearer, “I would like to help you, but oh! how can I ? It would be betraying my country to let you escape with the plans of our fortifications. She paused irresolute. lie had risen and stood with head bent, too proud to beg further. After a moment’s thought, Marjory’s face brightened, she spoke earnestly. “I will help you, if you will give your word of honor not to use the information you gained in the Confederate fort.” “Would you trust the word of a perfect stranger?” he said, a look of surprise and pleasure crossing his worn face. 4 Wes,” she replied, “something tells me you will keep your word.” “But I can’t give the promise you ask. I have sworn to die if necessary for my country. It would be breaking that oath to do as you wish. I would be unworthy the trust you place in me if I did. No! I must try and struggle on. If I escape I shall re¬ member your wish to help me. If I am taken, my last thought will be of your kindness.” Their conversation was at this moment interrupted by a crashing in the bushes a hundred yards or so away. Captain Lane started and turned hurriedly to run in the other direction. He was interrupted by Marjory speaking in a determined voice. “I cannot let you go to your death, I will help you at any cost. Follow me.” She started to run toward the house, Lane, given renewed strength by hope, following close behind. As they neared the house and were just about to round the corner which would conceal them from the spot in the woods that they had left, their pursuers burst into the open. Almost instantly they spied the fugitives and with a shout rode after them. “Come on,” the girl panted. “I can’t hide you in the house. Mother would never consent to help a Yankee.” 10

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“I know your husband well and would be the last to sus¬ pect one of his family of knowingly concealing a Northern spy. Never the less he might be hidden here without your knowledge. Therefore I can not leave until I have thoroughly searched your out-buildings and negro quarters.” “Certainly, you are at liberty to look in the barns,” said Mrs. Carew, a good deal mollified by the assurance that her loyalty to the south was not brought into question. The officer bowed and turned to give orders to his men. Marjory remained at the window, and with fast beating heart, watched the flashing of lights among the buildings as the soldiers conducted their search with a great burden lifted from her, she saw them return without the fugitive, mount and ride away. When the jingling of spurs and the clatter of hoofs had died away, the girl turned and went down stairs to the even¬ ing meal. As she had expected, her mother made many inquiries as to where she had been. She evaded going into detail by saying that she had been walking in the woods and had since been in her room. The old lady immediately plunged into an account of the visit of the soldiers which lasted through supper’. All the evening Marjory was nervous and preoccupied, waiting for the time to arrive when she might carry food to the concealed spy. At last it came, her mother closed her book and went up stairs leaving Marjory pretending to read. The girl waited im¬ patiently until she thought her mother must be asleep. Then, first filling a basket with food, she stole from the house and swiftly crossed the space to the old barn. She opened the door. All was still within. The moon shining brightly outside, filtered in through the cracks and lighted the great building dimly. Half frightened by the shadows and the stillness she hesitated an instant and then quickly crossed the floor and pulled away the tobacco that hid the loose plank. She raised this and saw the man lying on his side asleep. The girl knelt and touched his ragged sleeve saying, “Wake up, it’s time to fly.” He started up with an exclamation. He looked around dazed, 12