Wright High School - Chronicle Yearbook (New Orleans, LA)

Page 73 text:

which her father used as his of- fice. A dim light was burning there; and at the end of the gal- lery looking thru an open win- dow stood a sergeant. She crossed to the office intending to enter and rest there a while, but as her foot touched the threshold she was terrified by seeing a man spring before a desk-drawn which he had apparently been ramsack- ing. A startled cry burst from her lips. Then her mind grasped the situation — he was a rebel — he was searching for some important dispatch General Grant had sent to her father. Even as this past thru her mind, she heard the run- ning footsteps of the sergeant, then he appeared in the doorway ; for a moment he appearde con- fused, and glanced from one to the other. Then he spoke. ' T beg your pardon, Mistress Merideth, but I thought I heard you cry out, I ' He paused. Yes, sergeant, you did. She moved toward the man, who gazed at her half-defiantly — half admiringly, and slipped her hand thru his arm, she continued, I don ' t quite understand just what has happened, sergeant; My com- panion and I came up here to look for my fan, and, as we entered the room, someone sprang from before the desk, and rushed thru the door. I— I — can ' t understand just what has happened. You — You don ' t suppose anyone was trying to steal my father ' s papers, do you? Here Jocelyn looked as though she might faint, the she rallied, Quickly sergant, post soldiers in front of all doors that open on the gallery and cut off his escape, I — Oh! My heav- ens, I think I shall faint, quickly, Sir, she turned to the man be- side her, ' ' Come take me to the window, I need air. She turned and, half supported by her companion, passed the amazed sergant, and walked to the well shaded window at the end of the gallery. Here she seated herself on the window seat. — Hurry, she cried in a low voice ' ' You must go before they discover our little farce. Then for the first time, the stranger spoke thrilling the girl as never before, by his slow southern voice. You ! he cried, his voice in- tense with emotion. Will you not be discovered ; your part in this made known? Will you not be involved in scandal, dis- graced?? Oh what does it all matter, go, go before you are discovered, you must, or please hurry please. Her voice, ; usually cold was now passionate and pleading. Seizing her hand he knelt at her feet, I will do as you tell me, he said humbly, Only first may I not know your name? At these words intense suffer- ing passed over the face of this girl.

Page 72 text:

real food there. Come, I am hun- gry after that race; you can surely run. Why, I can ' t go in these clothes, answered the girl, glanc- ing at her shirt and trousers. ' Teople would talk and I wouldn ' t like to give a bad impression the first day. , ' ' ' Oh, we can go over the back fence. All right, there ' s my suit case. Let ' s run. Across the old grass grown walks they ran to the back fence and disappeared on the other side in the Ellensworth side door. Three weeks later the same girl and boy — at a different time and in a dif¥erent scene: They are walking down the avenue before the Ellensworth house, in the moon- light and both are glad that there was a patch of strawberries in the Fillemore garden. C. Stewart. A ROMANCE In May 1864, the situation in th South w s rapidly becoming desperate General Grant had crossed the Rapidan and was gradually causing Lee to fall back towards Richmond. A se- ries of battles were being fought, and, as these wevQ terminated, messengers were constantly sent back and forth between Grant and those under his command, carrying important dispatches. Among these commanders was General Merideth, a brave but stern soldier. For the most part he had seen but little fighti ' ng and had remained as an oiit-guard of Grant ' s army. He had made a most beautiful and spacious Southern mansion his headquar- ters, and was living there with his only daughter. On the sixth day of May the frightful battle of Cold Harbor was waged; almost at the same moment there w as assembled in that stately old mansion, all the beauty of Gen- eral Merideth ' s army. It was one the season. Gay couples danced gracefully to the stately music. In one corner attentive young of- ficers were grouped about one of the loveliest women there. In- deed she was scarcely more than a girl, seventeen or eighteen, yet there were few whose grace or beauty might be compared v ith that of this lovely girl, Jocelyn, the only daughter of General Merideth. Weary of the gayety and the laughter, around her, tired of her boyish admirers, she rose, and with a queenly grace, crossed the floor of the ballroom. She mounted a broad staircase, leading to galleries that encir- cled the court yard-like ballroom. Opening upon the broad gallery was several rooms the largest of

Page 74 text:

' Oh Father in Heaven. I had ahiiost forgotten ; what am I doing? Turning she said, You are a Rebel, you are my enemy, yet I, I. the daughter of General Merideth am aiding in treason , she laughed bitterly. Go , she said, before it is too late. Go, or I may repent . ' One moment, he picked her handkerchief from the floor. ' ' This, he said i courteously, May I take it with me? Yes, she answered wearily, and then her manner changed quickly. Fly, fly before it too late; do you not realize it is death to remain? I go , he said, then taking her hand and he kissed it reverently, and, with a last gaze in those wonderful eyes ,he turned and slipped silently down the dark stariway by which he had enter- ed ; turning Jocelyn sank half fainting upon the seat beside her. A, few moments passed and Jocelyn drew herself together. A glance along the gallery was suf ficient to assure her that in the excitement, and under cover of the dark shadows, she had re- mained unnoticed. Turning to the same dark stairs, she ran swiftly down to the ballroom, and joined her former compan- ions. She allowed herself to be claimed for several of the follow- ing dances. Then an officer stod before her, His Excellency, General Meri- deth, wishes ot see you at once. Feigning surprise, Jocelyn arose and once again made her way to her father ' s office. She found him in the center of the room ; beside him was the visit- ing commander and about him a circle of officers. Curtseying low, she stod before him inquir- ingly. Jocelyn, he said sternly, 1 command you to tell all you know concerning this matter. I don ' t quite comprehend, she replied, again feigning sur- prise. Do you mean about the robber I discovered? Yes, he answered shortly, The robber, the Rebel, or the spy, as you wish it, who has es- caped from our hands. Oh — then he was really a Rebel and did — Interrupting coldly, her father said, I want the story. Oh, but there is no story, ' Jocelyn cried, I just came up here to look for my fan, and I saw someone by the desk. I screamed and the sergeant rushed in. I told him what had taken place, and then as I was nearly fainting, I left the room with my companion. • Her father shrugged his shoul- ders. I think General, that you had better take charge of this and question the girl. This con- cerns me too nearly, he bowed. The General smiled acquies- ence. Tell me the story once more, and this time in detail.