Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 57: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

50 ; BURN AND DESTROY. This steadily pursued policy of encroachment upon _ the liberties of one section of the country by the mis- taken assumption of the other, which unfortunately held the balance of power, has been going on for years. I resent it with all my heart—with all my love for my native soil. I feel that we are waging’ a just war in resisting unfriendly aggression. Think what it is to me to see your hand raised against us. If wives throughout the Confederacy stand ready to sacrifice their husbands, and mothers their sons, I at least can sacrifice my love, though it break my heart.’’ ‘‘Bertha,’’ he replied, in a sad voice, “‘the day will come when you will see the folly of this aroument. I had hoped that perhaps you might—but, there, I see it is useless for me to pursue a topic that is painful ~ to us both. I love you—lI shall always love you. If it be my destiny to fall in defense of the flag I reverence, my last thought will be of you. Farewell. If we % never meet again, at least think of me kindly—it is the most I dare expect.” : “Will nothing change you, Royal ?’’ she said, with a sob. ‘‘Nothing that reflects on the Stars and Stripes. Nothing-—not even you.”’ , And thus they parted. CHAPTER IX. BURN AND DESTROY. A puff of white smoke. The sullen roar of a distant cannon. This was enough to announce to the inhabitants of _ the beautiful valley of the Shenandoah that ‘‘Cavalry Sheridan’? was let loose, and that the war would now be carried to their very doors, Gomicbooks (E(0)