Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

‘ 56 BURN AND DESTROY. lives, their families either murdered or driven from home in penury and want. Either side of the picture was bad enough; but little less could be expected during the reign of a merciless civil war, which, in its magnitude, dwarfed all other wars of the kind, either ancient or modern. | ‘(The barn’s chuck-full, lieutenant.’’ ‘“Apply the match, boys; we won’t delay here a ereat while. From the sounds this morning, I judge that Early is making a stand. We must get back to the front to-day.’ ‘In the name of justice, hold!’ A clear, bell-like voice fell on the ears of the Union troopers as they were about to apply the match to Orvin Clymore’s barn. ‘“That girl again!’’ ejaculated the lieutenant, as the slender, yet graceful figure of Bertha McVane once more coufronted the trooper. Behind her, and a little way off, stood Orvin Cly- more, leaning ‘against a small tree, watching the troopers, with white face and trembling limbs. It was hard to see his property go, and he was al- most prostrated at the thought. Bertha, with her strong mind, stronger really than that of her uncle, refused to remain quiet while the work of-the incendiary was being done. ‘“What the duse are you out’ here for, miss?” growled the young lieutenant, rather sharply. ‘Because I have a right to be here,’’ retorted the girl, bluntly. ‘‘You and your men are the intruders. You have no right to destroy this property, the prop- erty of a poor old man, who has lost all but honor in this war.’? | ‘Lost all!’ sneered the officer. ‘‘Why, bless you, miss, there’s hundreds of dollars’ worth of grain in this barn, and two splendid horses. I guess he’ll think he’s poor after we leave. You may thank your (E(0) “Eomichooks