Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 189: what you’re looking at

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

180 What ever persuaded your father to move up to Albemarle? I know the country is beautiful, but I am lonely— so lonely—and heartsick, Dorothy, with the struggle of it all. We have given, are giving so much—our all—for what? “T have my serious doubts as to your ever receiving this letter, the mails are not to be trusted just now. “ Now and always, “JEAN.” “ P.S.—By the way, Austin Feild has been promoted to uncle’s staff. He has beset me with questions about you— says—but there, of course you do not care what he says. J.” n * * * Extract from a letter written by Miss Dorothy Fairfax of Albemarle County to Miss. Jean Ravenscroft of Virginta. é¢ * * * Your letter reached me after a delay of nearly three weeks ; and I consider myself lucky to have got it then. “The excitement is increasing every day and at present we are in the depths of woe. The scouts are after father. His fame as a hunter has gone abroad and they are anxious to capture htm, so that he may show them the shortest cut through the woods to join their men. He is in hiding just now, and old faith- ful Charles takes him his meals. Mother and we three girls are alone in this great house—Ned with General Johnston near Atlanta and Robert with General Lee at Petersburg. “ Some Yankees came here yesterday and ransacked the stables, taking all the horses. And Nancy—you remem- ber Nancy?—well, I heard they were coming and I hid Nancy in the cellar. “Two lieutenants came into the house for something to eat and they stood directly over the spot where she was. I simply could mot get them to move. Just then Nancy snorted—she must have smelt powder; the war in- stinct was always strong in Nancy. She snorted, and I groaned in spirit. The Yankees heard it and turned from the THE ARGOSY. shadow, and then, Jean, I saw that one of them was—Peyton Ravenscroft— but so changed, so emaciated, that I scarcely knew him. “ He recognized me at once, though, and asked me if I would shake hands— possibly he has had so many rebuffs lately from his old friends in this sec- tion of the country—he did not know quite how I would take it. “ Between ourselves, Jean, I was so glad to see a familiar face I could have fallen on his neck and wept. I forgot I was a Southern girl—that he was a Union man—forgot the estrangement these last three years has wrought and remembered only that I was a woman and that he was ill—and—and—will you forgive me if I say it, dear ?—was perhaps a little homesick for—you! ““ He seemed so pleased, and his first words were ‘Have you heard from Jean?’ He had such a hungry, wistful look in his eyes—I think even you would have pitied him. “Well, he has gone now but he left my Nancy behind, for which I am duly grateful. I wish there were more men like him, Jean. You remember I wrote you that when Robert was on duty as sentinel at Belle Isle, he was there as a prisoner. I verily believe the day he was brought there, Bob could have killed him with pleasure—he was so thoroughly disgusted that General Lee should have lost such a clever fellow. But before he was exchanged, Bob wrote that he had them captive. You know there is not much sentiment about prison life, or much love lost be- tween the guarded and the guards; but Bob says, he truly believes that Ravens- croft’s unfailing cheerfulness and wil- lingness went a long way toward keep- ing his comrades alive. “Tt was he who nursed the sick and wounded ; he who comforted the home- sick dying, and when he fell ill, Bob says he moaned and moaned for—who do you think, Jean? This letter is not an appeal for Peyton Ravenscroft, your cousin, but although until today the ECORRIC OO© eo