The Littlest Rebel | Page 8

the hedge at a swift trot came a man in the uniform
of an officer in the Confederate Army,--and Virgie was in his arms.

Mrs. Cary gave him one look and threw out her arms.
"Herbert!"
The man on horseback let Virgie slide down and then dismounted like a
flash, coming to her across the little space of lawn with his whole soul
in his eyes. With his dear wife caught in his arms he could do nothing
but kiss her and hold her as if he would never again let her go.
"Hallie," he breathed, "but it's good to see you again. It's good." And so
they stood for a long moment, husband and wife united after months of
separation, after dangers and terrors and privations which had seemed
as if they never would end.
Sally Ann was one of the first to interrupt, edging up at the earliest
opportunity with her beard in her hand. "How you does, Mars' Cary?
How you fine yo'sef, seh?"
"Why, hullo, Sally Ann!" said Cary, and put out his hand. "What on
earth is this thing?"
Virgie ran to his side and caught his hand in hers. "We were playing
'Blue Beard,' Daddy,--an' you came just like the brother."
"So you've been Blue Beard, have you, Sally Ann?--then I must have
the pleasure of cutting you into ribbons." Herbert Cary's shining saber
flashed half out of its scabbard and then, laughing, he slapped it back
with a clank.
"Sally Ann," he announced, "I'm going to turn you into Sister Anne for
a while. You run up to Miss Hallie's room and sit by the window where
you can watch the road and woods. If you see anything--soldiers, I
mean--"
"Oh, Herbert!" cried his wife in anguish.
"S-s-sh!" he whispered. "Go along, Sally Ann. If you see anyone at all
report to me at once. Understand? Off with you!"

Uncle Billy now came forward in an effort to make his master's clothes
more presentable.
"Heh, Mars' Cary, lemme brush you off, seh. You's fyar kivered."
"Look out, you old rascal," Cary laughed, as his wife backed away
coughing before the cloud of fine white dust that rose under Uncle
Billy's vigorous hands. "You're choking your mistress to death. Never
mind the dust. I'll get it back in ten minutes."
Mrs. Cary clasped her hands together at her breast with a look of
entreaty.
"Herbert! Must you go so soon?"
Her husband looked back at her with eyes dark with regret.
"Yes," he said briefly. "I'm on my way to Richmond. How many horses
are there in the stable?"
"Two--only two," was the broken response, as his wife sank down
disconsolate on a bench. "Belle and Lightfoot--we sold the others--I
had to do it."
"Yes, I know, little woman. It couldn't be helped. Here, Billy! Take my
horse and get Belle out of the stable. Lead them down to the swamp
and hide them in the cedars. Then saddle Lightfoot--bring him here and
give him some water and a measure of corn. Look sharp, Billy!
Lively!"
In the face of danger to his master Uncle Billy's response was instant.
"Yes, seh. Right away, seh," and he took Cary's lathered animal and
made off for the stables at top speed.
Mrs. Cary looked up at her husband with a great fear written on her
face.
"Why, Herbert dear. You--you don't mean to say that the Yankees are
in the neighborhood?"

Immediately Cary was on the bench beside her with his arm around her,
while Virgie climbed up on the other side.
"Now, come," he murmured, "be a brave little woman and don't be
alarmed. It may be nothing after all. Only--there are several foraging
parties--small ones, a few miles down the river. I've been dodging them
all morning. If they come at all they won't trouble either you or Virgie."
"But _I'm_ not afraid of them, Daddy-man," cried the small daughter,
and she doubled up her fist ferociously. "Look at that."
"Aha! There's a brave little Rebel," her father cried as he swept her up
in a hearty hug. "_You're_ not afraid of them,--nor you either, God
bless you," and his lips rested for a moment on his wife's soft cheek.
"Only, you are apt to be a little too haughty. If they search the house for
arms or stragglers, make no resistance. It's best."
"Yes, yes, I know," his wife cried out, "but you, dear, _you_! Why are
you here? Why aren't you with your company?"
Cary looked away for a moment across the fields and down the slope
towards the shimmering river. They were very beautiful--he wondered
why he had not fully realized all that wife and child and home meant to
him when he volunteered recently for a certain hazardous duty. He
knew, too, how