THE JEWELLED HORSESHOE.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 8, Issue 13, 12 February 1907, Page 7

THE JEWELLED HORSESHOE.

BY C. E. LYON.. Lieutenant Carter of Troop C. of the First Virginia was ambitions. This story will show why. •I-he place was Richmond, and the time 1861. The battle of Manassas had been followed by a panic in the Union ranks and the army had set out to capture Richmond abandoned all munitions and ran headlong baok to Washington. The South heard the result with great exultation, and firmly believing the war to bo over, they retired once more to their customary "dolce far niente." Lieutenant Carter was no exception. Scarcely had the last blnecoat disappeared over the hills to the northwest when ho turned his horses head and galloped towards Richmond. At the Capital city of the ( lonfederacy a glorious reception awaited the rebels. The news had been brought in soon after the battle, and "open house” became the order of (lie day Every soldier was welcomed as a brother and there was general rejoicing. lint Lieutenant Cartin' was for none of this; “not, a moment stopped or stayed he ” when (lie crowds shouted to him to join them, but merely smiled, shook his head and rode on. Soon , ho turned sharply off at a side street and rode down an avenue shaded by large trees. Three squares down tin’s street and he halted before a large housw surrounded by an extensive lawn. Scarcely had his horse stopped before Carter sprang off, fastened the reins at a hitching-post, and was hastening up the central walk of broad cement flags, bedecked with blooms from the magnolias over head. lie stepped upon the broad porch, hut before he could raise his hand to the knocker the door was opened, and a lovely creature in pink rushed out, and with a little cry of delight ran into his open arms. /‘You ! Can it be? And the horrid war has let you come back ? Come right in and tell me all about if !” The door closed behind them as they went gaily within. Ethel Mon care would be bard to describe—and I am sure the Lieutenant himself, could not describe, her to his entire satisfaction. It is .the stun total that makes tho impression and to a, man i.u love, the sum total is something 'indescribable, but quite delicious. When Carter dreamt about, her it seemed to him that a pair of large blue eyes and a, mass of golden hair were most prominent—but his dreams always put her out of his reach ; on some cliff where he could not: go to her assistance. His dreams were but an expression of the reality. Ethel was inaccessible, and of her own choosing. She loved Carter well, 'but the man site married must be a hero—out,' who would make her as well as himself the envied, of nil Richmond. And so she told him. They did not remain within long, and as they reappeared, she said ; ‘Tt must he so ; but, see, my father gave me this little, jewelled horseshoe last Christmas ; when I send it to you it will be a- sign that I am ready for my hero to come to mo.” “So be it, my little tyrant,” said Carter, raising her hand to his lips, and in another minute he had mounted and had gone. The excitement over Manassas was short-lived. The Yankees soon returned and word came to collect the disbanded forces. Lieutenant Carter rejoined his troop and was once more off to the front without even a chance to say good-bye to Ethel. For a year the battles raged, but all without result as far a s Carter was concerned, for never came the chance by which he could fulfil the conditions necessary to win Ethel. Finally Leo planned the march into the enemy’s country and Jackson started the invasion. Through the silver reaches of the great Potomac the long columns of men and waggons splashed and stumbled and wound steadily northward over the green fields of Maryland. Lieutenant Carter was assigned to Jackson's division. History has told how Jackson’s division marched to Harper’s Ferry, and after the enemy had walked into that trap,Approached from all sides and shut the doors on them. His men were delighted and all mouths watered at the prospect of drinking the “real ” coffee of the Yankees. But they reckoned without their general ; hardly had the men swallowed a scanty meal when the bugles sounded to march, and in an hour Jackson was well on his way to Sharpsburg. They were not to have so much as a taste of the Federals’ luxuries. Carter was disgusted at this turn of affairs. His troop had been accustomed to much better things at homu than the scanty supplies that had been dealt out to them recently, and they were particularly anxious to got a Ims te of th« Yankees stores. After a half hour’s march the army was hailed to march with narrower front through the passes of Maryland Heights. 'When they halted Garter turned his horse's head, and cacitered slowly towards the rear. ’When ho had passed the last soldier he gave his horse his head, jabbed his spurs into the .surprised animal’s flanks and dashed along the road to Harper’s Ferry. Ho forded the river, made a detour to approach the city from the rear, donned a Federal uniform which he had previously secured, ami was soon trotting down the main street. Observing a Federal sentry on guard before a house, (,’arier rode up to him. ‘‘What are yon on guard here for?” ’'Over pro\ isions.” “What are t hey ?” “Ba con and hardtack,” “\eiy well ; let no one in till [ ret urn. ” Twit squares fanh-r on be saw another soldier ;n front of a building. “What are guarding be called out. "Coffee and fanned meats,” replied the soldier. "Let no one in till 1 «ome back," called Carter as he rude on, Several squares, he went without stopping, but at every cross .street looking carefully to each side. At the fourth crossing he suddenly wheeled his horwe to the right and : gallopped up to a group of soldiers

lounging round a largo army waggon, while two unhitched the horses. “Hook up those horses again,” ordered Carter, as he rode up. "Some provisions up the street have to be moved to another place. Be quick now r ! Two men will be enough. That’s it. This way,” and off he galloped, ddie men having no time to deliberate, hooked up the horses, mounted into the scat, and hastily lol.lowed Carter, already some distance ahead. He stopped at the two houses the soldiers were guarding, transferred their stores to the waggon, and a half hour after entering the city had set out again, but now . followed by a four-horse army waggon well stocked with the camp 'luxuries ’ of the ‘Yankees.’ Tim night: was very dark and it was difficult, to follow the rough road the troops had just taken. Suddenly a trace broke and the waggon was stopped. As Carter dismounted to repair it both drivers sprang from the seal and made off at doublequick through the woods. As it was dark they got a good start before Carter was fully aware of what had happened. It was hopeless to follow them, and delay might mean the loss of (lie waggon, so he quickly mended the trace, lied his own horse’s bridle rein to the end gate of the wagon, sprang into the seat and was off on l.iis long drive to catch the troops ahead. All that night he drove, now renown ottering' the road, hurrying and hesitating by turns, keeping up his spirits all the time by thinking of the Richmond house overshaded by magnolias* Next morning as the sun rose upon the fields of ripening corn he drove swiftly down into the plain and brought up at the bottom just as the tired soldiers were stretching their limbs at reveille after a tarnhour nap. That morning Troop C was the only division of Jackson’s 12,000 who were in a tine humour over a good breakfast. Even old Stonewall himself looked out of his tent to discern whence came the sounds of rejoicing in such times of trouble, “For he's a jolly good fellow," were the words he heard. “Tfc'oop C is always light-hearted and happy," lie mused. "1 wonder what keeps them in such goorl spirits'?" Two weeks later a small package was handed to Carter. Without even glancing at the writing, he hurriedlv opened it. The first, thing lie saw was a small card'on which was written : “I have not. forgotten." Looking beneath he saw a tiny jewelled horseshoe.