We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
SPECIAL MESSENGER
45
HESTER LISTENS IN PROUD SILENCE
men scattered themselves over the house, looking under beds, into closets, behind dresses hanging in wardrobes, in a vain search. Sabers were thrust into the beds, and the walls were sounded for hollow places. In the garret old trunks were opened and the rafters sharply scrutinized by the light of candles, with no trace of the scout.
' ' Is he an important man ? ' ' Hester inquired.
"A whole regiment is looking for him," Lieutenant Foster answered.
It dawned on the indolent mind of the young wife that her husband had only half stated the urgency of the duty he had undertaken to perform. The message he had given to her was one of those on which the fate of armies hang ; its delivery might serve to rid the country of men bent on organized destruction of life and property. Woman's natural grandeur of soul began to shine in her eyes and her bosom rose high when her mind conceived a daring project.
After the intruders had searched the outhouses, with no result satisfactory to themselves, she sent her mother to the barn to console plucky Milroy, while she changed her gown for a plain white dimity, and drew a cloak over her improvised habit.
She would carry the message her husband had failed to deliver. While she was dressing, her awakened mind was busy devising, with all the infinite cunning of her sex — that art which has made mistresses of intrigue in all ages — how to secrete the message so that she could, as usual, compass the ends of mere man. The bluecoats would never find the message where she chose to hide it.
Lieutenant Foster was among those who examined the barn where Milroy lay, and the Federal officer glanced sharply at the manger, but Hester's saddle mare did her part so well, munching hay directly above the concealed scout, that the search passed on. It was of vital importance that no one should reach Stuart with information of carefully laid plans for his destruction. In the dark glens north of Fairview heavy batteries were being massed to check the great Confederate leader should he try to cut his way out in that direction when he found himself caught between two fires. The scout, who had attempted to reveal the Federal position, had been traced to a point so near the house that Foster was not satisfied with the result of his search. He secretly posted his men in the woods and fields to the west and awaited developments.