I'm on my way now to join my command, but I had a good excuse for coming home to hold you in in my arms again, if only for a moment.

You see, poor old Roger got a wound in his flank--from a stray bullet." "A _stray_ bullet," asked Mrs.Gary, doubtfully.
"Yes," he smiled, for he had escaped it, "a stray bullet meant for _me_." "But, Daddy," Virgie interrupted, "while you were up in the tree--" A wild whoop broke off Virgie's question.

Sally Ann was rushing down the steps, her eyes rolling up with excitement.
"Mars' Cary! Mars' Cary! Somebody comin' long de road!" "Who?
How many ?" Cary demanded, springing up and running towards the gate that opened on the wagon road over the hills.
"Des' one," responded Sally Ann with naive truthfulness.

"Ol' Dr.
Simmons.

He drivin' by de gate in de buggy." Mrs.Cary threw up her hands with a muffled cry of relief and laughter.
"Oh, Sally! Sally!" she exclaimed, "you'll be the death of me." "But Lor! Miss Hallie," said Sally plaintively, "he _tole_ me fer to tell him." Cary, returning, waved Sally Ann back to her post.