the red acorn-第57章

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ash　down　the　great　ranks　of　Rebels　with　them。〃

〃The　arth　rocks　as　when　He　lays　his　finger　upon　hit；〃　said　Aunt　Debby。

The　ground　was　trembling　under　the　explosion　of　the　fifty…eight　pieces　of　artillery　which　Rosencrans　hastily　massed　at　four　o'clock　Friday；　for　the　relief　of　his　overpowered　left。　　〃What's　them　that　go　'boo…woo…woo；'　like　great　big　dogs　barkin'？〃

〃Those　are　John　Mendenhall's　big　Napoleons；〃　said　a　wounded　artillery　officer。　　〃Go　on；　Miss。　　What　now？〃

〃The　Rebels　have　stopped　coming　on。　　They　are　apparently　firing　back。　The　shells　and　the　limbs　of　the　trees　still　break　their　lines　and　tear　them　to　pieces。　　Now　our　men　dash　across　the　river　again；　and　begin　a　musketry　fire　that　mows　them　down。　　They　start　to　run；　and　our　men　charge　after　them；　cheering　as　they　run。　　Our　men　have　taken　their　cannon　away　from　them。　　The　Rebels　are　running　for　life　to　get　inside　their　works。　　The　hillside　is　dotted　with　those　who　have　fallen；　and　there　are　rows　of　them　lying　near　the　water。　　Now　everything　is　quieting　down　again。〃

〃Glory　ter　God！　for　He　has　at　last　given　the　enemy　inter　our　hands。　Come　and　kiss　me；　honey；　an'　say　good…by。〃

From　the　throats　of　twenty…five　thousand　excited　spectators　of　the　destruction　of　Breckenridge's　division　rose　cheers　of　triumph　that　echoed　to　the　clouds。

〃What　sweet　music　that　is！〃　said　Aunt　Debby；　half　unclosing　her　eyes。　　〃God　bless　ye；　honey。　　Good…by。〃

The　gentle　eyes　closed　forever。

Late　in　the　evening　Dr。　Denslow's　stretcher　corps　brough　in　Harry　Glen；　who　had　fallen　in　the　last　charge　with　a　flesh　wound　in　the　leg。　　Until　he　woke　the　next　morning　to　find　her　sitting　by　his　bedside；　Harry　thought　he　had　been　dreaming　all　the　time　that　Rachel　Bond　had　come　to　him；　dressed　in　quaint　country　garb；　and　loosed　with　gentle；　painless　fingers　the　stiff；　blood…encrusted　bandage　about　his　head；　and　replaced　it　with　something　that　soothed　and　eased　his　fevered　temples。

〃I　have　very　good　news　for　you；〃　she　said；　later　in　the　day。　　〃Kent　Edwards　says　that　you　are　　promoted　to　Captain；　by　special　orders；　for　'Conspicuous　gallantry　on　the　battle…field　of　Stone　River。'〃

〃And　when　are　we　to　be　married？〃　he　asked。

〃Just　as　soon　as　you　are　able　to　travel　back　to　Sardis。〃

They　looked　up　and　saw　Dr。　Denslow　standing　beside　them。　　A　stunned　look　on　his　face　indicated　that　he　had　heard　and　understood　all。　This　speedily　gave　away　to　his　accustomed　expression　of　serene　philosophy。

〃Forget　me；　except　as　a　friend；〃　he　said。　　〃It　is　better　as　it　is　for　you；　Harry；　and　certainly　better　for　her。　　Possibly　it　is　better　for〃with　a　little　gasp〃me。　　The　sweets　of　love　are　not　for　me。　　They　are　irrational；　and　irrational　things　are　carefully　eliminated　from　my　scheme　of　life。〃

Towards　evening　Fortner　came　in　with　the　news　〃Thet　ole　Bragg　picked　up　his　traps　and　skipped　out　fur　Tullahoma；　ter　nuss　his　hurts；　leavin'　his　wounded　and　lots　o'　stores　in　our　hands。〃

So　was　gained　the　great　victory　of　Stone　River。







End