"We all felt sorry about losing Vernon, but he promised to visit me at Happy Hills when the war was over."
Aunt Selina stopped and the children began plying questions.
"Aunt Selina, what became of Imp?" asked Dot.
"We kept him in the cave for a few days more, and then, one morning, the negroes all turned green with fear when they saw Rebecca riding Imp down the road from the paddock, for they believed Imp to have been taken with the other horses, and were sure that this was a ghost of the real Imp." And Aunt Selina laughed as she recalled Rebecca's mad ride down the lane and the high wall Imp vaulted before he stopped stock still in front of the quaking, superstitious slaves.
"Did Newell come back home?" asked Betty, whose sympathy was all for the mother who lost one boy and then had the other one taken prisoner.
"We received word of his transfer from the Yankee army to his own. He went into active service again and fought all through the rest of the war. He won many honors for bravery before the Confederate Army was disbanded."
"Do you know what became of him afterwards?" asked Don, interested in such a fighter.
"He married and settled out West upon a large ranch. Now and then Rebecca's daughter has a letter from him, giving news of his children or the grandchildren."
"Oh, then, Rebecca married too. Did you know who it was?" asked several curious voices.
"Yes," smiled Aunt Selina. "She married the very beau she had selected for me."
"I am so anxious to know if that fine old house is still there and if we could find the cave and underground store-rooms if we ever went there?" asked Norma.
"No, dear; the beautiful old mansion was entirely destroyed by fire started from a shell during the time the battle line closed about Nashville. I was not there at the time, but Rebecca wrote and told me of the dreadful scenes. Almost every family for miles about was left homeless and destitute. The Pines, Rebecca's home, stood as long as any and sheltered every homeless Southerner round about."
"I guess Rebecca liked to remember that, didn't she?" said Ruth.
"Aunt Selina, you didn't tell us what became of Imp and Rebecca that day she rode up to the house," reminded Ned.
"Rebecca laughed at the servants' fear and rode Imp over to the steps of the piazza. We stood watching her as she jumped off and led Imp right up to the rail. 'Lady,' said she to me, 'this horse just told me that he was going North on a little visit. As there is no one here but you who can take him there, I believe he intends taking you home.' Although Rebecca's eyes filled with tears and her voice trembled, we all laughed and made a great fuss over Imp.