Here, Aunt Selina leaned back in her chair and looked away over the lawns as if she saw again the scurrying horses racing for dear life in one direction, while from the opposite direction she saw another picture she had not yet mentioned.
"If you are wearied, Aunt Selina, we will postpone the story for another day," suggested Mrs. Talmage.
"Oh, no! please don't!" begged the excited children.
"Oh, Flutey, I simply couldn't wait until to-morrow to find out what happened," cried Ruth, beseechingly.
Aunt Selina smiled at the children, and Uncle Ben added: "They are right! I don't want to wait either!"
"Good! I should say it is! It's a big 'seller' if it was only in a book!" returned Uncle Ben.
"Well, then, after the magazine is done with it suppose we sell it to a publisher for the benefit of the children," ventured Aunt Selina, eagerly.
"Fine idea! We will try it!" said Uncle Ben.
Aunt Selina moved her chair to keep the rays of the setting sun from her eyes, and then continued with her story.
"I think the rest of this story is the most interesting of all," murmured Aunt Selina, as she permitted her memory to roam in years long gone.
The children waited patiently for Aunt Selina to begin and, after a short moment, she sat up erect, looking fearfully out over the lawn, and spoke hurriedly.
"Right there before our very eyes we saw the Yankee regiment tear down the lane and swerve toward the road just taken by the Southern boys. They were still to be seen making for the woods just over the slope of the hill toward Nashville.
"We heard the captain shout, 'Halt! Aim! Fire!' and, as a volley rang out, many of the ladies on the piazza screamed or fainted, while Rebecca and I stood petrified at the result of that happy dinner.
"Almost at the same time the Yankees fired there came the rattle of musketry from the woods which the boys had reached.
"From the veranda I saw several of the Yankees' horses leap up and two of them rolled over on the ground. One man threw up his hands, fell over on his horse's neck, and dropped his gun. The horse, frightened, started galloping directly toward the house. Tim, who was coming down the side steps, ran forward and caught hold of the bridle. Mr. Crudup and some of his friends lifted the young soldier from the saddle and carefully carried him up the piazza steps, and placed him on the floor.