They laid him where they had laid one generation after another of the Stones and it seemed as if a pall of sorrow had fallen upon the whole place.  Then, still grieving, they turned their long-distracted attention to the things that had been going on around, and lo! the ominous mutterings were loud, and the cloud of war was black above them.

It was on an April morning when the storm broke, and the plantation, master and man, stood dumb with consternation, for they had hoped, they had believed, it would pass.  And now there was the buzz of men who talked in secret corners.  There were hurried saddlings and feverish rides to town.  Somewhere in the quarters was whispered the forbidden word “freedom,” and it was taken up and dropped breathlessly from the ends of a hundred tongues.  Some of the older ones scouted it, but from some who held young children to their breasts there were deep-souled prayers in the dead of night.  Over the meetings in the woods or in the log church a strange reserve brooded, and even the prayers took on a guarded tone.  Even from the fulness of their hearts, which longed for liberty, no open word that could offend the mistress or the young master went up to the Almighty.  He might know their hearts, but no tongue in meeting gave vent to what was in them, and even Gideon sang no more of the gospel army.  He was sad because of this new trouble coming hard upon the heels of the old, and Martha was grieved because he was.

Finally the trips into town budded into something, and on a memorable evening when the sun looked peacefully through the pines, young Dudley Stone rode into the yard dressed in a suit of gray, and on his shoulders were the straps of office.  The servants gathered around him with a sort of awe and followed him until he alighted at the porch.  Only Mam’ Henry, who had been nurse to both him and his sister, dared follow him in.  It was a sad scene within, but such a one as any Southern home where there were sons might have shown that awful year.  The mother tried to be brave, but her old hands shook, and her tears fell upon her son’s brown head, tears of grief at parting, but through which shone the fire of a noble pride.  The young Ellen hung about his neck with sobs and caresses.

“Would you have me stay?” he asked her.

“No! no!  I know where your place is, but oh, my brother!”

“Ellen,” said the mother in a trembling voice, “you are the sister of a soldier now.”

The girl dried her tears and drew herself up.  “We won’t burden your heart, Dudley, with our tears, but we will weight you down with our love and prayers.”

It was not so easy with Mam’ Henry.  Without protest, she took him to her bosom and rocked to and fro, wailing “My baby! my baby!” and the tears that fell from the young man’s eyes upon her grey old head cost his manhood nothing.

Gideon was behind the door when his master called him.  His sleeve was traveling down from his eyes as he emerged.