d-night, but I felt ill at ease in that Southern
home for being one of the 'detested Yankees.' Never, by word or sign,
was such a thought given out, but I felt that everyone would have been
more at ease had I never come.

"Every other afternoon Mr. Crudup went to Nashville with a load of bags
for the commissary department. One afternoon, about a week after our
arrival, he came back from the city earlier than usual and we noticed a
troubled look on his face.

"'How now, father?' asked sweet Mrs. Crudup.

"'Reports in Nashville say that the fighting is turned toward this part
of the country,' he said.

"'Someone has to bear the burden--perhaps the Lord has selected us to
carry a share,' returned Mrs. Crudup, reverently.

"'The one thing that worries me is that our place is well known in this
part of the country, and our fertile acres are known to produce the
finest edibles. Then, too, the fact that we raise some of the best-bred
horses in Tennessee may cause the Yanks to come down on us at any time
and raid the stables. In that case, they will carry off everything--not
even a plow-horse will be left.'

"'Father, our boys have had all they could use for this conflict, and
wouldn't it be bettah to ship our horses to Nashville fo' the army to
use?' asked Mrs. Crudup.

"'I would rather see every head of cattle dead than in the hands of a
Yankee!' cried Sally Crudup, bitterly, for her sweetheart had been
killed in a battle a few weeks previous.

"'Sally, Sally! let no bittehness feed your sorrow!' reproved the gentle
mother, patting me upon the back as if in apology for her daughter's
breach of etiquette.

"Mr. and Mrs. Crudup walked away in private converse, and Becky and I
started for the paddocks which I had not yet visited.

"'Selina, I'm plannin' a desperate deed!' said Becky, in a whisper, as
we passed down the shady lane that led to the stables and pastures.

"I looked at her in surprise, for her tone was shaky.

"'I have not introduced you to Imp. Imp is the most valuable horse on
the place and would bring a high price in Nashville. My only relief is
that no one can ride him, manage, or harness him but Tim and me. When
Imp was born Tim was there, and when Imp's mother died soon after his
birth, she turned her eyes on Tim and seemed to ask him to look after
her baby. I got there just as she turned back her head and saw me. I
took her head upon my lap and promised that I would adopt her boy, and I
always f