new at last.
He even heard the swish of her skirts once or twice against the bushes.
Then she came through the dwarfed cedars, stepping boldly, and stood
before them.
The stranger stood full in the moonlight, and Dick saw her very clearly.
She was thin, small and elderly, clothed in a gray riding suit, and with
a sort of small gray turban on her head. But despite her smallness and
thinness and years there was nothing insignificant in her appearance.
As she stood there looking at them, she showed a pair of the brightest
and most intelligent eyes that Dick had ever seen. Her small, pointed
chin had the firmness of steel, and figure, manner and appearance alike
betokened courage and resolution in the highest degree.
All these impressions were made upon Dick in a single instant, as if in a
flash of light, and he also noticed in her face a resemblance to some one,
although he could not recall, for a moment, who it was. But the silence
that endured for a half minute, while the men regarded the woman and the
woman regarded the men, was broken by Shepard, who uttered a low cry and
strode forward.
"Henrietta," he exclaimed, "you here at such a time!"
He put his arms around her and kissed her.
She returned his kiss, laughed a little, and the two turned toward the
others. Then Dick saw whom she resembled. As they stood side by side
the likeness was marked, the same eyes, the same nose, the same mouth,
the same chin, only hers were in miniature, in comparison with his,
and in addition she was eight or ten years older.
"Mr. Mason," said Shepard, addressing himself directly to their nominal
leader. "This is my sister. She also serves as I do, and for her,
hardships and dangers are not less than mine for me. She works chiefly
in Richmond itself. But as you see, she has now come alone into the
mountains, and also into the very fringe of the armies."
"Then," said Dick, "she must come on a mission of great importance and it
is for us to honor so brave a messenger."
He and all the others took off their caps in silence. They might
have cheered, but every one knew that the foe was not far away in the
thickets. There was sufficient light for him to see a little flush of
pride appear for a moment on the face of the woman. Strange as her
position was, she seemed easy and confident, lightly swinging in her
hand a small riding whip.
"I'll not ask you for the present, Henrietta, how you come to be here,"
said Shepa
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