y Hill
gate. Just before they reached it, two little figures came out of the
gate and started down the road. One was a boy of five, who carried a
toy sword, drawn, in one hand, whilst with the other he led his
companion, a little girl of three, who clasped a large yellow-haired
doll to her breast.

The soldiers cantered forward and overtook them. The little girl
shrank behind her brother where he stood, stoutly, holding her behind
him with one hand while with the other he clutched his small sword,
defiantly.

"Where are you going, my little people?" inquired the General, reining
in and gazing down at them affectionately.

"I'm goin' to get my papa," said the tiny swordsman, firmly, turning a
sturdy and determined little face up to him. "My mamma's cryin', an'
I'm goin' to take my papa home. I ain' goin' to let the Yankees have
him."

[Illustration: "I'm goin' to get my papa," said the tiny swordsman.]

The officers all broke into a murmur of mingled admiration and
amusement.

"No, we ain' goin' let the Yankees have our papa," chimed in Evelyn,
pushing her tangled hair out of her eyes, and keeping fast hold of
Charlie's hand for fear of the horses around her.

The General dismounted.

"How are you going to help, my little Semiramis?" he asked, stooping
over her, with smiling eyes.

"I'm goin' to give 'em my dolly if they will give me my papa," she
said, gravely, as if she understood the equality of the exchange.

"Suppose you give a kiss instead?" There was a second of hesitation,
and then she put up her little face, and the old General dropped on one
knee in the road and lifted her in his arms, doll and all.

"Gentlemen," he said to his staff, "you behold the future defenders of
the Union."

The little ones were coaxed home, Charlie in front of a staff-officer,
and Evelyn in front of General Denby himself. And that afternoon, as
Colonel Stafford was expecting to leave the camp for Washington with a
lot of prisoners, a despatch was brought in to General Denby, who
smiled as he read it.

"Colonel," he said, addressing him, "I think I shall have to continue
your parole a few days longer. I have just received information that,
by a special cartel which I have arranged, you are to be exchanged for
Colonel McDowell as soon as he can reach the lines at this point from
Richmond; and meantime, as we have but indifferent accommodations here,
I shall have to request you to consider Holly Hill as your plac