"Mother! Marion! are you safe?" It was the cry from Jack as he came up, almost out of breath from running.
"Yes, thank Heaven, we are safe so far," answered Mrs. Ruthven. "Where have you been—at the town?"
"No, I was over to St. John's place," answered our hero, and in a few words told about the fire.
"We, too, have suffered," said Mrs. Ruthven. "A solid shot passed through the sitting room."
"Did it hurt anybody?"
"One of the wounded soldiers was knocked senseless. The others were more frightened than hurt."
"It has been a hot fight all around. And, oh, mother! what do you think? I saw Colonel Stanton shot down!"
"Is that true, Jack?"
"Yes, I saw the whole thing as plain as day. It's too bad. He was such a nice gentleman, even if he was a Yankee."
"You are right. Jack; he was indeed a gentleman. I felt perfectly safe while he was in the vicinity."