When the men were on board, and the wheels began to move, Ben leaned out of his window and whispered to Helen, just below him:—
"Can't I have the promise now, Helen?"
"Yes, yes, Ben—dear Ben, I promise!" and as the cars rolled away she turned and calmly announced, "Girls, I'm engaged to Ben Shepard."
"I'm engaged to half a dozen of them," said one.
"That's nothing," said another, "I'm engaged to the whole regiment."
Poor little Helen—but I must not anticipate.
After the soldiers left, silence and anxiety fell upon the town like a pall. What should we do next? This was the question we asked each other; and it was answered by one of our dear women.
"We will hold a prayer meeting in each other's houses, at four o'clock every afternoon. We can pray, if we cannot fight."
This meeting was held daily throughout the years of the war—and comfort through its influence came to many a sorrowful heart.
But the lull was of short duration. The South was sending troops to help old Virginia.