The adults grouped themselves to talk andlaugh, no longer paying attention to the fighting just south ofthem. A line in one of her textbooks came to her, “they dancedwhile Rome burned.”
Feeling forgotten, she wandered back to herbedroom. Out of the mood for letter writing, she walked over andset her chair to rights. Tomorrow, after school, she promised,she’d compose a long missive to James and William, telling them allthe happenings. She stared up at the glowing full moon. The moondidn’t care a fig about the turmoil raging beneath its etherealglow. Tillie leaned on the windowsill and watched the adults on thestreet while their laughter drifted up to her. Mother and Fatherjoined in as the neighbors engaged in an impromptu party.
She glanced again at the full moon. Her heartskipped a beat, and she gasped. In the upper left hand section, areddish tinge colored the orb. It hadn’t been there before. Bloodon the moon, her grandmother’s voice sounded in her head. Goosebumps crawled from her scalp to her torso.
Tillie slammed her window closed. Motheralways said things appeared more frightening in the dark.Everything would be different in daylight. “Lord, please let it bedifferent in daylight.”
Chapter 6
As she walked to school Friday morning, atrain whistle shrieked through the air. Amidst cheering crowds, thetinkle of a martial tune carried on the morning breeze. TheTwenty-First!
Tillie spun toward Carlisle Street, and herfeet, rooting to the ground, somehow kept her from racing to jointhe crowd. She didn’t dare. If Mother and Father found out, they’dpunish her. She stood on the corner of Washington and High Streets,imagining the townsfolk welcoming the troops, the grand parade, andthe musicians playing “Garry Owen”. How much trouble would she getinto if she ran down, for a minute or two?
A quick tug on her sleeve made her jump. Herface flushed. “You startled me.”
Beckie grinned. “I can tell.” She giggled,ending it with a long sigh. “I want to go too, but we need to getto school.” She grasped Tillie’s arm and turned her around.
“Do you think they’ll push the Rebs back intoMaryland?” Tillie glanced over her shoulder, one last longinggaze.
Beckie shrugged and pouted. “I don’t know. Ifthere is going to be a fight, I think they should have the goodgrace go somewhere else and leave us be.”
Tillie’s jaw dropped. “You don’t want theRebs to beat us do you?”
“I want the rebels to go back to Virginia,where they belong, and leave us alone. Let them set up their owngovernment, if that’s what they want. Just go away and let us liveour lives.”
Tillie moved the conversation off such adangerous and traitorous subject. “Did you see the campfires onSouth Mountain last night? At first, I thought, wildfire. But itdidn’t behave like one. Do you remember the terrible fire in May atEmmitsburg? The sky glowed orange for hours.”
Beckie nodded. “I remember. Everyone said theRebs set fire to the town. Turned out to be arson, but the Rebsweren’t anywhere near Emmitsburg.”
Tillie pressed on. “Bright orange dotscovered the mountain. Father said they were campfires, but whetherRebel or Yankee, he couldn’t say.”
“I don’t know what the armies are going todo.” Beckie’s grip tightened on Tillie’s elbow, and she almostpushed Tillie toward school. “But if we don’t get moving, we willbe late.”
They walked in silence for a couple of paces.Tillie peeked at Beckie through her lashes. “Did…” Her throattightened on a sudden surge of emotion. “Did you hear about GeorgeSandoe?”
“I did. I’m sorry for Maggie. Don’t worry somuch, Tillie. I’m sure our boys will drive them away.”
* * * *
After lunch, they sat in their respectiveseats, quietly studying their lessons and enjoying the summerbreeze billowing the white lace curtains like graceful flags.
A distant, strained, frantic shout cut acrossthe usual street noise. Clattering hoof beats rang on the cobbledstreet outside as the shouting became louder and more strident.
Tillie and the others turned toward thenoise.
Mrs. Eyster rose and went to the window. Shereached to lower the sash, but the girls jumped from their seatsand joined her, crowding and jockeying for positions from which tosee. The older students pushed the younger ones to the back, amidcries of “stop it” and “we were here first”—cries which wentignored.
A horse and rider galloped down the road atbreakneck speed, his rider hunched over the animal’s neck. Theycame from the northwest, from the direction of PennsylvaniaCollege. He held his reins in one hand and waved his hat with big,frantic motions over his head, all the while shouting garbledwords.
As he flew past the school, Tillie caught twowords: Rebs coming.
Students and teacher ran out to the frontporch as a second rider charged pell-mell around the corner ofChambersburg Street, not slowing while he made the right-hand turn.He charged toward them. “The rebels are coming! The rebels arecoming!”
“Why, he sounds like John Revere.” Catherinegiggled.
Beckie pinched her. “Paul Revere, not John,for heaven’s sake.”
“I know.” Catherine’s face reddened. Shescowled and rubbed her arm.
Mrs. Eyster gathered her skirts and ran downthe front walk. Tillie gawked and the others gasped. They’d neverseen her move at more than a sedate, ladylike walk, but now sheflailed her hands to catch the man’s attention.
He pulled his horse up short. The animalshied, its hooves missing her by mere inches. Several girls gaspedagain. Tillie’s hands flew to her face as she cringed and sucked inher breath.
Mrs. Eyster reached for the bridle. “Sir, amI to understand the Confederates are coming here?” She stepped intothe street, unconcerned about the horse.
“Yes, ma’am.” He whipped off his hat andwiped the sweat from his brow. He glanced at the girls and spokeloud enough for them to hear. “We went out to scout their position.They’re headed this way for sure. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I mustbe on my way.” He jerked the reins and jammed his spurs into thehorse’s flanks. Horse and rider swerved around her and resumedtheir mad dash down Washington Street.
Mrs. Eyster stared after him, a hand over hermouth. She gathered her skirts and sprinted back to herstudents.
Belle screamed and pointed toward theLutheran
