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Chapter 9

           HewasMaybelleMerriwether’sespecialbeau,RenePicard.Thewholehospitalmusthaveturnedout,atleasteverybodywhocouldwalk,andallthemenonfurloughandsickleaveandalltherailroadandmailserviceandhospitalandcommissarydepartmentsbetweenhereandMacon.Howpleasedtheladieswouldbe!Thehospitalshouldmakeamintofmoneytonight.

           Therewasaruffleofdrumsfromthestreetbelow,thetrampoffeet,theadmiringcriesofcoachmen.Abugleblaredandabassvoiceshoutedthecommandtobreakranks.Inamoment,theHomeGuardandthemilitiaunitintheirbrightuniformsshookthenarrowstairsandcrowdedintotheroom,bowing,saluting,shakinghands.TherewereboysintheHomeGuard,proudtobeplayingatwar,promisingthemselvestheywouldbeinVirginiathistimenextyear,ifthewarwouldjustlastthatlong;oldmenwithwhitebeards,wishingtheywereyounger,proudtomarchinuniforminthereflectedgloryofsonsatthefront.Inthemilitia,thereweremanymiddle-agedmenandsomeoldermenbuttherewasafairsprinklingofmenofmilitaryagewhodidnotcarrythemselvesquitesojauntilyastheireldersortheirjuniors.Alreadypeoplewerebeginningtowhisper,askingwhytheywerenotwithLee.

           Howwouldtheyallgetintothehall!Ithadseemedsuchalargeplaceafewminutesbefore,andnowitwaspacked,warmwithsummer-nightodorsofsachetandcolognewaterandhairpomadeandburningbayberrycandles,fragrantwithflowers,faintlydustyasmanyfeettrodtheolddrillfloors.Thedinandhubbubofvoicesmadeitalmostimpossibletohearanythingand,asiffeelingthejoyandexcitementoftheoccasion,oldLevichokedoff"Lorena"inmid-bar,rappedsharplywithhisbowand,sawingawayfordearlife,theorchestraburstinto"BonnieBlueFlag."

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