noon
I will save her the sight . '' Bedraggled and blood-stained -- for the fall of the night before had left its mark -- Andy went on , looking , as indeed he was , a soldier of the cause . Andy made but poor time to the minister 's house . It was well on toward noon when the shouts of the children at play cheered his heart . He had been obliged to rest many times , and once he had fallen asleep and slept longer than he knew . As he drew near the cottage he saw Ruth kneeling by Sam 's grave . It was one of the girl 's daily duties of love to bring fresh flowers and cover the mound with the bloom .