The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-17

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VERY well; then j take away the BRIDE
groom" said the raider, laughing :,
young girl, turning away her head as she
found herself thus hard pressed; "but can
nothing else save your
"Nothing," said Benton decidedly.
Kate stretched out her hand In silence, and
then turned her horse aside as II she wanted
moment to collect her thoughts.
The raider exchanged glanees with his com
panion, and q merry light shone in both their
faces.
: General, your hand" said Benton heartily
"from henceforth you are my best friend"
"Mattie always said / was O match
case / suspect have helped you more than |
knew. And now, Ii I am to make q stop at
Dazzleton.,and the horses need :, 1t badly
sob, Benton Benton! what shall we do p
said Kate, as the raider rode forward to the
head OF the band.
"Be married, Of course, my love-"
elbow dare you call me that? / retIact m
promise" said Kate, blushing brightly.
II am entirely at your mercy, Kate. A
man never comes back alive from Southern
prison." said Benton, with tragical solennity.
But il there was only any other way
"Morgan is universally known to be as In
flexible as u rock; cruel, too, If you take him
on his hard side. Heaven only knows what /
shall suffer in his clutches" said Benton, In q
hollow tone.
ried, y. said Kate plaintively..
ooh Il it is. is 1t You think so? Very we'll );
then we shall not be married ut all, OK
claimed Kate, impetuously.
hastily "For myself, to get you is all ask
OF this life, Be my wife, Kate, and you shall
They looked into each others eyes q mo-
ment, and then Kate laughed gayly, although
there was q sound OF tears In the laugh.
brandishing her willow wand and turning her
horse aside. II must preserve my muslin
skirts in Us good order as | can"
you look Just like bride, sweetheart, y
said Benton admiringly.
About 8 In the morning the raiders rode
into the little village Of Dazzleton, to the
CONSERVATION of the quiet inhabitants, who
as little expected to see John Morgan
darkness and his cohorts. Walked up. sud
denly from their slumbers. stupefied with
establishment, fearing they knew not what,
they watched their best horses led out, their
forage contiscated, and every thing in the
shape of cooked food appropriated by these
freely, ate, drank, and fed their horses like
ordinary mortals, although some Of the ter
riHed villagers almost expected to see smoke
coming out of their mouths and sparks dart
In the mean time Morgan had stopped at
the village tavern; the landlord and his
frightened womenkind were preparing
hasty supper; o. minister had been sum
moned from his bed, and an oddly assorted
group assembled to witness the marriage
ceremony. Morgan was in high spirits.
He gave away the bride, supplied the
wedding ring with q worn band from
his own finger, and laughed and TESTED
like a shool-boy. A few moments after
sound OF horses feet came up the street, and
the villagers, seeing another troop OF horse
men, began to think that Beauregard, Lee
and the whole Southern Confederacy were
mand that had taken the river road from Adj
dleburg in order to sweep off the horses from
the valley farIns.
"a prisoner, general" said the officer in
command, entering the room; lone of the
ats Uncle john" Cried Kate, as two SOL
diers ushered in the old bachelor, pinioned,
hatless, and scarlet in the face with rage. at
isn't one Of the fighting M'Cooks at all, Gen
Moggan r. it, It's my uncle john and he never
But he's going to fight now" gasped Uncle
set Of tag rag and bobtailr'
That's the way he has been going on all
the m moa said tine ana Gen sed bis be
was one of the fighting NJ Cooks. he said yes"
s.SoI am, sir! SO am p cried Uncle John,
fiercely. "Take off these ropes, and you will
see."
"He isn'tl he isn'tw exclaimed Kate,
throwing her arms around the old mans
On, Uncle John, do be reasonable. This Is
Gen. Morgan, and he has been SO good He
saved my life, he saved Bentons, and he mar
ried US, Uncle John, and gave us the ring;
did Kota in,
mer shower OF tears, and hiding her head on
at is true, Uncle john" said Benton, COM
Ing forward. "You will let him CO. / hope"
he added turning to Morgan. HE is not a
.He shall be my wedding present to the
boys, and come with me" he said
to his men as he lett the room.
Mr.. McCook, finding himself free from ropes
room for a moment and, as his glance re-
turned to Benton and Kate, he coughed, and
slowly Strengthened himself back into his
erect bearing.
"You understand, Of course, that l allowed
myself to be carried off, in order to act as a
spy upon those wretched marauders," he said
carelessly.
''Oh, was that it?" said Benton, Al
'Certainly, sir, thought the matter ovet
and decided that such a course would be the
pest policy under the, circumstances But,
Kate, you are the real victim. Take heart, |
child, will help you. You shall have the
best legal advice in the land: A guerrilla
forced on by a guerrilla chief can
not stand in law. Your aunt informed me
some time ago OF the true state Of your feel
ngs."
mo, Uncle John, no." said Kate, firmly.
my sacred word, once passed, can not be
broken. I am willing to sacrifice myself to
duty. After all, what is woman's life but one
ong sacritice?"
'But Benton, child-must he too be sacri
rificed?"
81 trust have as much heroism as Kate"
replied Benton solemnly. Il too can call up
my fortitude. I too can endure the lot which |
late has forced upon me. Say no more, Uncle
John. Firm principles can walk to the can
1on's mouths unskrinking."
Here Morgan returned to say farewell. The
TWO bands OF horsemen were mastering to-
gether before the inn, and the villagers
peeped from behind doors and windows to see
them off.
n(1ood-hv General (" said Renton shaking