Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-07-26
HIDE son LIFE.

WaterJ OF the klO Gfauue.
Riding up the dusty brown road
at slow pace was an army officer
upon a large sorrel thoroughbred,
which seemed ever impatient to
move more rapidly onward.
The rider was young man, with
a handsome sun-brOwned face. He
had bright gray eyes, light NOUS
taehe hid his well-cut lips, and a
wealth of dark brown curly hair
clustered around his head.
AS he was passing a wayside
house, the owner came out and
hailed him.
sColOnel, hold a minute"
The young officer turned his horse
and rode up to the man.
Colonel" said the man, ''that
Mexican band of thieves crossed
the river this morning, and they
intend mischief"
"Yes.V said the Colonel, "those
Mexican raiders are the plague of
the country. Have you seen the
rascais ?"
ssYes; I met them this morning
when they crossed the river, and
they told me they intended to kill
the Thomson family before they go
back so / concluded to tell you. /
thought you might warn Thomson
to get out Of the way"
"Why, what have they against
Thomson ~
''Oh, you know Thomson chased
two of them away when they were
trying to steal his horses. They have
boosted that they intend to kill ev-
cry man, woman and child in the
family"
"When do they intend to do it ?"
6As they come back. They have
gone down in the valley; but, from
what they said, l think they will
be back in two hours or So"
GAS soon sts that ?' said the Col
onel /; ''then / will not have time to
ride to camp for troops"
mo; and they may be back in
an hour no telling"
"WelI, if they may be back so
soon, I'd better be going if / wish
to save the family. Good-day."
"GoOd-day," said the man, as the
ColODel's horse bounded at rapid
pace up the road.
ThOmsOn's house was about a
mile and half distant. Reaching
it, the Colonel rode hastily up to
the door and knocked.
"HallO, Colonel Charlie said the
gOod-hearted farmer, ''come in and
have a drink of milk, and cool your
self. 1t is a mighty hot day"
''No, thank you; that band OF
Mexican cut-thrOats have crossed
the river again, and"
"Have they" exclaimed the set
tier, wiping the sweat from his
brow.
"Yes; and they have threatened
to murder you and your family"
"And / have no mercy to expect
from them. That thief / hurt for
attempting to steal one of my horses
was one of their gang, and | suppose
they are thirsting for revenge"
Eyes, Thomson" said the colonel,
"the best thing for you to do is to
leave here as soon as possible, and
20 to camp"
The settler fastened away to
alarm those within.
The family consisted of Thomson
wife, brother and two children-a
boy and a girl. The boy was about
twelve years Of age, and the girI
was six.
After quickly hitching a span OF
horses to the wagon, it was soon
loaded, the Colonel working as in
dustriously as any. The children
were put in it, and ThOmsOn's
brOther-in-law drove away, leaving
the rest to fill the remaining wagon
The man had driven but a short
distance when the little girl began
to cry for her doll.
"Oh, never mind your doll, III
buy you another" said her uncle.
"Oh, please let me go back and
get my DOLL" cried the child. Cpl
90 straight to mamma"
She cried and begged so hard that
at last her uncle put her out and
told her to hurry straight to hel
mother.
Going back she entered the house
unobserVed, and sitting down on
the floor soon fell asleep.
1t was some time after the wagon
had started that the other one was
ready. They therefore had tTav-
eled nearly two miles before over
taking it. Then the mother, put
ting her head out of the wagon.
called to her boy:
"Where is your sister ,"
"She is with YOU" said the boy.
"Isn't she with yOu?" cried Mrs.
Thomson to her brother.
"NO; she is in your wagon"
ooh, heaven ~ cried the mother,
'my child is left behind"
For Il moment all were silent
gazing in each others faces, till
Thomson said:
Il fear 1 could not get back before
the bandits would be there. That
dust i'm the distance, l suppose, Is
caused by the band. Perhaps they
may not injure the child"
'But, cried the mother, frantic
ally, "they have sworn to kill every
man, woman and child III the house.
If they should spare her, they would
carry her off into slavery, which
would be even worse. Oh, my
child, my child -
q know not what TO do" cX-
claimed the bewiIdered father.
There is but one thing that can
be DONE" said the young officer.
l will ride back and rescue her, if it
be i'm my power"
"God bless you, Colonel, God
bless you! May heaven reward
YOU ~ exclaimed the mother, her
eyes filling with tears as she saw
the noble young fellow turn his
horse and gallop down the road.
The Colonel gallOped on till he
reached the settlers house. Then
riding around 10 the back he looked
in through the open window. There
lay the child upon the floor asleep,
grasping her doll.
"Oh, Colonel Charlie, where's my
mamma?n cried the child when he
awakened her.
"Nour mother has gone away ;
but l have come to take YOU to her.
Now, come to the window and l
will lift you on the horse. BE quick"
Lifting her up before him, he
clasped her firmly about the waist,
and turning his horses head
plunged up the road.
He could plainly distinguish BAN
dts now as they were moving to-
ward the house.
He had ridden about half a mile
when the Mexican band got sight OF
him. They Immediately changed
their course, not directly toward
him, but so as to intercept him
about midway between the settlers
home and camp.
The Colonel understood their