The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1879-01-23
The Hunted Soldier.

= d. yD5SADlcy anu NlEEP SAcdllllilH
along, keeping mostly in the shadow
Of the buildings, frequently casting
furtiYe glances about him, as if fear.
ful Of notice or pursuit. he looked 10
be fit object for pity and cOmmiSera.
tiOn, in his well WOrn suit, and his
long white beard falling in a tangled
mass upon his breast, and many paused
to speak with, and 10 bestOW aims
upon him, despite his seeming r-luc-
tance to being brought into note.
After travelling quite a long distance
without mOlestatiOn. he was about 10
pass a shop Of some kind, about the
doorway of which group Of five oT
six men were collected. when one Uf
them hailed him with:
Whittier away so fast, grey-beardE =
The old, decrepit man started as he
heard the rough salutatiOn, and then
seeming to recOllect himself al once,
he said in a tremulOuS tone:
"Please, sir, give me a dime, Just 4
dime to buy bread with"
"Pshaw, I've no money tO throw
away upon you. Besides, I'd bet any
thing you have got more spare change
about yOu, at this moment, than my
self"
Seems to me you've got wonderful
fiery eyes for such an old fellow" said
one Of the men saTcastically.
The mendicant answered not 4 word,
but if his eyes looked fers before, they
now fairly blazed.
"Yes, and strangely long beard" ;"
cried third. Il wonder if it sticks
| WellY"
/ And before the object of their sneers
miStrusted his design, the last speaker
gave pull at the gray, tangled mass
which decked his chin, and the whole
came of in his hand. The beard was
false
For few moments all seemed fairly
stupefled at the discovery. The pre-
tended beggar was the first to recover
himself. Pulling his hat hastily over
his eyes, he struck off down the street,
with a speed truly surprising in one
so advanced in life, as he had looked
few minutes before. The group about
the shcp door did nothing, at first, but
gaze after his retreating figure. Then
one of them said suddenly:
/ ut won't do TO let that man escape
until we know more of him. He is
not what he seems. I'd stake my life,
itself, that he is one of those bloody
/ NOrtherners in disguise"
-Yes, yesi after him. after him"
cried the Others 10 chorus, catching the
/ idea, and strangely excited by il.
All started rapidly in pursuit, but
/ the object Of their suspicion was quite
a distance ahead Of them, though still
( in sight. He was a swift runner-sO
| also were some Of those behind-and
the race was at first q doubtful one.
For nearly half a mile, he kept about
J tho nhaaA ,Ft nha,,
/ one or two seemed to gain little upon
him. He noticed this, and all at once
! he turned q sharp corner, and passed
| into another street. The front door to
/ to one of the dwellings stood inviting
| ly open. Without the least hesitation
he entered it, and closed the door behind
him. He found himself to be in a
| long hall TO which there seemed to be
| several entrances. Turning the knob
to the nearest one of these, he stepped
into what seemed to be a private par
| lOr. At one of the windows sat love
" girl engaged in reading. At the en-
| trance of the fugitive, she started up
with a quick cry of surprise. At first
/ the man looked even more astOnished
! than herself, then suddenly dashing
aside his hat, false hair, and eyebrows,
| he said:
20, is it you, Edith! Thank God!
Thank Cod"
He sprang forward, caught the Young
girl in his arms and held her for a
moment strained tightly to his heart.
She returned his embrace, and then re-
leasing herself, she said:
20, Harry, Harryi How came YOU
herey7
Il could not stay away longer, Ed
( ith, hearing never a word from you.
The suspense was killing ME. ] knew
/ ii was very hazardous attempt to see
YOU, while the SOutherners held such a
hatred for our Northern men. but
thought l should be exempt from all
suspicion if came in this disguise.
But was wrong. fear am discOv-
ered.S
discovered. o, heaven forbid"
Even now L am pursued. Ny life
hangs on the Yeriest thread. 1t must
have been the hand of God which led
me directly here to You. / had re-
solved 10 prOwl about the village, and
trust TO chance in finding yOur resi-
denee."
81 am so glad to see you, Harry, yet
sorry, after all, that you have come
here. | cannot bear TO think of Your
danger. o, if you should be caught,
and all for my own sake too"
The girl shuddered even At the
thought.
aDo not fear, Edith. darling. But of
one thing am glad-your removal to.
Virginia has not changed You. At
heart you seem 10 be the same true
patriot as ever"
And ever shall remain thus, Harry.
but my father-yOu forget him"
"Ah! has he become effected by this
strange insanity which has seemed to
seize all the South"
"He was always a SOutherner at
heart. Our residence in New Jersey
did not change him in the least. Now
that we have again got back to Fir-
ginia, he seems to be in his natural
element But as for NE, [ left my
heart and sympathies at the North"
Il thank God for that. Bat nv visit
this time will be short. Mr.. Clifton
must know nothing of il.
NO, Harry, il certainly never would
do for him 10 mistrust IT, lie
The girl stopped short, and turned
dead white. There was 4 hurried
trampling Of feet without, and pres
emily there came a heavy knock upon
the door. Harry started M, and re-
sumed his disguise rs quickly as pos
sible.
Edith he said, ia a calm. even
tone, Il am sure, for soma reason, they 4
suspect my presence here, and have 4
come 10 search for me. Let them in at I
once, and If they look over the house /
! VIII try 10 elude them, ii possible. i
Vow do not look 50 white and scared. I
lie brave and calm, for INV sake. dear
est"
Saving this he sprang through the I
all her fortitude TO her aid went 10 ,do7
I mt the men At the door. She found
quite party assembled there. One of
them stepped in front Of his comnan-
ions, and said, respectfully:
Your pardon, Miss. but did nnr q
beggar-an old man with gray hairan
| beard-enter this house. Il few ma
ments since2"
Il think not, sir; have seen uo
such person.. said Edith, quietly.
but Miss; continued the man after
some hesitation, ''the person Of whom
We are in search was only 4 short dis
tance ahead of us. on the next street.
/ All of a sudden he turned into this.
We followed, but when we reached the
corner, no one was in sight. We hunt
ed around for time, but 10 no pur-
pose, and at last We found Z boy who
said he was certain such a person as
we described, entered this house 4 mo-
ment before"
"Oh well if you doubt my word. you
may search the premises"
Pardon the liberty, but it is really
necessary in this case. We will give
you as little trouble as possible. The
/ men entered the house. With 4 heart
whose beatings were almost hushed,