The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-03-26

meht has come. Listening, he
knew there was but one horse. Is
it a Federal officer Surveying the
ground for his pickets ? or IL it
an escaping Confederate The
doubt was painful, bnt the fact
must be known. He cannot be
allowed to pass. The gun was
cooked and perfect stiffness maiu-
tanned until the unsuspecting horse
man is within few PAGES. The
chaplain soldier, IN low but firm
voice, demanded, "Halt.7 The
summons was quickly obeyed, aud
it is said that a heart could be heard
beating distinctly, but it is difficult
to tell whose heart it was (pOssibly
it was that of one of the horses)
He demanded: "Who are YOU ~
The answer came in a treInblin g
voice "a friemd.n "Who are You
a freud tor was asked. The
agreeable answer came ..TO the
COnfederates." "Weil, then, You
are all right" said the chaplain, to
the great relief of the other, who
proved 10 he "A sou of the man at
whose farm house the milk had
been procured ia friend indeed,
who was escaping from the Federal
encampment, through the lines aud
crossed the dreaded bridge unOb-
served in the thick darkness.
Valuable information as to the
position of the Fetlerals having
been received, and learning that
the nearest picket lines to The
bridge was fully 100 yards, with
fresh courage the journey was pur-
sued. Reaching the bridge the
horses we're made to creep slowly
over 1t, the eyes and ears mean
while being used faithfully to de-
tect any danger that might threat
on. BY means of a small fire which
was burning near the road, the
careless pickcts could be seen NOV
ing slowly. They we're in easy
gunshor, but seemed TO take no
notice of the horses footballs on the
bridge. Clearing the bridge, he
turned abruptly TO the right and
rode speedily to the hospital. Here
the deep darkness was rendered
still more appalling by the heavy
boughs of the large trees which
stood around the house. Dead
silence reigned everywhere. Sus-
picion performs her part again.
What if the enemy is in possession
of the house aud all retired for no
light appeared. Possibly they may
have been here and removed the
boy, or perhaps be has crept away
in hope of escaping capture. which
was regarded AS next TO death by
true soldier such as Bill was. The
doubt is soon to be resolved. The
horse made last to tree, he walked
stealthily to the portico and listens.
Gently turning the knob, the door
opens, and low sobhing is heard
IN a room to the left. The door is
opened and tue low weeping is dis
tinct within Il few feet TO the right.
A match is struck and the candle
lighted, and there on couch sits
an object, the most fOrlOrn aud
pitifnl that ever met human gaze.
The poor, emaciated, starving aud
heart. broken soldier boy. His
forehead resting resting on one
hand aud the other, as he leaned
forward, held on to the couch, tears
falling upon tue tlOOr-a perfect
picture OF despair. Expecting to
fall into the hands of those from
whom he expects but little mercy,
he did not lift his eyes TO see who
his visitor was until the familiar
voice called bis name. The sudden
and complete change Ia that boys
cOuntenance and attitude was
enough to prove the immortality OF
the soul. And when those large
blue eyes beamed. with joy, aud
those trembling lips spoke the sen
timents of gratitude with which his
heart was full, that chaplain felt
repaid tor. all tue risk be had run.
The bottle OF milk was put into
his hand and tue light quickly
blown out. The starving boy, who
had then been without nOurishment
of any kind for twenty-eight hours,
took part OF the milk with great
difficulty, OwIug TO tue diseased
state of bis throat. Then, leaning
upon the strong arm Of bis friend,
he made his way 10 the horse, aud
was lifted like a child aud set be-
hind the saddle. She chaplain,
quickly mounting, begins to retraee
bis route until near the dreaded
bridge, which is their only outlet.
Not safe yet. What If the coming
in has been detectedf Then il is
certain that strong picket bas
been stationed on the bridge; aud
when fairly on il they shall be
hailed with the muzzles Of the
Federal guns in their faces. Suspi-
cion il increased by the tHct that
the night watchers could not be
seen, as they we're q feW moments
ago.
Bnt there Is no time to .Osej the
gauntlet must be ruu; 80 giving a
caution to the boy 70 "h0ld fasi,
the sharp spur is piled 70 the horse,
and in An Instant they we're dying
over the bridge at 3 speed that no
ordinary i0rce could have checked,
which was continued uniil clear
out OF gnnshoi.
The sad sequel Of this story may