Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-09-27

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"QUIcKI' WHISPERED LIEUTENANT BARCLAY.
andria to Culpepper, m%oaotonous winter
quarters and a sharp engagement at Bran
dy Station. Their main duty had been skir-
mishing and picketing, with occasional en-
counters with Mosby's irregulars, for this
extraordinary man had already made him
self famous as a guerrilla chief. Tales Of
his daring effrontery were told round the
camp-iires with many cxaggerations by
men who believed he bore a harmed life.
1t seemed impossible TO lay hands on him.
Hardly had the Federal troops recovered
from the astonishment Of a rash attack Of
the bold skirmisher and prepared to chas-
tise him, than they heard Of another equally
daring feat Of his six miles away.
Leaping from his horse, the Lieutenant
beckoned Harry to follow him on foot to a
cluster of trees from whose shelter they
could command a view of.the valley beneath
them.
What a sight met their gaze. A score Of
Moseby's men were fastening long wires to
the rails of the Manassas railroad, which
they had detached from the sleepers. Their
object was apparent at a glance. Alreadyi in
the distance could be heard the numbering
sound of an approaching supply train, and,
even as Harry looked, the C~onfederates had
hidden in the neighboring bushes, wires in
hand, ready for the derailing Of the cars.
"Quick ~ whispered Lieutenant Barclay.
"Send a trooper back to the command;
"for, if our fellows charge up the valley,
they will bag the lot of them
In a minute, at Harry's bidding, Gordon
Grey was dashing at headlong speed over
the broken path.
Meanwhile the heavy train crept nearer
TO the fatal ambush. No need for conceal
ment now. Though the leader knew that
the woods were fullof foes. the gallant little
band rode recklessly down into the valley,
but ere they could reach the scene of the
disaster the doomed engine was flung from
the rails, and the enemy was swarming over
the broken cars, 50 intent on the work of
plumber that they hardly noticed the charge
of the little troop Of heroes, foremost Of
whom was Harry Winthrop.
1t was an unequal contest and could have
had but one ending when, with a wild cheer,
a squadron Of cavalry came laundering to
the rescue. Mosby's men, as usual, when
outnumbered, fled to the woods with the
Federal troopers hard at their heels. One
man of them, who had been a leading spirit
at the train-yvresking, separated himself
from the rest and boldly rode down the
valley; and burying his spurs in his horses
TANKS Harry Winthrop sped after him.
Both pursucr and pursued were well-mount-
ed, and nearly two miles were passed with
out any perccptiblc lessening or increas-
ing difference Of the hundred yards
which separated thcm. Over and over
again Harry could havc brought the
fleeing enemy down with his carbine,
but he saw that the man had fired his last
round Of ammunition and was ~defcnseless
but for his sword, and he chivalrously re-
solved to trust to his skill and strength TO
capture him on equal terms, And fortune
favored him for tho Confederate's horse
stumbled and fell, andm minute the young
NJrtherner had his hand on the throat and
his knee on the chest Of bis PROSTATE enemy.
But his triumph was only momentary.
How or whence the blow came which struck
to the earth he never knew, there was
a dull thud, an intense pain as though his
head was bursting, and he fell senseless be-
his captive.
The rest seemed to HIM like a dream. He
had a blurred vision Of o group of men
.E4rlF-w ,a~r. H.. - - IL
Kato Frobisham herself-bendiug over him
and bathing his brow, and then he rclapsed
into unconsciousness only to find himself
lying on the roadside with his head resting
on the arm Of Gordon Grey.
"Thauk Heaven, lie is not dead" Grey
muttered, with a fervor which showed the
strength Of his attachment.
Harry's blue eyes gazed into the lads lace
YEARLY.
Kate he murmured, in a faint whisper.
"Whcre is kates'
"The Lord above only knows where
Kate is the lad replied, in comical dismay;
''but if her presence would do you any good
! wish with all my heart she was here"
Then, seeing that his eyes We're closing
again, he added, eagerly: S here,
Harry, old fellow, this won't do. Try and
pull yourself together"
"But Kate
"Nonsense, old boy; there's no Kate
here. You've had a crack on the head from
the Johnny Rebs; that's all. Rouse your
self, man, and let me get you on your horse,
for we are a good three miles from camp,
and - by Jove!" he broke off in u solilo-
guy, cit is singular, though, there's his
horse tied to a fence close by, his accoutre-
ments and arms untouched, and himself
laid carefully out on this messy bank. 1t is
deucedly gcntlemanly of those fellows to
knock the life out of the poor chap and then
tuck him up so tenderly.n
"Tell Kate to come once morc-only once
Il want
"There he goes OF in his delirium again
See here, Harry, we must get away. l
can't lift your big carcass on to the horse,
and the Rebs will gobble us up as sure as
shooting if we fool around here much
longer.n
Got Leave me, boy,n Harry moaned.
"Your mOther-I promised-fly while you
have the chance.1
"OnIy with you, old man; SO, If you don't
want to sec tins dear youth in the hands Of
the Philistines, yoA'n iustshake yourself to
gether and make IN effort"
The appeal was successful. Tho wounded
man raised himself painfully on his arm,
and Grey, quickly selling the opportunity,
led the horse to him and helped him to the
saddle; then, lightly springing ehind him,
he held the dropping form of his friend till
they reached the camp.
It was a week before Harry Winthrop was
able to report for duty, and l believe that
more ehlcacious than all the DOCTORS stuff
he took was the glorious news that Gordon
Grey brought him one day that the Cow
ernor Of Michigan had signed his commits
sion as Lieutenant.
"Eh, but, Harry the eXubcrant lad said,
as proud of his friends good fortune as
though it was his own, "you missed it after
all. Think of I'll The fellow you bowlcd
over in the valley yonder was Mosby him
self. All, such a chance losti II is enough
TO make a man long to kick himself; but
we'll hope for better luck ncxt time, and,
meanwhile wen be content with the grade.
Sand, say,' he added, with a grin, now that
you have your stripes | guess | shall be
obliged to be q little moro respectful, so il
YOU sec this child getting a little too cheeky
YOU can just pull him up with a rush. la
ia, old boy, I'm off to evening stables"
CHAPTER III.
SURPRISE.
Amid tho stirring scenes Of 60 there
was not much time Tor a cavalry man TO
indulge in romance, but Harry Winthrop
found an opportunity 10 laakc a brief excur-
sion to the spot where lie had been struck