Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-10-04

1 oA h0dA Lho ANOAA tA0ORo AOhoht HAAh
out a leader. But Winthrop saw none of
this. He was riding In hot haste on the
road to Fredericks burg, seeking for aid
from Sedgwick.
Nor had he far to 60, for that gallant
General had taken Fredericksburg, and was
now finging himself on Lees rear. at the
moment that the Southern forces were
forming for a grand attack. The tide of
battle turned on the newcomers, who were
driven across the river, and the army Of the
Potomac withdrew TO Its old camping
ground.
1t was during the heavy march in the
night that Harry Winthrop, In command Of
the r~ear-guard, worn with the two-days'
fighting and loss Of sleep, listlessly followed
his troop along the dusty highway. By
his side rode his friend and comrade Frank
Barclay, who was even in a more exhausted
condition, for not only was he half dead
with fatigue, but he suffered from a saber-
cut on the arm and the faintness consequent
on much loss of blood.
"Cheer vi old fellow Harry said, af-
~fectionately. 1--WE shall soon be under can
vas again, and a long rest will put you all
right"
~ don't know about that, y was the cheer
less reply. "Of course l don't think that
this little scratch Nv got is going to be my
death-blow, but I've clean lost heart and
my mind wanders off to the wife and BARNS
at home. A man with a family carries n
heavy mortgage on him when he goes
a-soldiering.n
"You are worn out and discouraged
that is all, . Harry claimed, while his COM
panion relapsed into moody silence.
They were approaching a part Of the road
x,AszH 1o.- ~ NhA n1w1 AF an 1nAxx -.
whose side was overgrown with rank
weeds and scrubby bushes. Every now
and then they had passed some struggling,
foot-sore infantry man, who had fallen out
of ranks, and was dragging his weary
limbs along as best he could. 1t was just
such a figure as this that they overlook as
they reached this dangerous spot in the
rugged road. II vas not utterly dark, for
the stars were out, but il was not light
enough to distinguish the uniform the man
wore; in fact, Winthrop never gave him a
second thought beyond turning his horses
head o little to the left so that he should not
trample on him
As they got abreast of him the man
turned upon him, grasped the bride Of his
horse, and the fash of the pistol blazed
straight at Harry Winthrop's face. In
stinctlvely he stopped to grapple with the
assassin, and the action saved his life, for
the bullet plowed through the housings of
his saddle and buried itself in the breast Of
his comrade, who fell with a groan to the
earth. Poor Barclay his premonitions were
soon realized.
In an instant the murderer flung himself
down the steep declivity, and though q
score Of brave fellows dashed. recklessly
after him, no was lost in the darkness.
Ere he left the fatal spot Winthrop's eye
CHANGED TO rest on a little glittering object
lying on the grass. he picked it up, and
found it was q portion of q gold watch
chain-two long antique links, curiously
wrought, and doubtless OF foreign work
manship.
"This mute witness against the mar who
did the foul Decd" no muttered, "shall
never leave me till l have avenged poor
Barclays death"
How well he kept his pledge the sequel
shows.
Meanwhile, in the Confederate ines the
peans Of victory were hushed for the walls
of sorrow, for Stonewall Jackson, the idol
and hope of his people, lay stark in death,
shot down by his own troops, who mistook
his escort for Federal cavalry. Better had
the South lost a whole army than the man
whose magical name was such o tower of
strength to their cause.
OF course, Winthrop knew nothing Of
this. He had, however. troubles enough of
his own TO harrass him. Ever before his
eyes were the figures Of Barclays wife aud
children crying to him for vengeance. That
the poor fellow mad died In his place he
never doubted, and the consciousness of
that added to his agony.
He did all he could TO mitigate the dis
tress Of Barclays loved ones, sending them
every relic he could find Of the mar they