The Ottawa free trader., 1888-10-06
A BRAVE RIDE.

BY the side Of a little stream, In the shade
Of an oak tree, Paul lay watching tho cork
bobbing up and down on the water at his
feet. Far off in the distance misty haze
hung like veil over the dark mass Of trees
on the mountain side. Over the fields OF
yellow grain swept gentle breeze, waiting
from the distant meadow the soothing swish
Of the reapers' scythes and the drowsy clack OF
the clumsy farm wagons as they toiled up
the long hills, laden with the golden harvest.
The quiet rustling Of the leaves, the sub
dued sound of the distant reapers' call, the
low droning Of bees mingled into soft,
drowsy music, and Paul's eyes closed involun-
tarily. The cheerful tune of tho supper
horn, the whir Of a lark's wings close to his
ear and the sudden splash OF the fishing pole
into the water were unnoticed.
This was the first summer Of the civil war.
North and south were ablaze with enthusi-
asm; the country was full Of marching regi-
ments, and troops OF cavalry with singing
bugles at their heads would dash through
quiet village streets and speed away in the
darkness TO the distant battle field.
Very quiet it was this sutry afternoon, and
no one who looked ut the peaceful farmhouse
and the busy slaves harvesting in the fields
would have imagined that few miles away
were two armies ready to begin the terrible
drama of war The shadows Of the old stone
fence and dusty alderberry bushes heightened
across the road The cows came slowly up
from the pasture, tinkling their mellow bells
dreamily as they waded in the brook. The
reapers, with their scythes across their
shoulders, came homeward across the new
mown meadow, singing some low, sweet lul-
laby Of old slavery days
Presently there was "A sound OF horses feet
on tho hard pike road. Closer and closer 1t
came, and the loud hoof beats awoke Paul
from bis slumber. He raised himself on his
elbow and peered through the tall grass to
see who was coming.
Suddenly loud yell broke on the still even
ing air. Paul sprang to his feet. Over tho
top Of the hill Just In front Of him dashed
four Confederate horsemen, their horses
Ieeking sweat and flecked with foam Almost
at their heels charged half dozen Union
cavalrymen. Three pistol shots rang out
simultaneously, and one Of the Confederates
threw up his arms, reeled for a moment In
his saddle and then fell on the dusty wayside.
Tho rest dashed forward, with the Union men
close In the rear.
Down the rocky road, enveloped in cloud
Of dust, they went, urging on their tired
horses with shouts and turning to fire on the
foe, who sent leaden messengers whizzing
past their heads. 80 pursued and pursuers
galloped out Of sight, leaving tho poor fellow
mortally wounded by the wayside, with his
faithful horse standing near
Paul sprang over the low stone fence and
approached the wounded man.
The Confederate courier, for such he was,
lay on his side, one hand supporting his head
His face was CHASTITY pale, the dark eyes
quivered, his breath came slow and pain
fully and violent tremor shook his frame.
From wound near the right temple little
stream of blood trickled slowly down, stain
ing the gray jacket and settling in crimson
pool IN the road.
Paul knelt by his side, raised his head ten
derly and rested it on his knees The man
closed his eyes for a moment, then opened
them and fixed them on Paul's frightened
face.
"Oh, sir" gasped Paul. family, sis there
anything can do for your
'Nothins, nothing" murmured the man.
'Its all over with mo now," and he pointed
10 the wound In his forehead.
LET me run to the house and get some
thing fyr you or have them bring you up
home Oh wagon" pleaded Paul, US no wiped
away the blood with his handkerchief.
mo, no. let me lie here. haven't long to
live" he gasped. "But the Yankees will
soon return and they will find my dispatches
on me. They are important ones and had to
he delivered by 10 o'clock tonight, or else
we would lose the battle tomorrow"
Couldn't they be sent, sirf' queried Paul,
anxious to relieve him.
"There's no one to take them-at least, no
one | could trust" murmured the soldier.
"And besides, the distance Is over thirty
miles, and the Yankees are before us on the
road ~
A bright thought struck Paul
81 will take them, sir" he said quickly.
''To whom are they TO be delivered"
"Col Raynor, Forty-third Virginia cav
airy, at Rockville But could you really un-
dertake such ride-thirty-i five miles in four
hoursr and the dying soldier looked anx-
iously at Paul
"Yes, sir; promise you l will do it," an
swered Paul bravely.
The man pointed to his vest pocket. Paul
drew out from it u blood stained packet Of
dispatches.
The man was very near the end now. With
a grateful smile at the young face bending
over him he whispered family:
"Thank you, oh, thank you-you will save
the men Tell them why | could not coma
Send my watch to my mother, whose address
is on this letter. Toll them how died-and
bury me here-here."
The eyes closed, the hands dropped, the
bead fell back, and the brave courier lay
dead by the roadside. Paul spread the cav
airy cloak over the still form, thrust the dis
patches in his pocket, sprang on the waiting
charger and started down the road.
1t was now about d o'clock. II he wished
to keep his promise there was no time TO lose
Should he go home first, IL would be delay
and perhaps they would not let him 60 at all
So be determined to start Immediately. He