Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-11-23
A BRAVE RIDE.


 By the sidc of a little stream, in the shade of an oak tree, Paul lay watching the cork bobbing up and down on the water at his feet. Far off in tho distance a misty haze hung like veil over the dark mass of trees 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 tho 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, lrowsy music, and Paul's eyes closed involun- tarily. Tho cheerful tune of the supper horn, tho whir of a larks 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- asn; 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 tho darkness to tho distant battle field.
 Very quiet it was this sultry afternoon, and no one who looked at the peaceful farmhouse and the busy slaves harvesting in the fields would have imagined that a few miles away werc 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, tinllling their. mellow bells dreanily 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 the hard pike road. Closer and closer it came, and the loud hoof beats awoke Paul from his slumber. He raised himself on his elbow and peered through the tall grass to sec who was coming.
 Suddenly loud yell broke on the still even- ing air Paul sprang to his feet. Over the top of the hill just in front of him dashed four Confederate horsemen, their horses reeking sweat and 1ecked with foam. Almost at their heels charged half dozen Union cavalrymen. Three pistol shots rang out simultaneously, and one of the Confederatcs threw up his arms, reeled for a moment in his saddle and then fell on the dusty waysidc. Tho rest dashed forward, with the Union men closo in tho rcar
 Down tho rocky road, enveoped in O cloud of dust, they went, urging on their tired horses with shouts and turning to fire on tho 1Oc, WHO SC1O ledOcll messengers Wn1ZZllC past their heads So pursued and pursuers galloped out of sight, leaving tho poor fellow nlortally wounded by the waysidc, 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 l lay on his side, one hand supporting his head and the other clasped tightly to his heart His face was ghastly 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 tho gray jacket and settling ill 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 q moment, then opened | them and fixed them on Paurs frightened | face
 "Oh, sir" gasped Paul, faintly, lis there anything can do for youi"
 Nothing, nothing" murmured the man. "It's all over with me now," and he pointed to the wound in his forehead.
 ''Let me run to the house and get some thing for you or have them bring you up home on a vagon," pleaded Paul, as he wiped away the blood with his handkerchief.
 'No, no; let mo 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 be delivered by 10 o'clock tonight, or else we would lose the battle tomorrow"
 Couldn't they be sent, sir2' queried Paul, anxious to relieve him.
 "There's no one to take them-at least, no one I 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.
 II will take them, sir," he said quickly. :sTo whom are they to be deliveredg'
 "Col Raynor, Forty-third Virginia cav airy, at Rockville. But could you really un- dertake such a ride-thirty-tive miles in four hours2" and the dying soldier looked anx- iously at Paul.
 "Yes, sir; I promise you will do it." an- swered Paul bravely.
 The man pointed to his vest pocket. Paul drew out from it blood stained packet of dispatches
 The man was very near the end now. With a grateful smile at the young face bending \ over him be whispered faintly:
 ''Thank you, oh, thaiaz you-you will save the men. Tell them why I could not come. Send my watch to my mother, whose address is on this letter. Tell them how died-and bury me here-here."
 The eyes closed, the hands dropped, the head 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.
 It was now about o'clock. If he wished to keep promise there was no time to lose. Should he go home first, it would be delay and perhaps they would not let him go at ali. So he determined to start jmmediately. He called negro man who stood in a field near by, telling him to run to the house, inform the family of what had happened, and have the soldiers body cared for immediately. Then touching tho fiery horse with his bseis, be dashed off down the road.