The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1888-11-29
,epIng with tho nervous cast OF the

strained the song Every mans heart was
at his home, and was possessed Of feel
ing Of deep thankfulness that long march
was ended, the army close at hand, and
a period Of comparative rest in prospect.
So the merriment grew and grew, and
care few farther out Of sight with every
puff OF tobacco smoke.
at Is true as live, by roared big,
bronzed fellow, climaxing with mighty
oath an anecdote his neighbor was in
clined to regard with some skepticism.
The oath had barely escaped his lips when,
with sharp, short hiss, bullet cut
through the canvas OF the tent, aud the
big trooper lay still and limp, with the smile
still upon his face.
Amid the roar of the volley that fol-
lowed, the voice OF the Captain rang like
trumpet through the tent s"Boys, we
are ambushedr, he cried. buckling his
sword belt and drawing the blade forth like
q fash; ''the camp is twelve miles down
the river, south. Let each man cut his
way through and escape as he may. Out
with you'll and let the first man who
reaches camp give the ALARM
Another cruel volley, but the tent was
nearly empty, and the bullets only slit the
canvas into strips. keep by me
Charlie" admonished the Captain; and
| the pale. faced boy, who had been fun
bling stupidity at his belt, leaped TO his
side The two passed out together.
1t was q bitter struggle Throat TO
throat they fought; inch by inch they
pressed forward or were swept back Men
were falling like autumn leaves. while
above them the wind moaned and the
heavy green branches swayed, How many
| of his men were down the Captain could
| not see; but he pressed forward, keeping
| the youth beside him. The boy fought like
| hero, but his strength was not equal to
| his spirit, and twice the Captain felt the
| deadly twinge of q saber thrust in defend
| ing him, s
All! there was a neighing from the
bushes--the Captain heard 1t, and, like an
| Infatuated demon, he dashed aside hand
| full of tho foe and in another instant he
was into the saddle Of his own good gray
mare. Leap Charliel leap for your life,
| manp' he almost shrieked, as, clutching
the boy by the collar, he half-dragged him
across the horses back behind him. Then
he felt himself clutched convulsively
about the wais.-deep, deep sank the
rowells into the animals TANKS, and the
gallant beast was careening down the
valley like a thunderbolt.
Only few scattering shots came after
them as the mare galloped on. Miles and
miles they sped, and by and by the Captain
felt himself growing sick and faint. He
spoke to the gallant beast and let the bride
fall upon her neck. They stopped, and as
he dismounted the boy whose life he had
saved fell from the saddle into his arms
helpless. Then the two lost consciousness
| at the same moment
T a.. ~, &-s.x a. all hn
gray of the morning was glimmering
| through the trees-the ending of this
awful Thanksgiving night. His charge
| was lying prone upon his back, raving in
| the delirium produced by the wound.
Slowly, painfully, the Captain made his
way to pool of muddy water, and fetch
| ing some of it in his cap, sought to quench
| the lads thirst Then, while every bone
and fiber of his body ached with agony,
he sat down to watch him as his mother
might.
Patiently, very patiently he sat there and
| listened to his rawlings, until he heard q
name uttered that he knew well-too well.
The boy was raving Of his wife. "Virginia
| Virginiar' he called in impatient, petulant
accents, ''why do you not speak to met l
| am here alone and wounded. Come to me
Virginia Virginiar'
The Captains teeth grated harshly to
| gether, and something like curse rushed
from his lips. His brow grew even paler
and his hands clutched at the grass at his
side
All at once he started TO his feet, forget
| full of wound and bodily pam. Yes, why
not end it all nowl
Yes, why not go and leave this imp OF
| intidelity here to diet He, this puny young
| liar who had won the woman that he loved
by going home with wounded arm and
telling her that her betrothed was dead.
He, who had preyed upon her sympathies
and threatened TO die by his own hand If
she did not wed him; he, who had called
his mother into his service and procured
her tears as an aid to his cause until she,
his Virginia, the light Of his life, the Joy of
his eyes, had yielded TO the boy, and let
him have his way rather than see him fill
n suicides grave, knowing that he were
brave, after fashion, and would do as he
had said.
Thrice the Captain walked to where the
mare was browsing, and as often returned
to gaze at the raving boy. Presently he
folded his arms and looked up at the break
ing sky.
Another picture came to him as he stood
there He saw himself in little porch,
at the side of graceful, grave-eyed wom-
an just one year ago this Thanksgiving
night. Edgar, my love, my idol" she
was saying, II love you, yes-how foolish
it would he for me to deny It'll / yielded,
Edgar, was faithless TO you, my love.
But they told me you were dead-hc," and
her voice had grown harsh and cold-'hc
0drc me your dying message, and his mother
told me that to save both her and his life
must wed him. He would not live with
out me, she said, and she could not with
out him So ] married him, Edgar, and
now you"-with sort of wail-''you have
returned. But you must go-soon, soon,
while am strong. He knows all-knows
that love you; but you must promise not
to speak OF this to him. and to protect him,