Rock Island daily Argus., 1888-10-19
A BRAVE RIDE.

A BRAVE RIDE. !
By the side of 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 the distance a 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 toiIed 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 a soft,
drowsy music and Paul's eyes closed involun-
tarlly The cheerful tune of the supper
born, the whir of larks wings close to his
ear and the sudden splash @ the fishing pole
'a1o the water were unnoticed.
~ MS was the first summer Cf the civil war.
-'oren and south were ablaze with enthusi-
asir the country was full of marching regi-
sh1nNsnts, ga troops of cavalry with singing
bugIes at their heads would dash through
darkness to the distant battle field
Very quiet it was this sultry afternoon, and
no one who looked at the peaceful farmhouse
and the busy slaves harvesting IL the fields
would have imagined that few miles away
We're two armies ready 70 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 IN
from the pasture, tinkling their mellow bells
dreamlly as they waded in the brook TIE
reapers, with their scythes across their
shoulders, came homeward across the new
mOwr 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
\cane, and the loud hoof beats awoke Paul
h from his slurber He raised himself on his
a bow 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 the
top of the hill just in front of him dashed
four Confederate horsemen, their horses
Ieeking sweat and fecked with foam. Almost
at their heels charged half dozen Union
cavalryEeH. Three pistol shots rang out
simultaneously, and one of tine Confederates
threw Up his arms, reeled for a moment in
his saddle and then fell on the dusty wayside
The rest dashed forward, with the Union men
close In the rear.
Down the rocky road, enveloped in q cloud
Of dust they went, urging on their tired
horses with shouts and turning TO fire on the
foe, w-4o sent leaden messengers whizzing
past their heads So pursued and pursuers
galloped out Of sight, leaving the poor fellow
nortal.y wounded by the wayside, with his
faithful horse standing near.
Pau 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
and the other elasped tightly to his heart.
His face was ghastIy pale, the dark eyes
quivered, his breath came slow and pain
fully and violent tremor shook his frame.
From a wound near the right temple little
stream OF blood trickled slowly down, STAIN
ing the gray jacket and settling in a crimson
pool IL the road.
Paul knel- by his side, raised his head ten
derby and rested it on his knees The man
closed his ewes for moment, then opened
them and fixed them on Paul's frightened
face.
'Oh, sir, raSped Paul, family, sis there
anything can do for roul'
Nothing nothing murmured the man
ats all over with NE 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 wagon pleaded Paul, as he wiped
away the blood with his handkerchief
No, no let me lie here l haven't long to
live" be gasped But the Yankees will
soon return and they viii 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, sire queried Paul,
anxious to relieve him.
There's 10 one to take them-at least, no
one l could trust murmured the soldier
''And besides, the distance is over thirty
miles, and the Yankees are before us on the
road
bright thought struck Paul.
81 viii take tham SIR he said quickly.
ITO whom are they to be deliveredf'
"Col. Raynor, Forty third Virginia cav.
airy, at Rockville But could you really un
dertake such ride-thirty-fve miles in fou1
hoursr and the dying soldier looked anx
iously at Paul
swered Paul bravely.
The man pointed TO his vest pocket. Pau
drew out from it blood stained packet O
dispatches.
The man was very near the end now Will
agrateful smile at the young face bending
over him he whispered family:
Thank you oh, thank you-you will saw,
the men. Tell them why could not come
oh III
Is on this letter. Tell them how died-an,
bury me here-here.n
The eyes closed, the hands dropped, tn
head fell back, and the brave courier la,
dead by the roadside. Paul spread the cav
airy CLOAK over the still form, thrust the dis
patches in bis pocket sprang on the waiting
charger and started down the road.
1t was now about o'clock If he wishet
to keep his promise there was no time to lose
Should he so home first, it would be della,
and perhaps they would not let him go at all
So he determined to start Immediately. Il
called negro man who stood in a field nea
by, telling him to run to the house, inform
the family Of what had happened, and hav
the soldiers body cared for immediately
Then touching the fiery horse with his heels
he dashed Of down the road.
The horse, a S.ooded animal with archin
neck, slender limbs, plunged forward as
stung and swept on at hard gallop. Dow
the road they clattered, past the farm owe
the wooden bridge, then out into the levt
road once more. 1t was growing dar
rapidly. Low in the east were great bank
OF dark clouds through which the lightnin
flashed, and in the distance could be hear
the low rumble Of thunder
They neared dark forest that loomed u
before them
Paul was brave boy, but he could nc
help glancing anxiously at the deep shadow
OF the woods, at the tall trees fitting by an
hstening to the dismal echoes his horse
iootfails awoke. Suddenly there came
nash Of lightning, and tall oak, shivere
from top to bottom, fell across the pathway
Al the same time a loud clap of thunde
shooS the ground and died away in low r,
veroerations over ,-ainst the distant mour
tains.
fauIS horse reared on its launches, par;
iyzed with fear then, trembling in ever
nmo' with wild neigh of terror, it made
hying leap over the PROSTATE tree and dsrte
down the road with flying feet
Paul knew his danger but he was accu
toned to riding, and he eluns to the sadd
with his head bent forward on the horse
neck. To keep the horse straight in the roa
was his object, and each moment bore the
nearer to their destination.
The dispatches must be delivered in tim
they were Of vital importance to the arm
and the boy was true southerner at hear
ready to die for his country. He would {
10 lttfr- il