The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-01-11

49," """-"TH
''Rangcrss"
YES, sir; tho Texas cavalry they
came across the hill just then. lie
started 70 run this way. but-but-"
..Wcll?"
The girl looked down n moment,
colorcd, raised her head and said rap
idly:
| Il told him he never would get there
alive ! said they were q hundred 70
one. and he'd surely b. killed. I'm a
trle Southern woman. sir; my father
| is Captain Grayson. Of the artillery
battalion. fut don't believe murder
! i var. So made him come into the
bousc. lie declared he ronldn'is death
was nothing 70 duty. But mais him
como In.
| :" Indeed? What argu ncnts did you
use. may lask?"
/ Again the girl looked down and coli
ored deeply. Some Of the Younger Of
iicers began To exchange winks.
'.iie declared he wouldn't" the girl
resumed. \ but | made him. lie
struggled with all his might, but"
~ beg your pardon for interrupt
ing. said the Major, biting his lip,
''but he escaped them"
..Yes. Sir: but not a second too soon.
hadn't more than got him into the
hog~head
:. lIog-heada"
:. Yes. sir; q big sugar hogshcad In
the cellar. that we had meant to keep
sweet potatoes in when two Of the
rangers came in the front door. They
said they'd seen a Yankee al the well
and wanted him. told them he had
seen them and made a dash for his
own lines. lie really did. you know,
for step or two. when when
when you warned him OF his
danger?'
.Yes. sir. Well. they took my
word when ! told them who my father
was and they went away"
.Ah. Where are the Rangers
now?"
..Ihcy went back. don't know
where. hours ago.
And caught him rs they VENT"
"Oh. no, sir: they couldn't. But hs
was in dreadful excitement. He sale
he had no rigAt to be outside the lines
, he could be court-martialed for IL ant
: disgraced. and may be shot. il thing
: went wrong in the fight. lie went o.
r 50 that wouldn't listen TO him. and
was afraid some OF the Rangers nigh
come back and hear him. 50 l wouldn
' stay and listen 70 him"
But why didn't he return astcl
, they retired."
: Because he couldn't. sir.
, wouldn't let him. didn't want hin
!. to be court-martialed and shot. and al
Of those dreadful things. 80 ! though
il would be only right 70 come aad tel
= you il wasn't his fault"
Tho enemy has been gone scvera
i hours" said the Major. turning wit
! a suspicious look to rs. elm afrai
\ there's some ruse in this" Then h
turned again to the girl and sternl
: said: :. Young woman. il your stor
= l. true he should have returned p
! this time. lie knows he has nothin
! 10 fear. ana there is nothing to pr,
il vent him coming back. II he know
! the enemy have disappeared.
.Oh. yes. there j.. sir; there's
\ cover to the hogshcad and padoc
Il beside"
4 .Oh h-h,' said the Major. wit
i many infections. lies your pri'
! oncr. l. hep But. heavens. madam,
he has been locked in hogshead a
Il this time he's probably suffocatct
= Confound-'
.Oh. no. said the girl. with an al
i surfing smile. There's big bun,
hole in the hogshcad. and know b
y, has sense enough 10 breathe throug
\ il. because when ! went down an
y whispered through it that the Ranger
j had gone home again. he
= What did he say?'
=. .Nothing he but know he ";
!, alive and just like his old self" The
Il the girl suddenly dropped her ey'
n again and colorcd deeply. while a vol
\" young Lieutenant murmured:
Um,"
~ sce." drawled the Major. vei
:. slowly. :. Attention! First comp
se ny. deploy as skirmishers. 70
en- ward
e The girl turned her horses he;
lg quickly. looked backward. set her Iii
firmly. and exclaimed:
y. You're not going to court-marti
n and shoot him?"
nc ..Suppose ! wcrc." said the Majo
r. as the men began to file from behil
ne the curtain that commanded u
DO road.
AZ ..Thcn.- said the girl. I'm gale
~ ahead at the risk OF my life, and let hi
escape on my pony
\. Madam said the Major, liftiI
~ his hat. II give you the word Of a &
der and gentleman that you shall
:, his sole judge"
]" The skirmish line advanced and 4
LII officers Of the other companies 4
- lowed the girl and the Major i
\