Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-03-21

you are my vile. DO the only tnlng
that will make me wish TO save my
life-marry me nowr" She pleaded
with him to 60. mot unless you
promise TO be mine," he said; and at
last she said YES" Just in time to pre-
vent his capture by a troop OF lurking
cavalry.
Several weeks later Bryant and
Laura were married in a remote part
of the state, in the shadow of the Blue
Ridge. Then Belle suddenly appeared
TO denounce the proceedings. "Oh,
how | hate youl" she said TO Bryant.
''You have lured my sister away from
home and her duty. A man who had
not he,rt enough to fight us, but must
destroy our family by makinga woman
love him, and she-my sister. am
going 10 the nearest military post TO
deliver you up as a deserter, that you
may be shot TO death. That's what
they'll do to you. Then our disgrace
will be wiped out by your blood" II
was plain that the girl meant TO do
what she said. So Laura and Bryant
drew her into the house and securely
locked her in one of the upper rooms.
"Now, Lawrence, you must hasten TO
the other side of the line" said Laura.
II will Join you in the north whenever
you tell me-" He started, and at the
gate met Peter Bassett, whom he shot,
for he had no mercy now. Then he
hurried on, soon TO be overtaken by
Caucus with a letter from Laura, urg-
ing increased speed, as a party was be-
ing collected TO pursue him. Guard
your life" the letter said, for it is my
life, my husband"
The Journey was a long, tiresome
and perilous one, but at last it ended,
and Bryant and Caucus safely reached
the federal lines at Knoxville. -Four
days later they were in Illinois, at
Bryant's home. He Immediately wrote
Laura via Bermuda, and waited anx-
iously for six weeks, but received no
reply. II was now April of 1864. The
blockade runners were often captured
or sunk; the letter service of the Con-
federacy was very uncertain. Ills
anxiety concerning his wife became
unbearable and he went 10 Nassau,
from whence he forwarded another
letter that he knew did not GO astray,
for the vessel came back safely, and
the captain said he had placed the
document in the Wilmington post
office. Again he waited a~nxiously a
month. Still no letter. He wrote TO
other parties and finally received word
to the effect that Laura was alive and
in Columbia, but that was all that
could be ascertained. About the same
time he received a letter from his old
chum, Tom Baxter, who held a staff
position in Sherman's army. II wa
dated at Atlanta, and told him to come
on at once, and he could probably soon
be taken very neal TO his wife.
He quickly obeyed the summons,
and as soon as the trip could be made
his hand was grasped by Baxter, who
took him to the chief Of Sherman's
staff. That officer said: 'Mr. Bryant,
Maj. Baxter tells me you are an engi-
neer and should be very well ac-
quainted with most Of the Georgia
railroads. Bryant replied, Eyes, l
have assisted in building a good many
of them" The officer remarked,
''Then you should know how to de-
stroy them" So he was assigned TO
duty as an extra aid-de-camp to Gen.
Wood, commanding the first division
of Logan's corps. Then followed the
famous march TO the sea, and on the
18th Of February, 1865, looking across
the Saluda river, Bryant saw again the
beautiful capital Of South Carolina.
he asked for leave of absence and the
s Of company of infantry toprotect
Judge Peyton's house.
The general cheerfully granted the
request, and the guard arrived Just in
time to prevent the sacking of the
premises. But Laura was not there.
The family had gone into Columbia
for protection. Bryant reached the
town in the evening and sought his
wife without success. Suddenly, 10
his horror, he saw that a portion of
the place was in confagration. He
fastened on, and soon reached the
Pickens mansion, which was rapidly
consumed. Then he heard a shrek,
and, looking up, saw a servant girl
holding a child and calling for help.
He rushed into the flames and brought
the child out. The mother soon came
to thank him. At sight of his face
she cried, Lawrence, and fell faint
ing in his arms. The mother was
Laura-the child was his own.-A. @.
Gunter in Globe-D Democrat.