The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1889-05-03
A BRAVE RIDE.

BY the side 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 the distance misty haze
hung like a veil over the dark mass
of trees on the mountain side. Ov
er The fields Of yellow grain swept
a gentle breeze, waiting from the
distant meadow the soothing swish
of the reapers' Sythes and drowsy
clack of the clumsy farm wagons
as they toiled up the long hills,
laden with the golden harvest.
The q net rustling of the leaves,
the subdued sound OF the distant
reapero5 call, the low droning Of
bees mingled into a soft, crowsy
music, and Paul's eyes closed in
voluntarily. The cheerful tune OF
the supper horn, the whir OF a
lark's wings close to his ear and
the sudden splash of the fishing
pole int the water were unnoIlced.
This was The first summer OF the
civil war. North and South were
ablaze with enthusiasm; the coun-
try was full Gi marching regiments,
and troops of cavalry with singing
bugles al their heads would dash
through quiet village streets and
speed away in The darkness TO the
distant battlefield.
4
Very quiet it was this Suliry al
ternoon and no one who locked at
The peaceful farm house and the
busy slaves harvesting IN The fields
would have imagined that "A few
miles away were two armies ready
to begin The terrible drama OF "ar,
the shadows of the old stone fence
and dusty alderberry bushes
heightened across the road. The
cows came slowly up from the pas
ture tinkling their mellow bells
dreamllv 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 lullaby 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. lie raised himself
on his elbow and peered through
the tall grass 10 see who was com
ing.
Suddenly a loud yell broke on
the still evening air. Paul sprang
TO his feet. Over the top OF the
hlll lust in front of him dashed
four Confederate horsemen, thelI
horses reaking with sweat and
fleceded with foam. Almost al
their heels charged half a dozen
Union cavalrymen. Three pistol
shots rang out simultaneously and
one of the Confederaies threw uT
his arms, reeled for moment II
| his saddle and then fell on tht
dusty wayside. The rest dashed
forward with the Union men clos'
in the rear.
Down the rocky road, enVelopet
! in a cloud Of dust, they went, nrg
| ing on their tired borses with shouts
and turning To fire on The foe, wh'
sent leaden messengers whiZZlh;
past their heads. So pursued ant
pursued gaIloped out OF sight leayv
. ingthe poor fellow mortally wound
ed by the wayside with his faithful
horse standing near.
Paul sprans over the low st?n
fence and approached the wounded
man.
The Confederate courier, for sue
he was. lay on hls side, one ham
| supporting his head aud the othe
clasped tightly 10 his heart: Hi
+ face was CHASTITY pale, the dark eye
: duivered, his breath came slow an
! painfully and a violent tremo
, shook his frame. From a woun
near the right temple a iittl
stream Of blood trlckled slowl
down, staining The gray jacket an