The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11

at that time very difficult undertak-
ing. His departure was fastened by
the receipt of an order requiring him
to report for active service in the Con-
federate army at Charleston within
seven days. He had $1,000 in green
backs one-half of which he sent to
Laura, begging her to accept it as a
loan from one who still thought her
to be the only woman he would ever
love. Then he boarded the cars. os.
tensibly bound for North Carolina and
Virginia on railroad business. There
were several Confederate officers on
the train, hut their suspicious were
lulled by the fact that he was recog-
nized by the conductor as a railroad
official. But a certain Confederate
detective, Pete Bassett, was not so easily
satisfied. He kept his eyes on Bryant
and followed him wherever he moved
in a manner that left no room for
doubt that it was case of trailing and
shadowing.
At the town of Graham Bryant sue
ceeded in eluding the detective, and
was thus enabled to reach Raleigh and
secure from the provost marshal a pass
to Richmond, on the pretext of secur-
ing some new rails to repair the road
with which he had been connected.
The next day he reached GDldsborough
and there he again encountered Bas-
sett, who said, frankly: II have got
instructions to look out for you, and
have mind to arrest you at once. !"
Bryant produced his permit to 60 to
Richmond, ION military business of
importance to the Confederate govern
ment." Bassett was cowed and aston
ished. "But all the same. " said he,
81 will go to Richmond to see that you
execute this important business" But
again the detective was outwitted. A
special train bound south suddenly ran
into the station and Bryant contrived
to board it without attracting any at
tention. His pass was now useless, of
course, as he was going away from
Richmond; but he got through to
Wilmington without one by telling
the conductor that he was on his way
to Nassau after iron for the road. The
passengers on the train included sew
eral captains of blockade runners,
whose vessels were taking in cotton at
w
to take passage with one of them.
He induced two negro stevedores to
put him inside of a bale of cotton and
carry him on board of the Dart, which
was soon to leave. The bale was
slowed in the hold, and when Bryant
was released he found barely space
enough for his body between the cargo
and the ship. Soon after squad Of
soldiers came to search the vessel for
runaways. They forced long poles
between the bales of cotton, but did
not reach Bryant; then they filled the
hole with dense smoke from burn
ing rosin, and he was almost asphyx-
lated, and he clambered out upon the
lower deck. There was heavy white
fog, and the blockade runner was
boldly attempting to run unseen
through the federal squadron that
barred her passage. The experiment
failed, and the vessel was forced to re-
turn. AS it ran close to the federal
flagship, Bryant cried out, "Ship
ahoyl Stop this blockade runnerl" A
pattering hail of musket balls began to
fall; the federal marines had opened
fire. Then one of the officers struck
Bryant with Delaying pin, and he
reeled and fell upon the deck. There
was roaring of waves in his brain,
and after that-nothing
When he recovered his senses he
was in an ambulance jolting through
the streets of Wilmington, and Peter
Bassett was saying to him, "You are
the slipperiest customer l ever tack
led" From Wilmington he was taken
to Charleston and placed in jail. A
chance to take the oath of allegiance
and enter the Confederate service was
offered him, and he rejected it. Then
he was placed with the criminal pris-
oners on the Notifications. He made
several efforts to escape, but they all
proved futile. In the course of time
he was sent with others to work on
intrenchments in the rear of the city,
and there one day he was discovered
by Laura Peyton. She was permitted
to have an interview with him. He
told her of his adventures, land she
did pity them," as Othello says "You
must end this martyrdom at once, -
she said. Eyes, by periuring myself
and becoming Confederate soldier, u
he replied. mo, not that way" said
she. Though l am a southern girl,
not that way. l should not respect
you If you took that way now. In
some other way must save you-in
some way l will save YOU" Heasked
her if she still loved him. She held
up her finger, and he saw on it his en-
gagement ring. EYES," she said, Il
love you and will save you"
Two days afterward the former BODY
servant OF Bryant, trusty negro
named Caucus, was added to the gang
OF workmen. He and Bryant man.
aged to get away that night by crawl
ing on their hands and knees through
the underbrush, across a swamp, to
the river, where the negro had hidden
boat. The Federal gunboats were
not far away. ''Where is Miss Laura9'
Bryant whispered. IA mile or two up
de ribber, at Judge Elliott's," said the
negroi IFS to go back and port to her
when Is got you safe up de ribber to
de Yanks." Bryant replied, Every
well, l must see her before I go; turn
the boat upstream" Caucus protested
and entreated, but Bryant forced him
to obey. They reached the place in
safety. For Gods sake, Lawrence, y
said Laura, why didn't you go9
cannot save your life if you do not
leave South Carolina" He replied,
Il will never leave South Carolina till
you are my wife. DO the only thing
that will make me wish to save nv
hte-marry me now" She pleaded
! with him to go. mot unless you
} promise to be NINE" he said; and al
last she said ''Yes," just in time to pre-
; vent his capture by troop of lurking
, cavalry.