The record-union., 1892-07-02
ROBIN LEES PERILOUS RIDE.
A STORY OF WAR TIMES.

| Robins affairs at that home were very
sorrowful indeed, and reason enough for
| the great tears which followed each other
down his chubby face, and dropped of
from his little nose unheeded. Robin
was too proud to admit that he was cry
ing, even though there was no one to see,
except little Dolly grazing about the lawn
behind him.
In fact, it was principally because there
was no one there that Robin felt so very
sorrowful. A few months ago, only so
far back as Christmas time, there had
been twenty other children, and as many
aunts. uncles and grown-up cousins
gathered gleefully at the homestead,
where everything was as gay as any boy
could wish. dozen horses had stamped
in the stables, and the quarters had been
full of jolly milling hands. Now every
thing was different. All the uncles and
aunts had taken their families home. OF
course. That was to be expected. But
now, even father and dear uncle Joe,
who had always lived there, had gone.
Gone to war, too, where they would
probably be shot and never come home.
raster and faster fell the tears, un-
| checked.
The slaves had grown unruly, and
many of them had left the plantation,
while those who stayed were sullen and
independent" with no master to guide
them.
Old Uncle Pete" and "Aunt Sally''
We're still faithful, but they were too
feeble to do very much. And Dolly, dear,
gentle little Dolly, was the only one OF
all the horses left.
But that was not the worst Oh, no,
indeed. Even with all these troubles,
mother and Bess and Robin could have
managed very we'll, but now Bess was
SICK, and that seemed just too much 20
bear. All day she had tossed her hot
little head on the pillow and cried for
Papa" She had not done this when she
was well. She had held it back, and tried
TO De brave, for mammals sake.
After all, Robin must cry. He could
hold back his grief no longer, but poured
IL out IN torrents of Scalding tears. When
1t was over he felt better and stronger.
Gentle little Dolly came and stuck her
nose against his hot, wet cheeks, as
| though she understood his trouble. Then
Robin smiled-a wan little smile, to be
sure, but token that the storm had
passed.
Colonel Lees plantation was about
| ftteen miles from the town Of Rome, in
Georgia, and the main road, near which
the house stood, was the principal thor
oughfare of that section. AT the time of
my story, however, the roads were much
less frequented than was usual, because
OF the danger which menaced travellers
from desperate fugitive slaves. The field
OF war had not stretched to that part of
the country, but most of the men had
gone, and already the slaves were becom-
ing unmanageable. Robin had been sit
ting out there on the terrace all the after
noon, watching anXiously for some one
TO pass who might be able to carry a
message to the doctor. 1t was growing
late, however, and with his arm about
Dolly's neck, he turned and walked
slowly up to the house. There on the
veranda stood mother, with a patient
look on her pale face, which made Robin
ashamed of his outburst.
has any one passed, dear ?" she asked
kissing his flushed little face, with no
mention of the swollen lids.
''No one, MOTHER" said Robin, "and it
is too late now for any one to reach Rome
before night. Is Bess-"
Some way the question stuck in his
throat.
"Oh, she is very i'll !" said Mrs. Lee in
a tone Of anguish. ''If only we had some
one to send for the doctor. Have you
been down to the quarters ?"
Eyes, mother. They have all gone
away except some of the little ones-and
some who are too old. Marty wanted to
go herself, but her broken leg-you
know-and she says big Jim is down
with fever"
Robin paused, and his face took on a
glow Of pride and courage.
Mother !" he cried. Il will go-Dolly
and |; we would do it, wouldn't we,
Dolly?"
"Oh, my little boy, it is fifteen miles,
and nearly night now. We must think
of some other way"
but, mother, there is no other way. L
am ten years old, and have been twice
over the same road. When l reach there.
the doctor can bring me home = you
know. Please, please say l may, for
Bessln
Tears came into Mrs. Lees eyes. How
could she let him go. The peril of such a
journey at night was more than he
realized and she had sacrificed so much
already.
"For Bess, dear mother" urged the
little voice, and as though to aid him
came the feeble wall OF the younger child
from within crying for relief
One moment more the mother way
cred, and then caught the little fellow in
her arms.
$50, my sonr' she cried, 'Go and God
bless you and bring you safely home to
motherr'
In half an hour all was ready: little
lunch prepared by trembling, loving
1bODlh 1lIS, GH0 Ohly "6dpOu ne
knew how to use, fastened across the
saddle; Dolly, alert and eager, as though
she understood her errand, and Robin
himself, quiet, brave, and in deadly
earnest.
Tenderly he bent over the cot where
Bess tossed i'll fever; then hung for last
moment about mothers neck, all child
again in clinging love.
The next, he had mounted his pony
and resolutely turned his grave little face
in the direction he must take.
"Goodby; keep light burning,
mother, l shall be home before morning."
he called, cheerily, and, speaking to
Dolly, off they started on their sacred
mission.
Mrs. Lee went back to the watch by
Bess' bed, strangely hopeful, and yet
quiyering with anxious excitement,
Hour after hour passed by. The red
sun sank lower and lower and faded out
OF sight. One by one the stars came out
and twlnkled in at the wide open eyes of
the little sufferer and her tender nurse
On, how the minutes Jagged. Now the
old moon came slowly up from behind
the eastern hills and still no sound.
A cock crowed somewhere in the dis
tance, and the deep bay of hound came
waited in by. the night breeze. Then all
was still again.
Hark What sounds? Were they
horses hoofs? No, alas! only old Rover
beating the porch floor with his tail.
One-two. Only two o'clock. Mrs.
Lee arose and changed the cooling band
age on Bess' head, with q steady hand.
though her heart was beating so loudly
that she could hear it.
Robin must reach Rome before mid
night, even on slow Dolly. Then thew
would start directly back, and with the
doctors fleet mare get to her before the
dawn. Robin had said so. Uncon-
sciously she was beginning to depend
dpon Robin. Brave little Robin, only
IN uaarS old Hnrr