Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-07-18

OH while rum
All this was quickly spoken, In whis-
pers, but clearly distinct on either side
The approaching horsesshad turned into
the sandy road, trotting east towards
them, not one hundred yards away. For
nm instant EVAN was silent He, had
combated, Carolyn Clayfs will before,
and knewNits strength Them he whis-
pered:
"They're(on usi SPromisej me, Carol
Remember your motlheri Remember
FairfaxI Ittis the only chance. Prom
ase!"
There was aacholee in.the whisper that
came back to him:
ST promiser'
The stiffness of death hung over that
little belt of woods. Side by side the
southern, soldier iand(the southern Igirl :,
sat like statues, each with eye iandl ear
alertAand with firm handi upont thetrein. 4
Like statues the(horses stood, theirsideRl
scarce Iheavingtnow, but witha forward
prickedAears, as Ncoguizant OF some dam
ger thatmight come. And in thattstill-
ness the rustic ofHsnow-fake upon crisp
leaf was sharp and clear.
Hoof-mufled bytdamp sandiof the lit |
tie ascent, the stranger horsemenJ trot-1
ted nearer still Gihost-Eke and(silent
they moved into view, asolitary elder in
advance, the moony tvapor rollingtround
him
"Who seemed the phartom'of gianthn it."
On the troopers moved two-two
more-two again, until the practised eye
of the scout counted twelve; talking in,
through night and mist the outline of
cape, the differing seat. tho precise gait
of federal cavalry.
If Evan Fauntleroy Aknew what fear
meant, he certainly had never obeyed
the divine Injunction sufficiently to
know himself in that/respect. In the
front of the CHARGE in long and lonely
scout, in still moreitrying test of lying
Inactive for hours under heavy fire, the
hoy had ever been utterly oblivious of
danger-had ever carried a jestupon
his lips. But nowtbeads stood upon his
brow, spite of the piercing cold, and he
could hear his heart humping audibly
close under his chin. For never had
greater responsibility than his own life
not counted byfhim-or aamissing re-
port, because of a bullet faced him.
| Now, woman's Isafety and freedom
perhaps her life, for he knew his cousin
would fight, or fly, but never yield
were dependentmpon his tact and cool
ness.
Slowly-taking ages, Iit seemed, to the
/ aching brain of the confederate-the
officer trohted by; slowly one pair of rid
ers-another-an other-Irntn his nerv-
Gus tensionA could scarce refrain from
| giving one} red-hot ''rebelt yell'' and
dashing out'upon them.
Then the seeming endlesstagony was
over; the last riders had passed, disap-
peared, and were ascending tthe hill be-
yond the hidden watchers4 and not a
suspicion had that ostrich of a scout
commander that his prey had been so
near and-unissedl
Then the southern woman-lilxe all
her sisters, forgetf1l of danger, of self,
of all save her loves labor-whispered
"ThankGodl welcan make,'the Ferry
now"
And in answer, clear and shril and
loud from the road beyond echoed the
neigh of horse; and ere Evans quick
hand could clinch his rearedjmuzzle the
| roam had answered. full and fstrong.
No time to loset now! One chance,
and only one!
"Quickl the'woods road! Remember:
south,-the stone fencesrold Ishamt
Quick! for yourseH!-for little Fairfax!"
And in,echo came from the road:
"Halt! Right aboutl Forward
Trot MARCH,
Instantly the; girl wheeled her horse,
trotting rapidly between trees for the
narrow 'road-the reversed scouting
party moving fast towards them,
guided blythe neigh. Once she turned,
crying:
"Come! Evan, you promisedP'
And THEOLOGY answered, cheerily:
go onl Faster-for Fairfax's salei
I'm coming, adding through his
clinched teeth: "when I've held them
back long enough to save you'll"
The thunder'of close hoofs was oppo-
site the scout; the federals, now at a
charge, strung out as slzirmishers along
the road, to hem in their unseen foe.
Without even a glance he knew that
their carbines were unsIung, and the
least soundtwould bring a voney to drop
him out oftsaddle. From the vantage
{ darkness of his covert. he saw the first
| four dash by, straight for the little
trail for which the girl was making, too.