The Portland daily press., 1892-08-27

olyn CLAY. a brave and accomplished Virginian
girl starts from General Jeb Stua rt's head
quarters to cross the Potomac, penetrate the
Union lines and obtain medicine for her
wounded brother. Her cousin Evan Fauntleroy,
one Of Stuarts troopers, accompanies her to-
wards the Potomac.
''Mount. Mr.. Fauntleroy," the officer
ordered, briefly. 81 am but delaying
you, Miss Clay; and you have many q
mile to cover in the next two hours. ]
said I knew nothing beyond my orders;
all a soldier has the right to know. But
any reasoning creature may think. l
suppose; and I do think, Mr.. Scout, you
had best be very watchful as you near
the Ferry My picketsrun to Grantley's;
one at the fork roads; the other-the
advance-at Gresharn's farm. That far"
he paused and whispered q word in the
scouts ear "this parole will pass you
safely. After that, your own eyes and
horses legs must do the rest Good
night and good fortune, Miss Clay. ;"
He hesitated an instant. MAY
shake hands with you? All our corps
'honors your bravery and regards you
as a comrade
ssSurely you may" And Carolyn Clay
frankly extended the little gauntlet
over the neck of her paving roam. sWe
regard the Palmetto boys as comrades,
known or not. Thank you sincerely
for your warning, too. Well keep our
eyes well front, rest assured. Good-by."
Loosing the taut rein, Miss Clay let
the eager roam bound forward, as Mum
son gloomily stepped out of the road
and came to a carry, like spectral SEN
try through the mist.
ssNice fellow, that. Cousin Caro-"
Evan said. chirpi1y, as be ranged along
side tAll those Legion fellows are, I
guess Hello! that is snow, sure enough.
Felt it on my nose"
81 hope it Isl the lady answered,
briefly.
'sYou do? Well that's charitable to
the poor devils on dark picket, Miss
Clay"
ri had forgotten them," the girl re-
piled. ST was only thinking that it
would moderate In snow, and then the
river would not freeze before l could
get back. Yes; that is snow; one-two
--three-a dozen fakes have struck my
cheek"
"Enviable snow!" laughed her COM
panion. s'Wou1d were a flake upon
that nose, if l might touch that cheek!
That's as pretty paraphrase as Capt.
CharIton-my superior ofhcer-could
make Hello!" he suddenly interrupted
himself, as his quick right hand whipped
a revolver from its holster and his left
pulled the black down to a slow canter;
sswe're followed! Lieut.. Greene said he
didn't know
He turned in his saddle, bending low
over the crup to listen intently, the
click of the pistol lock sounding sharp
on the air. The girl steadied her horses
stride with easy pull of her left hand,
and her right also slipped a revolver
from the holster at her pommel.
Pursuing hoofs certainly rang out
from the frozen road behind, drawing
nearer and nearer.
ssThere's only one," Evan whispered.
quietly. eff he's Yank, he's not after
us. But forewarned is forearmed."
he wheeled his horse and halted be-
hind tree, as Miss Clay, with intuitive
tactics, turned hers into the mderbrush
opposite and faced the road.
asst! coz," called the scout, in stri-
dent whisper at the shadowy shape in
the haze opposite. 'sThere's only one
of him. If he's Yank, leave him to
me. Don't you shoot! Mammals a
widow; and you might make her an or
phan, tool"
ssAll right, you goose" Miss Clay
whispered back, as quietly as though
conserving to give him turn in the
german. ''When we get back to head
quarters I'll make you shoot a match
with me, before the staff"
! sListen! He's calling,-yes, calling
met" Evan broke in. Il wonder
what's up! It's the lieutenant's voice."
and he drew into the road, as the hoof-
beats came clearer, and the legion Off
Ger galloped up.
"I thought I'd visit my advance pick
iet, " he said to Evan, Carolyn Clay fan
,cied trifie anxiously, $50 spurred up
to overtake you. You're both better
mounted than I; and voice carries SO,
feared to yell They may have adj
V6lCCd SlASO
He stopped abruptly, but not before
the girls quick perception caught the
idea.
$50 you are expecting AverillT' she
said, quietly. "Let me see: he would
have to cross at Washington, or above. II
he be out for raid, he would not force
march his horses over such roads; SO we
should make the Ferry long before his
scouts could meet us. Besides, he
would take the lower road. It is better
than this trail"
'eYou are good soldier, Miss Clay"
the Carohnian replied, gazing through
the gloom at the cool speaker, in some
wonderment. "But Ihave never men
toned Gen. Averill's name: nor do I
really k'soW anything beyond my own
orders at last dawn. Your idea is not
an impossible one, for do not suppose
the general would have sent us on a
picnic; but whom, or what, he expects l
have no knowledge"
ssA-o-f1Jp, %ha ~~e-1 ,oexr,,.aJ noy%.