Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-07-27
A Fair Blockade Breaker !
BY T. c. DELEON.

'-meroarul GodI Why am so heip lessp Oh, If I but daredI'' Miss Clay cried aloud, as her hands dropped list less from the lattice. "Oh, if Bessie were but here! Father, aid me nov!''
 As though in answer to her prayer the door opened hastily, and the girl she longed for, running in painting, passed her arm about the other as she followed her gaze below.
 "I thought of you, Caro, so helpless up here" she gasped. ''There might be some one you knew; some friend"
 "Therel Evan, my cousinr' Carolyn Clay cried, trembling in her eagerness "Thank God that He sent you! See the tall boy-no, not that-the coatless one! Bess, he is Evan-the one cap tured that night for me! You must"
 "All rightl I know," the other an- swered, rapidly; aud the warm kiss she paused to press on her friends cheek told her that she was understood.
 Down to the street at breahneclx speed went the young girl, calling to a negro with coffee can as she snatched some bundles from the hall table and ran hatless into the cold mir. For by this time the surging crowd-and in 1t some of the best and most noted blood of Maryland-was pressing close upon the guard, but still kept back by the barrier of rifles at port"
 Passing rapidly down the line, Bessie Westchester paused opposite Evan, working her way through the crowd, close up to the barrier of steel Then, watching eagerly, she managed to catch his eye, and-the natural gallantry of the Virginian aided by the evident inter est in her expressive face-heldit fixed upon her. A puzzled look stole across the young scouts features, as he won dered whether her intent regard meant that they had met before Evidently he had been singled out; for though deep CT tint dyed her soft checks, that gaze never left him, and to the query his eye brows sent over the guards shoulder came a scarce perceptible movement of her own, followed by the bare suspicion of nodded assent. Not one bit a flop, Evan knew then that the girl had a message for him, or had possibly seen him before; and, standing coatless there under the biting wind, his elastic spirit carried him back to all scenes of his in frequent absences from home, and ad- miration for the pretty, graceful wom- an, so plainly interested in him, mingled with his wonderment sufficiently to make him forget his sorry plight and singular costume for the time.
 "Can we not give the prisoners some coffee?" Bessie asked of the trim young lieutenant passing down the line. And she threw all the witchery of voice and face into the query.
 "Very sorry, miss," the officer an- swered, courteously, pausing to raise his cap, then halting in evident admira- tion. But our orders are very strict. It Is positively forbidden to allow any intercourse-Fau back, there; Clear the roadway! he interrupted himself suddenly.
 The old general was riding, slowly and alone, down the line, looking on the captives with eyes that held more of pity than of curiosity. At the lieu tenants tone the people instinctivcly fell back to the sidewalk, long inured to authority and we'll taught the necessity of obedience to it's behests. Only Bessie Westchester stood her ground, now left entirely alone by rapid retreat of her friends, but perfectly quiet and at ease.
 ''I beg pardon, miss, "'again the young lieutenant's hand went to his cap, the general now close upon them, but with face turned aside, "but fear you did not hear"
 'Oh, yes, I heard, thank you," she answered, with a smile and another glance into the young mans face that brought the color to it. Then, calmly and gracefully, as though waiting to receive a guest, the 1.-the little figure remained perfectly still in the very path of the slow moving horse, until his muzzle almost touched her hair. Then the little hand was raised to stroke his face; but the ungallant brute shied inn patiently as though resenting caresG from a stranger.