The Portland daily press., 1892-09-07
A FAIR BLOCKADE BREAKER.
BY T. @. De Leon.
The Thread of the Story.

The Thread of the Story.
2. On dark midwinter night of 1858, Car
loyn Clay a brave and accomplished vlrgin ma
girl, starts from General JeD SCuaTCs neGu
quarters to cross the Potomac, penetrate tns
Union lines and obtain medicine LOT ner
wounded brother her cousin Evan Fauntleroy.
one of StuartS troopers, accompanies her W.
wards the Potomac.
g. young South Carolina officer Of Hamp-
tons Legion is with the Confederate 0utposI
as the two riders pass and rides with tnem
for several miles and as he leaves tnem wa ths
them that the Union cavalry may be on the
South side of the Potomac.
4. The warning proves true, and Miss Gay
and Fauntleroy are hotly pursued by Feaeral
cavalry.
5. Both adventures are captured, after MISS
Clay has shot at a Federal horseman: MISS
Clay demands of the Federal MAJOR tnat she DC
released as non-comDatant
6. The Federal Commander Custer suspects
that his two captures are spies, and SENDS 1or
his guide, Virginian, who may be abe 10
identity them.
T. The guide turns out to be, Peyton Fitz,
hugh Miss Clay's former lover, whom she mad
east off because he deserted the Confederacy.
He recognizes her and she is held as spy, pc.
ing confined in solitary hut under guard OF
sentinel. Here she is left to bitter fenectlons
on FitZhugh's perfidy.
8. During the night Fitzhugh appears and,
though She Spums him, finally induces her to
allow him to guide her to horse on which she
may escape.
9. The scene shifts to Baltimore, where Mrs.
Gilmour Gray, quiet but active Southern
sympathizer, is having party.
10. Peyton Fitzhugh is present but not trusted
by the Gray's who are concealing Carolyn Clay
under their roof.
A group OF gilded youth ana nickel
plated age had approached the girls.
Mckee glanced at his watch.
ssPardon what stupidity of society
calls rudeness,' he said; ''but really it is
commitments fnr I fear such distraction
will make me late. l am booked for
duck hunt at dawn, SO must tear my
self away now"
A moment later Bessie Westchester.
with unusual awkwardness for her,
caught her founce upon carved chair
and fed upstairs to repair damages.
Passing her cousin in the hall, she whis-
pered:
ssReady at two, sharpr'
The ladies' dressing-room showed no
occupant to the girls glance through
its door; and, passing up the dark stair
way beyond, to the third story, she
tapped softly at closed door, entering
without pausing for reply.
A bowed female form before the fire
raised suddenly at the sound, from the
hands that covered it pale face
crowned with glossy coils Of ruddy hair;
and the eager eyes Of Carolyn Clay ques-
toned hungrily those OF her friend.
ssOh, Bess! / thought you would taecer
come! Has he succeeded? Can get
Off"
eyes, Caro-; all is ready"
s"Thank God! Thank Godl" Miss Clay
murmured, with choking sob. "Oh,
BessI had anything stopped me again
should have despsired-broken down!
Never before have been SO nervous
so oppressed! If anything has hap
pened over there-if Fairfax"
For answer Bessie Westchester drew
from her bosom the crump1ed note. The
other girl ciutched it eagerly, rushed to
the table lamp, and devoured, with
burning eyes, the hastily-scribbled
words, without address or signature:
''Only a moment to write. Am al
most wild with doubt. She should be
.D[tCks Uu0 4G6S lOu CfCA 0OCA4 A4C0A "
from. Fairfax no worse; his fever per.
haps lighter. Messenger waits. God
guard you-and her!"
Miss Clay reread the words, twice
thrice, and pressed them to he,
trembling lips ere they formed the
words:
| ssPoor, dear motherl How anxiou.
she must bel But our baby is better
| thank God! How did it Gomez"
s'Willie Mckee brought it to mamma
Carroll Meredith met old Pete at The
Ferry"
! Again the older woman read the let
ter; then, with deep sigh, she stood
erect, thinking. And a fair contrast
were the women, seen thus: Bessie
.Westchester plump, fresh, petite. he,
low ball dress showing the perfect necl
and bust and softly-rounded arms d
lately-budded womanhood, her bright
face grave and soft in sympathy, and itt
dark eyes tender through unshed tears
Carolyn Clay tall, majestic, defiant, he1
grand head thrown back, the supple
curves of her form well relieved by the
rough riding-habft, its skirt turned il
and sewed lightly, to be used at need
Atlength, with sigh-more Of decis
ion than of discontent,-she dropped
into her low chair again, with the quie'
query:
cat what hour, dear2"
'.Attwo this morning" the other an
swered, promptly. ''Willie is supposed
to be going ducking; he has passes. i
needful. You will reach the Ferry by
dawn; the moon will be late tomorrow
and the river is clear"
Again Miss Ciay's lips moved, but
only the half-audible sound came:
"Merciful Godl thank Theel"
Then, gliding to her side, the othel
girl slid softly to the floor, resting he,
head in her friends lap, while thu
round, white arms CLEANED fair in thu
freight against the rough habit, al
they clasped Carolyn Clay lovingly. Ane
her naughty head bowed over he'
friend, till it mingled its spun gold will
the dark curls upon which she pressed