The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-08-30
The Thread of the Story.

The Unread or the STORY.
Q. On dark midwinter night of 1868, Car
olyn Clay. brave and accomplished virglnian
girl starts from General Jeb StuartS head
quarters to cross the Potomac, penetrate the
Union lines and obtain medicine for her
wounded brother. Der cousin Evan Fauntleroy,
one of Stuart'S troopers, accompanies her to
wards the Potomac.
3. A young South Carolina officer of Hamp-
toms Legion Is with the Confederate OutpoSts
as the two riders pass, and rides with them
for several miles and as he leaves them warns
them that the Union cavalry may be on the
South side of the Potomac.
4. The warning proves true, and Miss Clay
and Fauntleroy are hotly pursued by Federal
cavalry.
Then came the officer, in full career:
and Evan, quickly nwheeling his horse.
turned in the saddle and fred at the fly
ing shadows without-once, twice-as
they came into view. Then came
halt, rush ofquick-changed hoofs, and
the crisp twigs of the trees about him
hurtled around his ears, as six carbines
simultaneously spoku that their covey
was flushed. Through The snow-dimmed
woods he saw them crash, he sitting
rnotionless, half turned in saddle, his
left hand firmly feeling the bit.
His ruse had told. He had drawn off
pursuit from the girl; and even then his
trained ear caught the beat Of Blazers
hoofs upon the hard road behind. She
had gained the trail and a quarter of
mile start! Now for himself; for the
foremost federal was within twenty
yards of his still unseen foe.
A flash of the heavy pistol, sound
betwixt groan and a roar, and the
Yankees horse plunged forward to his
knees, rolling his rider In the snow. A
touch of the spur, shake Of the bit,
and Evans blackwell trained to that
kind of work-was dashing southwark
Ut half-speed. Swimming tree-trunlks
desperately close, but choosing safest
way wholly unguided, while urged ever
by spur and voice.
On came the pursuers, strung out
through the dim woods, handicapped by
heavier mounts and ignorance of the
way, yet gal1antly pressing after the
flying ene1ny-not knowing If he were
one or dozen.
Now and again the carbines rang,
more than one chip Of bark flying near
the scouts head, and one bullet whis-
thing close by his ear. But it was rae
ing aim, and the wood was darker than
without; SO Evan stuck to the shelter as
long as he might, before striking out
into the woods trail He was gaining
on the federals, too; and fainter beat of
hoofs in front, and fainter still, told
him that Carolyn Clay was past pursuit
was safe at lasti
Into the road he dashed; into the road
soon strung the pursuit; and with a
yell and touch of both spurs the scout
gave the black his head and raced for
freedom.
Then, straight ahead rang out dis
tant shot-a pistol, his trained ear told
Evan; and his heart grew as lead, for
he knew the federal had used the car
bine. The girl had met some check
was fighting her way through!
Clinching his teeth and bending far
over the neck of his foaming steed,
Fauntleroy drove both spurs cruelty
home, racing ahead needless of bullets
whist1ing by, every fiber OF his brain
strained to listen. No more shots-no
sound of hoofs; only deaths stiffness
ahead. But from behind the thud of
hoofs drew nearer, spite of hts increased
speed-nearer still Then. wrenchino
himself round, the flying rebel saw q
single horseman, far in lead, charging
down on him; and the great stride of the
horse warned him that his own under
fed beast must lose in that overmatch.
More carefully than before he braced
himself by his knees, taking steady aim
at the on-rushing shadow behind, just
as a red flash CLEANED out from it.
His turning had saved the scout, for he
felt the wind Of the bullet whizzing by;
but he heard, too, that rasping, indie
scribable sound of lead crashing into
flesh! One lurch, and the black was on his
knees, rolling over SO quickly as to pin
his riders leg beneath him. On sped
the pursuer, followed close by others;
and the reb-with teeth set from pain
and rage-rested his pistol on his bride
arm and waited to make his last shot
sure-telling.
stCease fring!'' rang out in clear COM
mand; and the trained troopers fell
into twos, as they rode up behind their
officer.
Covered by Evans pistol, the latter
rode on alone to certain death, his own
revolver silent in his hand. For, with
his brutal fire Of battle hot in his blood,
the scout steadied his aim, and pressed
his finger slowly on the trigger-when
suddenly he grew dizzy from pain, and
fell back helpless. The next instant the
pursuit was on him and he was covered
by the officers pistol.
'sDlsmount and secure him, sergeant"
the federal ordered, quietly: "Do you
surrender?'
'sI can do nothing else" Evan an
swered, sullenly, quickly adding, in his
own vein: "And if you want a live
capture, let some Of your blue-coated
gentlemen lift this good friend Of mine
of my Leg
The sergeant and another were al
ready beside him, the former deftly
wrenching the pistol from his grasp.
Brief time It took to raise the quivering
horse from his riders leg and lift the
boy, pale with pain, to his feet.
easy, boysl Wait biti think that
IA 1-<,,n ~r,.~ags, h -rfAk - oo%uA,