Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1893-02-08
CHAPTER XVIII.

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"You uns Is a gentleman, and I afr poor
aphttc trash"
Marks first impulse after Fitz Hugh's
departure was to leave the house at
once. He tried to say something to
Laura to soothe her, to excuse his own
unfortunate part il her breaking with
her lover. He could only 60 to her and
taking her hand Kissed it without a
word. Then he told her that he should
take the risk Of capture anG depart in
stantly.
He was discoursirs upon the method
of his departure in quick, excited tones,
when a horseman entered the yard, and
riding up to the veranda drew letter
from his belt and handed i: to negro
who went out to receive it. It was for
Mrs. Fain. It had been sent through
the lines from Nashville, where her hus-
band was lying dangerously i'll, and
begged her to come to him.
After its perusal Mrs. Fain determined
to set out the next day, taking with her
her daughter and tho maid Alice. Daniel
would drive them.
"You shall 60 with us" said Laura to
LARK. "This is fortunate. In our conf
rany you will be far safer than trying
to make your way alone"
It occurred to Mark that since he was
being hunted as half starved creature
in the disguise of negro girl he would
he less liable to suspicion as well
dressed man travelling with party of
southern ladies than in any other char
acter. At any rate he took this view of
it, and when Mrs. Fain announced her
intention to 90 he offered to escort the
party to the Union lines.
The offer was accepted, and prepara-
tions were made to leave the next morn
ing. Mrs. Fain wrote q note to the officer
in command at Chattanooga Ito send with
the letter she had received from her hus-
band for his perusaD asking for pass
for herself, her daughter and two serv-
ants. Mark took the missives and went
out to find Daniel, who had just re-
turned from Chattanooga.
"Well, Daniel?'
II ben dar."
"What did you learn?'
~ hearn ebery one talken bout sojers
goen to. de norf, and dey sayd day was
goen to Knoxville. Dey was marchen n
marchen all de same way. I Ifollered n
dey brung up at de depot, n sor one
train after anudder 60 out full O sojers
inside and hangen on to de platfo'm and
on de roofs"
"How many trains did you see go out'"
"'Bout forty hundred"
Daniel" said Mark, smiling at the
figures, "you're smart as whip. But
you'll have to go right back to Chatta-
nooga, and take this note to the COM
manding officer with this letter from
your sick master to show him. The note
is a request for pass for the party to
the Union lines. Keep your wits about
you, and if he is an easy going sort of
man, you might try to get him to put in
three scrv;...; Instead Of two. At any
rate try to ring me in if you can. Do
you understands
"Reckon do, sah."
"Can you read?'
"a leetle. Missile Laura learned me-"
"Well, read the pass he may give you
and ask him to fix it so that it will in
cluGe me as servant. But you must use
your Judgment"
Daniel drove again to Chattanooga.
Mark waited anxiously for his return.
Indeed so impatient was he that he
thought the negro had been gone twice
as long as he had when he .aw him drive
into the yard He at once went out to
the barn to meet him.
''Any luck?" he asked anxiously.
II got de pass for misses and de res,
but didn't get what yo' wanted. got
paper hyar. Mebbe it'll do
Mark took the paper. 1t was a pass
for Thomas Green and wife from Chat
tanooga to the Union lines.
Chow did you get this" asked Mark,
surprised.
81 hab to wait while folks was getten
passes. De officer 60 out to de udder
room fur a moment. Dis was layen on
de desk n tux hit up and brung hit
away"
"Well," said Mark, 'sit's not exactly
what want, but ingenuity will have to
help me through. You're trump,
Daniel"
In the morning when all was ready
for the departure two vehicles were
brought around to the door, the one, a
two horse carriage, the other Laura's
phaeton, drawn by her pony. Mrs. Fain
entered the former with Alice, Daniel
Mark got into the phaeton.
Mark took the lead, designing to make
for Battle Creek. The distance was not
twenty miles, and he knew that they
could make it in few hours. 1t was a
bold game he was playing, but the
proximity of the halter was wearing on
him, and he desired to get rid of sus-
pense. Besides his presence, connected
with his critical situation, was wearing
on Laura. He therefore felt an exhil-
arating pleasure when they drove out Of
the gate and trotted along the pike
westward. Hope cheered him.
All went we'll during the first ten or
twelve miles, when Mark received a
piece Of information which seriously in
terfered with his pla',. Meeting a
courier riding toward Chattanooga,
who looked as if he might be the bearer
of some important news, Mark hailed
him and asked if he had anything from
the front.
1.-The Yankees air getten moth right
smart" the man replied. Reckon tn
air left Battle Creek"
Mark argued that if this were true
there would be confusion on that route,
and it would be better to take another.
They were not far from the road leading
from the Chattanooga pike north to An
derson, on which the Stacks lived.
Mark concluded to take this road as far
as Anderson, and then strike west with
view to reaching McMinnville on the
other side of the mountains. Mrs. Fain
left all to Professor Rhett, in whom she
had perfect confidence, and on coming
to the road in question Mark led the
party northward.
The change of route was unfortunate,
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