The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-05-30


Walker From that moment his heart
seemed turned to stone and he fought like
a tiger, seeming to court danger by rash
boldness that won the admiration of his
comrades and seemed destined TO bring him
promotion-or death.
Hooker's great strategic movement in
crossing the Rappahannock and attacking
the Confederate army on the upper flank,
taking Lee by surprise, had proved a wretch
ed failure through his inability to carry out
what he had himself planned. Having the
advantage Of a superior force and the better
position, after four days fighting, Hooker
decided to retreat across the river and give
up his great project, which even then might
have been carried to a satisfactory and sue
cessful termination.
Tuesday night, May 8, brought pelting
rainstorm that soonswelled the Rappahan-
mock so that the approaches to the bridges
we're overflowed, and it began to look as If
the retreat would become an impossibility,
One of the bridges, however, was taken
down and used to piece out the others, and
the storm and darkness covered the unex-
pected movement of the Federal forces.
1t was close to nightfall when a strag-
Cling Union soldier who was forcing his
way through the dense wilderness south Of
Elys ford on the Rapidan paused and
looked into the face of a comrade who lay
| groaning on the ground, his leg pinned be-
meath fallen tree. The rain was beating
down on that upturned face and the gloom
was growing dense there in that tangled
thicket, but the straggler seemed to recog-
nize his unfortunate comrade, for he fell
back, crying hoarsely:
"Good Godi Jack Marion"
The man on the ground opened his eyes
"Who speaks my name" he family
I asked
The other seemed for the moment on the
point Of fleeing from the spot, but if such
were his impulse he held it in check, drop
! ping on his knees
Don't you know me, Jack2"
| The wounded and helpless man started
/ up, peering sharply into the questioner's
I face.
''Rob Walkerl" he cried "You-you
| here?"
! Then he sunk down, with moan of pain,
| for he had bullet wound in one arm, and
he had given his entrapped'and crushed leg
/ painful twist,
'You are surprised to see me-" said
| Walker, with a forced calmness. Il have
! been wearing the blue more than three
/ months"
"What took you into the armyY Agatha"-
/ Marion stopped speaking, great fear
clutching at his heart.
'She is we'll" assured Walker, but his
voice sounded strange and harsh. Let me
/ sec if can move this tree and release youI
leg"
"Never mind, Rob, came family from
the unfortunate soldiers lips. This EN-
/ gagement finishes me. My left arm is
broken, and the tree has ruined my right
/ leg. Better leave me for the Johnnies tC
finish. have nothing to live for anyway.
The words were spoken with great bitter
ness, and they cut to the very heart OF The
man who heard them. With all his
strength, he sought to remove the tree, but
he could not stir it, He uttered an eX
ciamation Of disappointment.
'What can ! dor" he cried.
'Leave me" repeated the other Where
were you hurrying when you found me?"
ITO join the others in the retreat across
the river, which has already begun. My
regiment was cut to pieces day before yes
terday. and / have been hiding much Of the
time since then almost within the Confed
crate lines. ! fancied / had obtained In.
formation that would Ne of Importance &c
[ General Hooker, but he refused to hear it,
retreat having been decided on"
'1s is growing dark, >" said Jack Marion
calmly. ''If you remain here longer, you
may not be able to get over the river, and
you will fall into the hands Of the rebels.
have nothing to live for, but you have a
wife"
For a few seconds Walker stood in ST.
lence, and then he spoke falteringly, sadly
II have wife, but she should be yours,
Jack. Stopl You must listen, for ! am
going to free my soul You were amazed
to learn / had volunteered. | did so be
cause Agatha has discovered what mis-
erable villain l am. She loved you, Jack,
and won her through a dastardly act.
intercepted your letter and saw that it
never reache1 her. That is why she did
not come to you the night you waited for
her beneath the old oak. She did not know
you had written her, and she thought you
deliberately went away without even bid
ding her goodby."
The wounded man had lifted himself by
an almost superhuman effort and his
great dark eye showed plainly In the midst
Of his pallid face The false friend could
not look into those eyes, and he turned his
head away, the gath fring darkness hiding
his face.
1T was not easy 70 nbfQ yin her even
then" he went on h people anNioo7' ~.
Fool nj G0Ikss. -.
3ompers, Of the