The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-03-16
-. ne commands at ANDERSON. !.

tnat. ne commands at ANDERSON.
Mark demonstrated. He argued that
he would become separated from Mrs.
Fain; he urged his wife's desire to reach
her sick father. All in vain. He was
told that the headquarters were only
half mile down the road and he would
lose but little time. He rade q virtue
of necessity and drove back with appar-
ent good nature.
When he reached the house that was
pointed out to him as headquarters, he
left Laura in the phaetop and went in
side. The commanding officer had gone
to Dunlap, five miles away, to pay his
respects to General Bragg, and would
not be back for an hour or two.
Mark resolved to report his absence to
the officer of the picket post, in the hope
that he would not be compelled to wait.
He drove to the picket and used his
tongue persuasively, but to no purpose.
The more anxious he seemed the more
resolved grew the captain.
There seemed to be nothing to do but
return and await the arrival of the COM
manding officer. Mark reluctantly
turned the horses head and drove back
to headquarters. Laura's heart sank
within her.
1t was sunset when Major Taliaferro,
pleasant looking man of twenty-seven
or twenty-eight, rode up to the door,
and turning his horse over to an orderly
entered the office.
''Major Taliaferro?' asked Mark.
cat your service, SIR
''Mdjor, have been detained by the
officer at the picket, who wants your
name on my pass. My wife's mother
has gone on, and her daughter is very
anxious to join her. 1t is extremely I'M
fortunate for us to get SO far separated
from Mrs. Fain.''
''Fain, of the Fains of Chattanooga"
''The same''
Il have heard Of the family, but have
never had the pleasure of meeting any
member Of it. One of my friends is en-
gagged to Miss Fain. have just parted
from him at Dunlap"
Mark and Laura cast quick glance
at each other-a glance of terror on the
part of Laura.
"We are fortunate in falling into your
hands," said Mark, and 1 beg you will
not delay us moment" And Mark
handed him the pass.
''Certainly not" And the major took
up pen to write his Endorsement. First
he read the pass carefully. He was
thinking of what his friend Fitz Hugh
had told him of the Fains. He was
under the impression that there was but
one daughter.
''Mr. Green" he said, looking up from
the pass, "hadn't you better stay here
over night? The road is mountainous
and infested by gurerillas. 1t is positive
ly dangerous to travel
by no means. What would Mrs
Fain think of ar not 10. ing her on the
road?'
ut is dangerous for her as well as YOU
I'll send a messenger after her and adj
wise her stopping at some farmhouse.
I'll do better than that. I'll send cor
poral and half a dozen men to insure
her safety till morning"
There was something in the mans
tone, polite as it was, that indicated to
Mark that he was held for further in
formation.
GAS you please, major"
''And shall insist upon your accept
ing my hospitality. One connected in
any way with my friend Fitz Hugh
must not want for any comfort l can
supply
The house occupied by Major Talia-
ferro belonged to family who had
gladly given up a portion of it for the
safety insured by the presence of a COM
handing officer. The major was given
a room down stairs for an Office, and a
bedroom up stairs. When it was decid-
ed that Mark and Laura should remain
he gave Mrs. Green, as he called her,
the use of the latter for the purpose of
arranging her toilet before supper.
When Laura was up stairs Mark was
looking out of the window of the ma
jor's Office. He saw the men ride off to
overtake Mrs. Fain. To his consterna-
ton another cavalryman, with letter
in his belt, mounted his horse and dashed
down the road.
Laura came down at thatmoment, and
Mark said to her anxiously.
II am detained On suspicion. l shall
be taken back to Chattanooga" and he
pointed to the courier.
The color left Laura's cheeks. They
had got so near to safety, and now, after
SO many dangers, the end was at hand.
She could scarcely sustain herself as she
tottered into the room occupied as the
Office.
This is the letter the courier bore
northward. It was addressed on the
envelope to Captain Cameron Fitz Hugh,
near Dunlap:
| ANDERSON, Aug. %, 1862.
MY DEAR CAMERON--A man purporting to
be Thomas Green. with his wife, formerly a
Miss Fain, of Chattanooga, is here, desiring q
| pass to the Union lines. There is something
f, suspicious about the man. The couple are sep