Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-01-12
CHATTANOOGA
By F. A mitchell Late 0. S. Al.

Wnlcn leI III tne lnOOn1Sht so that he
could distinctly see everything in the
room. Some trunks were piled in one
corner, and in another some furniture.
Among the latter he noticed lounge
with threadbare upholstery, and taking
1t in his arms, carried it, treading softly.
to one of the windows at the front Of
the house. The room was very hot, and
he raised the sash, moving it with great
sare, SO as not to make any sound. Then
he sat down on the lounge, and looking
out of the window began to mediate
ON his situation.
While thus engaged he heard light
tap at the trap door. Opening it he
saw bundle extended by the fair hand
of his preserver. He took it. and letting
down the trap-MIiss Fain did not utter
a word-he unrolled it. There were
complete suits of under and outer gar
ments, the property of Miss Fain's
brother.
The getting off Of his damp garments
and DOMINIC snow white linen was a
grateful sensation to Mark. Having put
on what he needed for the night he laid
himself down on the lounge. From his
window he could see the Tennessee roll
ing in the moonlight half a mile away.
He thought how much more comfortable
he was in his dry clothes than he had
been floating in the water. Then he
heard the bark of hounds. They were
on the waters edge, and he knew by the
sounds that they were endeavoring to
pick up the scent of his tracks.
Bark on. he said. "When leave
this I'll take with me something to die
with. I'll not be taken alive, and if |
meet you some of you shall roll over
Then there came an inexpressible
gratitude. he felt thankful TO Souri,,
thankft1 to Jakey, thankful to Laura
Fmn, thankful TO his God. There was
something especially engaging in Miss
Fain's efforts on his behalf, inasmuch
as she regarded him an enemy to her
country. He thought of Souri, in prison
waiting for old Triggs to discover her
deception. What would they do to her?
And Jakey? Would they injure mere
boy? He vowed that if he should escape
and outlive the war he would find out
just what had happened, and if either
had been harshly treated he would have
his revenge.
Musing he fell asleep, but he soon
awoke. Ii was past midnight-the day
of his execution. He shuddered.
He tried to go to sleep again, but the
dreadful fate which would have been
his had not Souri, saved him, and on the
very last evening before his intended
execution, got into his head, and he
could not drive it out. And now, were
not men and hounds hunting him for
miles around, TO drag him back TO Chat
tanooga to that dreadful jailyard, the
scaffold, the rope, the black cap?
And Laura Fain, suppose she should
weaken; suppose she should, after all.
consider it her duty to give him up;
suppose demand should be made to
search the house; suppose-a thousand
suggestions chased each other through
his excited brain.
He lay tossing till just before dawn,
when he again fell into troubled slum-
Der.
He was awakened by squadron of
cavalry passing along the road. The
sun had not yet risen, but it was light.
He could look right down on them,
though they could not see him. They
trotted along slowly, all looking worn
and sleepy. They were evidently the
men who had passed the night before,
and were going back from an unsuccess-
full hunt. Mark noticed the different
positions many of them took in order to
rest in their saddles The sight took
him back to his own troop, and he longed
to be in the stirrups again with them.
There is no time like wakeful night
to magnify distress, and nothing like an
unclouded rising sun to drive it away.
Mark looked out ON the stretch of coun-
try to be seen from his window-the
Tennessee and the mountains beyond,
their tops tinged with yellow Highland
was as unreasonably hopeful as he had
been Respondent. His pleasurable SEN
sations suddenly received new check.
An officer of the cavalry that had passed,
followed by two men, came riding back.
Maybe they were coming to the house.
They stopped at the gate. One of the
men rode forward, dismounted and
opened it. The officer entered and rode
up to the front door.
Marks heart seemed to stop beating.
He could not see what was going on
below so close under his window, but
presently heard the officer talking to
some one on the veranda.
"a Federal spy escaped last night
from Chattanooga, madam. He was IN
the disguise of a negro girl" There was
something more which was unintelli-
gible.
Then Mark heard the word mo
spoken in voice which he thought was
Mrs. Fain's.
He was tracked to the river, which
he must have crossed. He probably
landed a mile or two below Chattanooga.
and we believe he is hiding somewhere
within few miles of this place"