Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-04-20

1IlSI1i, foOCSi OOiO1iCl fatsttll
AS if understanding the entreaty, tho
gray horse raised his head, and setting
his feet firmly gathered his strength once
more, as if fora final plunge; then, gall.
Looping down the steep hillside, he gained
on the troopers at every leap until he
paused at the colonel's gate fully fur
long ahead Of the pursuers. Throwing
the rein over the gatepost, Jennie rushed
up the path and without knocking flung
open the colonel's door, crying in her
eager haste: "Quick, be quick, colonel,
Isay! Fly, fly for your life, for the red
coats are at the door. Don t wait-you've
not moment to spare. They come!
They comel Away! Awayp' And then
she tainted and sank to the floor.
With hasty goodby the colonel left
his bright Preside and rushed out into
the nights fearful storm, not, however,
until he had kissed the pale brow Of the
girl who had risked her own life to save
his.
Springing on his horse, always sad
died for just such emergencies, he was
soon Oh his way to where the patriot
army was in camp.
The tramp of the troopers horses
reused Jennie from her swoon, and as
the angry men came rushing in she
turned her pale face toward them and
laughed, even i'll the midst of moan,
as she said feebly:
Good sirs, your bird has flown, and
it was I who frightened him from his
nest. Do not harm his dear ones in the
home, but do with me as you think
deserve. only am to blame.''
''You need not fear, my brave lass, -
said young Captain Long, bowling low.
"Of all heroic women must crown you
queen. Never before have [ seen such
courage in one SO young, and for your
sake not hair Of Colonel Adair's head
shall be harmed. Even if he We're here
in his quiet home this minute chivalry
would forbid his capture in your pres
ence. I am sorry that my brave gray
Jess did not carry you through without
stumbling in such an awkward fashion
as to break your arm. lie is usually
sure footed, and the darkness and an I'M
known road must excuse the blunder. >,
''He made up for the i'll luck after the
fall" suggested one Of the troopers. st
mean in speed, which of course could
not restore the broken bone, fact we
all regret, he added CALAMITY.
IT do not mind that since my good
friend, the colonel, is out of your pow
er,'' said Jennie, trying to smile. Chow
cruel in strong young men like you to
try to harm an old mana gallant sol
dier, too, like Colonel Adair! I should
think you would be ashamed of your
selves. -
''War is war, my fair young miss, ;"
answered the captain, "and nothing
that war demands can be called cruel.
This Colonel Adair is worth a whole
regiment Of us, and the way you have
bafaed us will prove great disappoint-
ment to our cause.
"Still I honor you for your bravery
and loyalty to your friend, and if you
will wear this ring as token of my
admiration Twill come back and marry
you when the war is over. Z"
'sThere's a lad in Putnan's corps
who told me the same thing the morn
ing he marched away to the beat of the
drum. I promised to be true as steel to
him, and as you two could never agree
think you may keep your ring for some
pretty British maid who cares for you
more than do" was Jennie's reply.
The captain laughed as he slipped the
ring back On his little finger, and wav-
ing her goodby rushed out, mounted his
gray Jess and was soon gathering down
the rough road after his men. Regard
less Of her broken arm, Jennie insisted
upon returning home that night, as her
mother would be i'll distress until she
knew she was safe. But Mrs. Adair would
not suffer her to take this risk, knowing
as she did the danger to be incurred In
stead she dispatched a messenger to the
little brown cottage with the informa-
ton that she would keep Jennie until
morning, and being pretty much of
surgeon herself she set the broken arm
and made the young girl as comfortable
as possible until she could be removed
to her mothers home At the close of
the war Jennie gave her hand and her
heart as well into the keeping of. the lad
who had marched away with Putnam's
corps, and she lived to relate her expe-
rience of that night to her children and
her children's children-down to the
fourth and it may be even to the fifth
generation Chicago News.