The Press., 1894-06-14

"WjlJ yOU pluck q hd1ldfuJ for me, or mug
 Ipdss out and pick them for n1ysctY" whiteness-surely there could be no harm ill allowing her to pass down the veranda to the next corner, where the trailing roses were tossing in the even ing breeze.
 He looked into that winsome face, so innocently scanning his own. How lovely those roses would look twining among those tossing curls or clasped at that throbbing breastl The thought was irresistible. With another gallant salute. he stepped one side, saying:
 Certainly, miss; but for the favor crave one rose from your own fair hand ;
 "You shall have it when return, !" she promised and tripped slowly and gracefully down the veranda, pausing at the first corner to pluck here and there rose and watching furtively the sentry as he turned to retrace his beat. The next instant she had gathered her skirts about her and disappeared in the darkness.
 But the offic had now finished their feasting. and the guards were relieved that they might go into supper. In the change and confusion that followed no one noticed that Hilda-even if any be- sides the youthful sentry knew that she had passed out-did not return. Indeed it was not until a half hour later, when the sentry came from the dining room, that he thought of the fair young girl and the rose she had prom ised him. Passing down to the corner of the veranda, he found her gone. Questioning the sentinel who had re- lieved him, he learned to his dismay that no tairylike creature, or any other, for that matter, had passed into the house since he surrendered his beat.
 Hurrying to his captain, he, in a shamefaced way, stammered forth his story. Before he had half done the off Ger sprang to his feet, and rushing out into the broad hall gave the sharp, de- cisive commands:
 ITO your horses, men, to your 1 horses!''
 Then there was much hurrying to and fro, and presently the squad of cavalry moved rapidly away toward the bay. | But Hilda had safely passed the outer | pickets and was already half way to the | point before they left the house.
 The night was dark, and the way was rough. Wrapped in her huge cloak and | pressing the lantern convulsively be- heath its folds, the brave little figure struggled on. Twice did she have to | pause and then make a wide detour to avoid the guards.
 As she reached the bluffs and passed ! down to the sandy beach, she heard, off | at the north, the low tramp of the sol l diers, marching down from the fort, to | form the ambuscade at the point. The sound nerved her to greater speed; she must reach the sand bar and give the signal before they arrived. Gathering the folds of her cloak more firmly in | hand, and needless of the fact that she | had lost one of her slippers in the soft | yielding sand, she ran with the swift ness of the hunted deer down the shore. | At last the point was reached, and she paused a moment for breath, listen ing intently. Faintly there was borne 1 to her on the night air the sound of horses feet. Here, then, was new dan- ger. Her flight had been discovered, and already were they on their way to thwart her purpose. Foes were ap- hasten her work.
 70 God, help me, ;" she prayed, "to 1 give the signal before they can reach here!'
 It was but a moments work to light