The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-12-27
CHAPTER. Iv

Summerlands lay in tho heart Of the
Cumberland valley. War was raging
there less than two years from that
Christmas night. Tennessee, the Volun
teer State, fully justified her name by
sending to the conflict her choicest
flower Of manhood. Austin Reid, of
course, went with the very first as cap
tain in one of the regiments that fought
in front of Richmond. Mrs. Reid had
not tried to stay her husbands going.
But she clung and kissed him with such
beartbreak i'll her face that he almost
felt 1t impossible to leave her,
At the front he got weekly letters
from her, SO filled with love and loss
that her spell grew stronger than ever.
By and by, when the fortunes of war
gave all middle Tennessee to Federal
domination, he was like man dis
traught. Honor held him to his post.
Love and duty called him to protect
this dear helpless one. When at last
news came that considerable Federal
outpost had been established just outside
Summerlands' gate, he felt that he could
let nothing stand in tho way of going
to her and bringing her within Confed-
sfate territory.
1t was perilops undertaking. Cap
ture meant death on the gibbet-the
spy's doom. But that weighed nothing
with him. With infinite difficulty he
made his way through the Federal lines
and at last found himself just ere night
fall lurking in the swamp within sight
Of his own chimney smoke. "A tall,
many branched oak grew In the swamp's
edge. He made for it, intending to shell
ter himself in it and reconnoiter the
land. AS he set foot amid the lower
boughs some one above cried hushedly:
"Stopp Then in the next breath :
"God You are Austin ReidP'
Sand you are Yellow Jim,n Reid said,
falling back apace, his hand going at
once to his pistol.
"Stop! We are on the same side," the
other said, with tinge of authority.
"Do yon thi9k I am not as true to my
south as you, as any man, dare tp be?"
II am glad to know it, but how do
you happen to be here, them" Reid ask
ed, holding out his hand, which the 9TH
er wrung hard.
u? Oh, am scouting! On detached
duty he said. t'That is the mest, the
best, can do. know all this country
roundabout, you see, and, SO knowing,
have managed to find out very much else
that my commander will like to know. +"
"Bpt how did you manage it?" Reid
asked, Jim, you were unfair to me, :"
he added little reproachfully, iiIf only
you had told me. Believe me, was not
unmindful of your peculiar position.
You might have gone with the heartiest
gedspeed.
"There were reasons,'1 Jim said
breathlessly. "I-I did not suffer. Ihad
money-all needed. Invent straight to
New Orleans, later to Paris There
found people who had known Carroll
Austin. The rest was easy. OF course I
came back as soon as I knew there must
be war.
Zone would think you would fight on
the other side, Reid said, "God knows,
though, am glad you are on ours. Tell
me. have you found out anything, about
my wife?"
"She is safe and WE'LL" the other
said, looking away. "They have set a
guard about her house. so she shall be
neither robbed nor frightened.
"Thank God for that / have been
frantic with anxiety. ought to have
known that her sweet eyes would tame
the most savage wrath" Reid said,