The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-07

Qlui 10 matt
"Oi'm followin the young lady, sir.
Oi'm on official business for the gineral.
commandin the --th cavalry bri-
gade. asl
"Well. my man, you're q well dis
ciplined orderly You keep tho regula-
tion 40 PAGES to the rear. Give your
horse the spur and catch up"
Ratigan. who could not well explain
to an officer that he was running race,
and fearing to lose his charge, gave his
horse the spur and dashed after her at
gallop. He reached her In "blown"
condition.
"Oive lost" he cried out of breath.
Reckon you have. was Miss Baggs'
sole reply.
"The moneys yours
Reckon it air, repeated Miss Baggs
"Yer always reckonin. Mebbe ye
reckoned about the end of the race loiko
the ant We were talkin about.
At that moment they spied the out
post ahead
"Waal. hyar we air." said Miss
Baggs. Don't want ter part from
you uns, Mr.. Sojer I'm powerful bad
struck hyar. And she put her hand on
her heart
Like enough Oh can find some reason
to go with ye bit Dim all broken up
mesclf, sure enough"
II hopes you kim"
Lieutenant, said the corporal. sa-
luting an officer who came out from the
picket post. Major Burke ordered me
to see this young lady out of the lines
She has pass to Dunlap"
The lieutenant read the pass and told
Miss Baggs she might go through.
Ratigan was racking his brains to
know what to do. he had been instruct
ed to 60 through with Miss Baggs un-
der some pretense, but his ingenuity
when put to the test failed him. Miss
Baggs came to his relief.
"Mr. Corporal" she said. II don't
banker ter part 18th thet bloomin head
o. ha'r o. yourD. Would you mind seein
q pore lone woman ter the Confederate
lines?"
The corporal whispered few words
In the lieutenant's ear. The result was
that in five minutes four cavalry pri-
Yates were placed under the corporaPs
orders, who held in his hand pole cut
from tree at the side Of the road, to
which he had attached white cotton
handkerchief afe
Then the old buggy. which ratified at
every turn Of tho wheel and threatened
to collapse at every mudhole, proceeded
down the road. Corporal Ratigan can
tered alongside. while the four private
followed directly i'm rear.
But few miles had been traversed
when horse;nan--he proved to be the
enemy's veaette---was seen standing IL
the road ahead As the party approach
ed they saw a dozen more advancing to
his support But the Confederates evi-
dently saw the white flag. for no other
demonstration was made than the rid
ing forward of an officer with half
dozen men TO meet those who were ad
vancing
What do you want?' asked the Off
Ger gru;ny
rFlag TO see the lady to your lines.
Under a commissioned officer?"
"Only meself. corporal. said Rat
igan.
"Well, you can turn about pretty
quick and get back 10 where you came
from. The next such flag sent out will
be taken in and won't get out again.
Captain, don't you know me?" said
Miss Baggs, smiling at the officer
well, upon my word. You don't
mean
Miss Baggs put her finger on her lip.
These men came at my request,
she continued, $50 hope you will not
find any fault. i"
The officer raised his hat. but said
nothing
Good morning, corporal, she said.
"I'm much obliged for your trouble.
You re quite welcome, miss F"
Both parties moved slowly away ST.
multaneously. They had scarcely started
before the corporal heard his name spo-
ken in woman's voice. but one with
which he was not familiar.
"Ratsp'
He turned and saw what must be
Miss Baggs, for her dress was the same,
though her head and neck were changed,
standing in the buggy, her back to the
horse. her face directly toward him.
Her glasses were gone, her sunbonnet
hung in one hand. while she held reins
in the other. Never had tho corporal be-
held so great change in so brief
space of time. The jolting had disar-
ranged mass of dark hair which had
partly fallen over her shoulders Her
eyes were black and lustrous, her com
plexion an olive relieved by ruddiness
on the cheek. Hef superb head was set
on her neck as il it had been placed !
there by an artist The face was lighted
by smile Of triumph-a smile so be-
witching that IL haunted the corporal to
his dying day.
Ratigan had not recovered from his
surprise before she spoke to him in
rich contralto voice, as little like that
he had heard from her as n fife is like
the mellow tones Of an organ.