Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-09-03
LA PLATA MARYLAND SEPTEMBER B. 1897.

CONSERVATION at sight Of d young man
dressed in the blue aud butf of con
tinental oficer, riding leisurely away
across the lawn to the high road
'What foolhardinessl What stu
pidity! That idiot Frank He shant
marry my girl-to ride right down
their threats without so much as his
disguise. Fool-fooll Poor Betty"
Meantime, one of the three horse
men who were advancing up the drive
caught sight of the uniformed figure
aud with an exclamation turned his
horse across the lawn and started in
pursuit. followed by his comp anions.
For au instant the young officer
paused as il undecided, the next he
struck spurs to his horses tanks and
plunged away over the green Leap
ing the hedge that iuclosed the colo
nel's place at this point, he turned
into the road. The colonel watched
the flying figures until they were lost
to sight in the dusty distance, then
turned away with an inpatient sigh
Through the lengthening shadows
pursued and pursuers sped on. The
brown horse. fresh from the stable,
was swift and sure of foot and his
rider handled him with consummate
skill, holding him at a steady gait that
neither lost nor gained upon tha men
who followed Up gentle undulations,
down little hills, through patches Of
shady wood and out again into the sun
shine Mile after mile slipped away
under the flying hoofs. The three
horsemen aud their horses were get
ting blown
"Haltl' yelled the foremost The
road led into the depths of pine for
est
"Halt, or we shoot he cried.
The young officer sped around "A
curve in the road and was lost to sight.
When his pursuers again caught sight
of him the brown horse showed signs
of tagging, and they had gained per-
ceptibly.
Halt, or We shootr' rang ont the
command again.
"Shoot if you dare, cowardsl"
called back clear, dauntess voice.
A bullet whizzed past the fugitiye's
ear and lodged in the trunk Of ile
tree. The brown horse plunged and
reared aud galloped on Another bul-
let tore hole in the blue coat sleeve.
The three men leaned forward in
their saddles and urged on their labor
ing steels. The pine trees hung
heavy aud low across the path.
STOP, and you are safe-go on, aud
Wen shoot you down." pauted the
leader
Another instant and the fugitive
had drawn rein, SO suddenly that his
horse fell back upon his launches.
His hat, caught by drooTing pine
bough, had been dragged from his
head. The foremost Of the pursuers
saw white hand raised has silly, rs il
to stay the foAd OF golden glory that
tumbIed down in many shimmering
ripple and sunny curl upon the fugi-
tive's shoulders; saw him turn about
his exhausted horse and saw-odds
guns and pistols! that the young
officer was no young officer at ALL
but a lovely girl. with flushed cheeks
and bright, exultant eyes clad in an
ill-ftting uniform of a colonel i'll the
continental army As the three drew
up almost abreast in the road facing
he, she sni1 smiIinply.
Gentlemen, the chase is over. You
have done bravely, but Lieutenant
Balfour has escaped YOU.
"And you, madam, said one Il the
horsemen sternly, hal you no scru-
pies in misleading us and hinderiag
his capture? And do you know that
there is penalty attached to yulun-
tarily aiding in the escape Of trai-
tor?'
"Ln, is there?' said Betty. sauci-
~. 1T concerns me not, for ! have
aided no traitor to escape And, pray,
since you are so learned in law, what
is the penalty attached to such a
crime as that of galloping ten miles
after defenceless woman, because,
forsooth. she has a fancy to ride forth
attired in her fathers old uniform?
Methinks it should be heavy And
do you know, sirs, that one of your
bullets pierced hole in my fathers
coat sleeve and came near to shatter-
ing my arm? Fie, tie upon you1'
And, chirrupiug to her horse, Betty
rode fearlessy through the midst Of
her late pursuers, mchallenged and
unmoestad. And Lieutenant Balfonr.
+ j. miles up the river, galloped away
to safety through the deepening dusk.
Frances A. Schneider, in Chicago
Record