Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-05-06

own WHITE ltluuS' w hiiN "HN ~ .
to fetch the water. her husband ap-
proached the dusty horseman and in
CURED eagerly for news from the front.
THE Yanks are repairing the rail
roads" said the man, land are getting
ready for another advance. They have
reached the Owl creek bridge, put it in
order. and built stockade on the other
bank. The commandart has issued an
order, which is posted everywhere, de-
claring that any civilian caught inter
fering with the railroad, its bridges
tunnels or trains will be sunmarily
hanged. l saw the order
"How far is it TO the CIVIL creek
hridge?" Farquhar asked.
about thirty miles"
rs there no force on this side the
creek?"
Only picket post half mile out,
on the railroad, and single sentine!
at this end of the bridge"
Suppose 4 mana civilian and stu
dent of hanging-shouid eiude the
picket post and perhaps get the better
of the sentinel" said Farquhar, smil-
ing. what could he accomplish"
The soldier reflected. II was there
a month ago." he replied. 81 observed
that the food of last winter had lodged
a great quantity of driftwoGd against
the wooden pier at this end OF the
bridge. 1t is now dry, and would burn
like tow"
The lady had now brought the water,
which the soldier drank. He thanked
her tremendously, bowed to her hus-
band and rode away. An hour later,
after nightfall. he repassed the planta-
ton, going northward in the direction
from which he had come. He was
federal scout.
AS Peyton Farquhar fell straight
downward through the bridge he lost
consciousness, and was as one already
dead. From this state he was awakened
ages later, it seemed to him-by the
pain of q sharp pressure upon his
throat, followed by sense of sutfoca-
ton. Keen, poignant agonies seemed
to shoot from his neck downward
through every fiber of his body and
limbs. These pains appeared to flash
along well-defined lines of ramification
and to beat with an inconceivably rapid
periodicity. They seemed like streams
of pulsating fire heating him to an in
tolerable temperature. AS to his
head, he was conscious of nothing
but feeling of fullness-of conges-
. ton. These sensations were unaccom-
panied by thought. The intel
lectual part of his nature was already
efraced; he had power only to feel, and
feeling was torment. he was conscious
Of motion. Encompassed in luminous
cloud, of which he was now merely the
fiery heart, without material substance,
he swung through unthinkable ares OF
oscillation, IKE vast pendulum. Then
all at once, with terrible suddenness,
the light about him shot upward with
the noise of a loud plash; a frightfui
roaring was in his ears, and all was cold
and dark. The power of thought was
restored; he knew that the rope had
broken and he had fallen into the
stream. There was no additional
strangulation; the moose about his
neck was already suffocating him and
kept the water from his lungs. To die
OF hanging ut the bottom Of river!
He was not conscious of an effort, but
d sharp pain in his wrist apprised him
that he was trying to free his hands. He
gave the struggle his attention, as an
idler might observe the feat of Jug
glar, without interest in the outcome.
What splendid effort!-what magnifi-
cent, what superhuman strength! All,
that was fire endeavor! Bravo! The
cord fell away; his arms parted and
lioated upward, the hands dimly seen on
each side in the growing light. lie
watched them with q new interest as
first one and then the other bounced
upon the moose at his neck. They tore
it away and thrust it iiercely aside, its
undulations resembling those of wa
ter snake. Put it back, put it back!"
lie thought he shouted these words to
lis hands, for the pndoing Of the moose
aad been succeeded by the direst pang
which he had yet experienced. His neck
ached horribly; his brain was on fire;
his heart, which had been nuttering
family, gave great leap, trying to
force itself out of his mouth. His whole
body was racked and wrenched with an
insupportable anguish! But his disc
bedient hands gave no heed to the COM
mand. They beat the water vigorously
with quick, downward strokes, forcing
him to the surface. He felt his head
emerge; his eyes were blinded by the
sunlight; his chest expanded con-
vulsively, and with a supreme and
browning agony his lungs cngulfed
treat draught of ain, which instantly
be expelled in a shrek!
lie had come to the surface facing
down the stream; in a moment the visi-
bic world seemed to wheel slowly
round, himself the pivotal point, and
he saw the bridge, the fort, the soldiers
upon the bridge, the captain, the sell
geant, the two privates, his execution
ers. They were in silhouette against
the clear sky. They shouted and gestic-
ulated, pointing at him; the captain had
drawn his pistol, but did not fire; the
others were unarmed. Their move
ments were grotesque and horrible,
their forms gigantic.
Suddenly he heard sharp report and
something struck the water within n
few inches of his head, scattering his
face with spray. He heard second
report, and saw one of the sentinels
with his rife at his shoulder, a light
cloud of blue smoke rising from the
muzzle- The man in the water saw
the eye of the man on the bridge glar-
ing into his own through the sights
of the rifle. He observed that it was
a gray eye, and remembered having read
that gray eyes were keenest and that
!,