Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-09-03

CONSERVATION at sight of young man
dressed in the blue and buff of con.
tinental officer, riding leisurely away
across the lawn to the high road.
''What foolhardinessl What stu
pidityl That idiot Frank. He shan'i
marry my girl--to ride right down
their throats without so mitch 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
and with an exclamation turned his
horse across the lawn and started in
pursuit, followed by his companions.
For au instant the young officer
paused as if undecided, the next he
struck spurs to his horses flanks and
plunged away over the green. Leap
ing the hedge that inclosed the colo
nels 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 impatient sigh.
Through the lengthening shadows
pursued and pursuers sped on. The
brown horse, fresh from the stable,
was swift aud sure of foot and his
rider handled him with consummate
skill, holding him at steady gait that
neither lost nor gained upon the 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 aad their horses were get
ting blown.
"Haltp' yelled the foremost. The
road led into the depths Of piue TOR
est.
Halt, or we shooti" 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 shootl" rang out the
command again.
Shoot if you dare, cowardsin
called back clear, dauntless voice.
A bullet whizzed past the fugitive's
ear aud lodged in the trunk of line
tree. The brown horse plunged and
reared and galloped on Another bull
let tore hole in the blue coat sleeve.
The three men leaned forward in
their saddles and urged on their labor
ing stee1s. The pine trees hung
heavy and low across the path
Stop. and you are safe--go on, and
we'll shoot you down." painted the
leader
Another instant and the fugitive
had drawn rein, so suddenly that his
horse fell back upon his launches.
His hat, caught by drooring pine
boughs had been dragged from his
head. The foremost of the pursuers
saw white hand raised has lily, as if
to stay the flood of golden glory that
tumbled 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 pistolsl-that the young
officer was no yonng officer at all,
but a lovely girl, with flushed cheeks
and bright, exultant eyes-clad in an
ill-fitting uniform of colonel in the
continental army As the three drew
up almost abreast in the road facing
her, she said, smilingly:
Gentlemen, the chase is over. You
have done bravely, but Lieutenant
Balfour has escaped you.
"And you. madam, said one Of the
horsemen sternly, "ha1 you no scru-
pies in misleading us and hinderiug
his capture? And do you know that
there is a penalty attached to yolun-
tarily aiding in the escape Of trai-
tor?'
''La, is there?" said Betty, sauci-
ly. 1T concerns me not, for l 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 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, fie upon you"
And, chirruping to her horse, Betty
rode fearlessly through the midst OF
her late pursuers, unchallenged md
unmolested. And Lieutenant Balfour,
Is miles up the river, galloped away
to safety through the deepening dusk.
Frances A. Schneider, in Chicago
Record.