The National tribune., 1897-11-04

direction Of this new enemy and instantly
Miriam leaped her mare across the gully
formed by the spring and disappeared in the
thick woods before anyone could think OF
arresting her.
Sally Hoskins was at Briggs's store one
day. The aggressive rebelism of the crowd
there irritated her beyond measure Since
she had gone to live with the Inrules she had
become more outspokenly Union than they
were. Hers was the zeal of a proselyte
She entered into an angry discussion with
them. full of taunt and iibe flung back and
forth. Provoked, at last, beyond prudence,
she said holly:
Well, we'uns'll stop you'ns runnin' III
bnllies an ruiiians t trompie on weuns
We uns'll keep they 'uns out till our boys kin
come down here and help weuns, eff we'un5
We t burn every railroad bridge in Tennes-
see. | know who S done some of hit, an
know who II do lots more of hit"
The instant she said it she was terror
struck with the Thought that she had said
too much.
DO you know who burnt the Red Bud
Bridge, Sally" asked jeff Briggs.
No don't" she said. haiE't no idee-
10 more'n the babe unborn
Poor Sally's manner betrayed her. She
was too neryously anxious to cancel her for
mer rush speech.
Yer lynn now, Sally" said Jeff Briggs
with leer "Yo know about hit, an what
yo know I've suspic;oned all along. Some
o these days you'll be made Z tell the
truth"
Sally went home sick at heart. and spent
the night weeping much TO Miriams dis.
tress who vainly sought to draw from her
what her sorrow was.
,,.iSlJ+ ,yr1z load I orter hp lied
I'm only burden an atliictiOn on the yearth,
an t everybody" was all that she would say.
A few days later her worst fears were real
lied by the arrival at the house of her hus-
band with n squad Of men to arrest Robert
1nrule and his two sOns for the crime OF burn
ing Red Bud Bridge.
The cOnsciencc-s rcken woman fell on her
knees before Miriam, and told her the stnry
of the occurrences. at Briggs's store and begged
her to kill her
Git up Sally. an quit erwin" said
Miriam, YEARLY g You wuz terribly on
wise, but what 20 done 20 done innoccntiy.
We uns must spend no lime in cryin'. Ihar's
too many other things t thin}, bout. Don't
let mother know a word o this. I'm aleared
hit viii sill her Ell hit is !"
The triumph over the hated, biggIfy
Inrules - almost rent Zig jim Hesl;ins
as,ntler with its bigneSs. He staggered AID
clustered. slapped Saliy's face, tainted Ter
with leaving him Tor nest Of tr,titorIuric5.
WHO should be hung; ordered her to be pres
eat 10 give testimony nj the trial aHd t. ii
Nj lam that ne WAS coming lack for her so,;n
for her work III assisting the Elder to escape.
Two days later the Iurliles v ere brought
heorc a summary coE,t martial presided
over by Col Rhca They were told from the
- tl..sr To-,
evidence against t!lcm was overwhelming,
ana they could expect nothing else than
that the sentence Of death woGid be AIRED
into ci!cnt Immediately. The Government
was determined 10 stop bridge-huraing. ara
there would be no delay III hanging I'll: &c
cogvicted TIE matter woald not even he
referred TO RiclImoEd, JEFF Davis having
ordered that this should not be done. 1t
would have more tcrTorZag effect t exc
cut!on immediately followed conviction. To
Reuben alone mercy was offered, ON the con-
dition that he reveal the names Of the rest Of
those engaged III the olicnse. 1t WIS known
that there we're five IN tie party which did
the decd Who were the otier tvo?
'talhsr is entirely innocent" replied
Reuben every time . lie knowed uotbin
about the balnin' iur days artcr III swear
that on a stack o Bible. II say hit with
my last breath Nouns may hang ne an
~, al "a,
o,if mt, either al ,ye.nna ),
WIN. the trial ,vs,s nrocecaino the follow
inc lf TER vas handed 10 COL Rhea:
SIN yo., sre ROW fryfnc Robert Inrule and
his two sons for the wiiIfui burning of the
bridge or,,r Red Bud Crcek. Whatever else
i H. .,', nm - t,,,t - ~ xo,, most
SGlenui5 that Robert inrulc i entirely iGno-
cent Of ven knowledge before the act. ] alone
aIu responsible FOR hat work and were your
f;'.f rn,.tJ I,r .ljiiY esfnE,iisi,ed Int il =