The record-union., 1898-01-21

who We're 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 an instant the young officer paused
as If undecided, the next he struck
spurs to his horses flanks and plunged
away over the green. Leaping the
hedge that inclosed the Colonels 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 and sure of foot, and his rider
handled him with consummate skill,
holding him at a steady gait that
neither lost or gained upon the men who
followed. Up gentle undulations, down
little hills, through patches of shady
wood and out again into the sunshine.
Mile after mile slipped away under the
flying hoofs. The three horsemen and
their horses We're getting blown.
Halt" yelled the foremost. The
road led into the depths of a 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 flag
ging and they had gained perceptibly.
Halt, or we shoot rang out the
command again.
Shoot if you dare, cowards," called
back clear, dauntless voice.
A bullet whizzed past the fugitive's
ear and lodged in the trunk of a pine
tree. The brown horse plunged and
reared and galloped on. Another bull
let tore a hole in the blue coat sleeve.
The three men leaned forward in their
saddles and urged on their laboring
steeds. The pine trees hung heavy and
low across the path.
Sop, 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 dropping pine bough, had
been dragged from his head. The fore
most of the pursuers saw a white hand
raised hastily, as if to stay the flood of
golden glory that tumbled down in
many shimmering ripple and sunny
curl upon the fugitive's shoulder; saw
him turn about his exhausted horse,
and saw-add guns and pistols.-that
the young officer was no young officer
at ALL but a lovely young girl, with
flushed cheeks and bright, exultant
g
a 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 Bal
four has escaped you"
And you madam" said one of the
horsenen, sternly, had you no scruples
in misleading US, and hindering his
capture? And do you know that there
is u penalty attached to voluntarily
aiding in the escape of a traitor?'
La, is there" said Betty, saucily.
TT 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 de-
fenseless 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 a
hole in my fathers coat sleeve, and
came near to shattering my arm? Fie,
fie upon your And chirruping to her
horse, Betty rode fearlessly through
the midst of her late pursuers, unchal-
lenged and unmolested. And Lfeuten-
ant Balfour, fifteen miles up the river,
galloped away to safety through the
deepening dusk.-Cleveland Leader.