Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-08-29

f! he feptesscd any expression OF it, and,
| rising, came towards us.
where's Miss Beach?"
"Don't know. It's been your watch,
lieutenant"
"Nlellodew!"
Our hostler came from the improvised
stable.
where's Miss Beach?"
"She took her horse before daylight
and rode away"
SHUT off that grim" commanded the
| general.
Mellodew's features rcceded slowly,
as usual, to an ordinary condition.
Lieutenant" said the general to me,
II told you you were not fitted for this
work, but did not suppose you
were"
The words were cut short by the
tread of a horses hoofs on dead leaves,
and in another moment Margaret, her
cheeks flushed with exercise, rode into
the camp.
why, general" she exclaimed. turn
ing pale.
The general stood looking at her
colby without speaking.
I-we-did not expect" she fall
tered.
Evidently not"
II got up early and rode to the house
of some friends of mine-a union fam
ily."
Probably with some such purpose
as that with which you visited the con-
federates on recent occasion"
For several purposes. First, to ar
range for refuge in case of necessity"
"And to tell the news?"
The color came and went, but she
proceeded:
To borrow some articles of clothing,
for the weather is colder than when
left home, and to beg little fresh meat
for breakfast" She held up dressed
chicken.
The general depressed an expression
of impatient incredulity.
General" exclaimed Margaret,
driven to desperation by his manner,
II made compact with you to guide
your men here. l knew you did not
trust me, but did not suppose you
would follow me here"
II follow you here?" the general re-
torted, a slight color tinging his cheek.
II am soldier, doing soldiers duty.
The success or defeat of an army de-
ponds on my watchfulness, and will
never sleep till my work is accom-
plished."
"And am worn out with your perse-
cution," cried Margaret, despairingly.
Either leave me to do the worl, 1
agreed to do, or take me home and kill
me-"
There was shot in the valley be-
low, and more in quick succession. The
general sprang for his horse, which was
nipping the grass near by, and Mello-
dew united the hitching strap from a
tree, holding the rein while the general
mounted.
General" called, "where do you
go?"
ITO join my escort below"
where then?"
"To the plantation, as fast as my
horse will carry me-"
"Can you get through"
Il must get through"
He was about to spur away, when
Mellodew called to him and said some
thing to him which we could not hear.
He looked back at Margaret and me
with peculiar expression, then, hear
ing more firing below, rode away.
Margaret" said, "that tallow-faced
Mellodew will be our ruin. He has said
something to poison the general
against u.s."
Turning towards the valley, we saw
three different bodies of confederate
cavalry approaching the point where
we had heard the firing. We watched
and listened, but, beyond an occasional
single shot, heard nothing more, and
the foliage was too thick for us to see
what was going on. Half an hour after
wards, casting my eyes to the opposite
hill, saw the general and few of his
escort on the crest. He waved his hat
to us, then, turning, followed by his
men, disappeared.
TO be continued