The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-04-18

ueeb uOlSc WOuid navy pCSh w hlhis
nothing could have induced him to ac-
cept the favor at the hands of Miss FL
bridge.
Passing forward among the trees, he
made wide circuit beyond and finally
vaulted the low fence into the highway,
over portion of which he had ridden,
when he left General Sherman's army
to enter upon the most memorable ex-
perience of his life.
He was now in the vivid moonlight.
Looking up at the sky, he saw that the
ragged, heecy clouds had drifted past
and the orb was swimming through the
clear space, with its rays free and un-
obstructed, as they promised to be for
several hours to come. The stiffness re-
mained as impressive as before. Not
twinkle of light cleaned in any direc-
tion, but from some distant point came
the faint growing of cock, who, after
repeating the call several times, was
answered by another from spot still
more remote.
Probably these fowls on awaking at
night recalled the fact that they were
still alive after the passage of Sher-
mans army near them and they could
not help Growing" over their good for
tune.
The officers pause at the side of the
highway was brief. He struck off at a
swinging pace, but had gone less than
a hundred yards when he was checked
by ghostly:
"Hello, darl''
The voice was from the rear. In
stinctively drawing his pistol the lieu
tenant wheeled about to meet the new
danger.
Pete, the old negro slave, was lead
ing handsome mottled pony, bridled
and saddled, through a gap in the
fence. Oakman calmly waited until he
came up, when he asked brusquely:
''Well, Pete, what do you want with
me2''
"Reckon yo' knows, boss. Miss Adele
done send me wild her hoss Jack a-sayiI
dat yo' am to take him wild yo' an ride
| like blazes, an yo' needn't be ticker te
send him back, bein as yo' may not hal
de chance
The animal was a beautiful pony
and would have borne his rider with
| the speed of the wind He was beyond
value to the fugitive, who folded hi
arms, looked sternly at the African ani
said in measured tones:
| tGive my thanks and compliment
to Miss Eldridge and tell her that, mas
much as Captain Trenholm expressed
his displeasure last evening at the ide;
of my using her horse, could not al
low her to run the risk of offending
him."
Pete stood moment in silence, will
one hand holding the bit of the super
beast. Then he scratched that part o
his crown which showed through tn
opening in his hat.
81 knows, boss, dat yo' hab said sum
fin, but de debbil himself can't max
out de meanin OBJ it. -
i Lieutenant Oakman was too much i,
earnest to smile. He simplifed his Ian
guage and made it clear that he de
clined to make use of Miss Eldridge'
! horse, for reasons explicitly set forth.
Pete nodded his head and grunted
Made angry by his own meanness, tn
officer turned about and strobe off with
out another word He had gone but
, little way, when Pete called to him.
"Well, what is :" demanded Oal
, man, turning impatiently around.
: 81 forgot to tole yo' sumfn.''
: "Be quick about itl''
"When dat Union army marche
] trough Jawgy, it luff behind de all fired
est fool dat cher come ont oh Yankee
7 landl Good night, bossl''