Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-11-04


The generals statement that he had |
gwen me PUNK TO supply my own de
ficiencies occurred 10 me, and was
lOath TO enforce my own plans in the
face of the corporal's opposition.
Elbow would IT do" suggested, at
tempting compromise. for you to lie |
like trooper, and for me to travel on
a system of white lies. while Miss Beach
sticks rigidly to the TRUTH"
That" responded the corporal,
would be Hike the cavalry charging,
the men seated with their faces 70 the
crupper, the infantyv pouring volleys
into the cavalry, and the artillery fir
ing at heaven"
Margaret smiled. 'Tn tell you what
we viii do" she said to me. "Sinee
you command the party, the corporal
can conform to your stories, and III
keep silent"
''Done," said I.
And now that we had gained all we
had hoped for, and had before us the
peril OF carrying back the news, we
made a discovery that filled us with
dismay. Private Mellodew was miss
ing. During the day he had seen the
rear-guard of the army that had passed,
and asked what it meant When we
told him, 1 noticed look on his face
that might mean incredulity or might
mean n determination to be incredulous,
but we cared nothing whether he be-
iieved or doubted. What he. had gone
for none of us could possibly imagine.
We did not suspect that under the APP
parently simple, cowardly nature there
lutl>ed malevolence that might be eX-
pected only under a stronger exterior.
In our position we were vulnerable
even from crawling snake.
However, we wasted DO time to see
il Enoch would return; when we were
ready PUNK brought the horses, and
mounting as the sun was setting we
descended the hillside we had come
up few days before. We were for
tunate in finding n ford at the river.
and in getting across the railroad with
out interruption; it was later on, when
we were not looking for trouble, that
we received our first scare. Coming
to a ridge, we were panic-stricl1en to
see each OF the roads leading into
Georgetown filed with confederate cav
airy.
by Jove, PlunlSi that's going to
raise the devil with us. They are
sweeping along the refuse in the rear,
driving in stragglers."
Right you are, lieutenant" said
PUNK, "and if we don't dodge them
they'll be likely to give us an enfilading
| fire of questions worse than volley
from their carbines."
We halted behind a clump OF trees for
parley. PUNK and I were for hiding
in the woods till they had gone by;
Margaret was for breaking up the party
and proceeding separately. We did not
have time to arrive at n conclusion, for
suddenly body of perhaps so horsemen
entered the road we were on, at gal
lop, from a by-road n short distance
in advance. Each recognized that ii
was too late to do anything but go for
ward, and we started by common inn
pulse. Happening to glance at Mar.
garet, 1 saw her turn pale. Her eyes
were fixed on n young officer who rode
in front of the coming men. He came
on. evidently in hurry to get over the
ground, and when he met us did not
, slacken speed. 1 was congratulatine
, myself that he was intending TO pass us
without a word. when he suddenly
pulled in his horse.
'Why, Margaret Beach,"
He turned to the side of the road
near us, while his men passed on, halt
ing a few rods beyond He was a trif,
older than I, with long black hair, ovei
which dropped n sombrero, black eyes
and as frank and manly face as eve
looked into. After exchanging few
commonplace remarks with Margaret
who behaved with surprising GOODNESS
> he looked inquiringly at me.
ION your way home?" he asked Mar
garet, in tone evidently intended Il
lead the way to some information abou
: the company she was in.
= "Yes, I am anxious to get back t
> mamma
81 am glad you are protected on tn
q" way. It's rather a bad road for a WON
an to be travelling just now"
Il have always believed the young ma
: suspected there was something wrong
&c but was more gallant to Margaret tina
, true to his duty. He bade her good-by
+ and as he raised his hat with the words
"My kind regards to your good mother,
his ewes met mine and seemed TO say
Il decline TO investigate you, my dea
Al sir, for her sake" though this ma
II have been supplied by my own guilt
Is conscience. In a moment he was at III
head of his men, riding rapidly dow
the road.
Lieutenant" said PUNK. as soon 4
we were out of hearing, 1--WE wasn't pr'
pared for that meetin'. It's my opinic
that lynn is our only weapon, and thu
" I'm the only one of the party blesse
le with an inventive genius and a hare
n ened conscience calculated to take I
Us through what's ahead"
10 you are right, corporal. You ma
e do the talking, and may you be il
IT spired TO lie with such ingenuity an
" fervor as to confound all inquirir
en- rebels and pilot us to haven of rest
n The ,eOad for some miles flank