Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-10-14

field, for now saw that could have
gone around it. sllirting the edge of
the woods. But il would never do to
stay where we were, and was about to
call Margaret to come out, when a man
emerged from the woods in the direc-
ton of the rebel camp. Twas standing
out where he could see me plainly.
At last it was all up with us.
"Hev v sarched the hay7" he called.
Heaven be praisedi He was mistall-
ing nae for one of his comrades
Reckon" replied.
''Nothin' thar2"
"Nothin' but fodder"
Without word he started OF down
the creek.
Come" whispered to Margaret, al
soon as he was out OF sight.
She crawled out; I helped her to her
feet, and we started for the wood. And
now suppose we should encounter some
II the searchers in the timber? 1t was
more than likely that we would 1 fam
Ried it full of armed men and every man
| pointing q carbine at me, ready to call
on me to surrender the moment
reached the edge. And no sooner would
they discover the man had left in the
creek than they would dash my brains
out with the butt Of gun or shoot me
| down.
We hurried on and at last reached
cover. Once there, we stopped and. lis
tened All was still. We leaned against
tree, not so much for rest as 20 give
our hearts time TO stop humping. But
we dared to remain only a moment.
took Margaret by the hand and led
her trembling onward. 1 loolrd up for
the north star, got my bearings, and,
turning to the southwest, there was the
crested hin.
"Do you see that hin9' asked of
Margaret
Eyes"
isn't it near your homer"
"Yes" 80. D..
"Goodl we'll go for it,"
We started on, walking brislSly, for
hope had come to give us strength.
There was timber on either hand; we
kept sharp lookout ahead, intending
TO dodge into the woods in case we
should stumble on any of our pursuers,
Passing a plantation. 1 trembled as
heard the low growl of a dog, but we
shot in among trees on the opposite
side and got by without further at
tracing his attention
Sometimes we left the road TO take to
the woods, sometimes crossed fields,
followed by-paths, always keeping our
eyes on the crested hill. When ex-
hausted we rested in secluded spot.
then arose and trudged on till we were
again exhausted, then rested anew.
The distance we traversed was, as the
crow flies, not more than six or seven
miles, but there were hills and ravines
and creeks, and obstacles OF every
kind. and when we followed the roads
they all led the wrong way However.
the nearer we got to our goal the bet
ter Margaret knew the way, and at last
she was enabled to point il out through
by-paths and patches of wood till we
came to the base of the hill. Slowly
we climbed the ascent, and at last.
standing on the summit, by the light
of early dawn saw beneath us the plan
tation.
J Thank heavent There are the stars
and stripes flying in the yard. the white
) tents, the sentinels pacing, the lines of
, horses tethered 20 the horizontal poles.
Oh the exhilaration of the sight
Margaret" 1 cried. 1--WE are safe.
See, there is the plantation
I'm glad for your sake"
''Why not for your own?"
She shook her head mournfplly. In
moment the position she occupied oc-
CURED to me-
/, "Oh. Margaret. how could you break
your parole?"
She was silent.
you agreed not TO aid the rebe
: cause. and you went straight from ouI
Z camp to theirs"
Still she gave no reply.
: Then l fell to thinking, conjuring VI
D all sorts of plans by which she might
: escape the consequences of her act
J They were all worthless. At last in
E despair exclaimed: Go back; rejoir
the confederates. and never see the
general again"
T She laid her hand on my sleeve to stay
my heated Judgment, but did not speal
: made no defense. Then she started
! on. hung back.
] "Are you coming?"
She turned and looked at me. II
my fathers house at home hung a pic
d ture of Iphigenia going to the sacrifice
4 turning to look at the musicians behin'
! her. The melancholy of the girls eye
), had haunted me from boyhood- say
l. it now in Margaret's.
e you shall not" cried, with almOs
:, a sob.
She came back and took me by tn
arm- l suffered her to lead me OF
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