The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1900-05-24

rT
and cool and fresh from the distant
lake, laden with the odors of the woods
and the fields. The stiffness was in
tense, broken only by the plaintive cry
OF the whippoorwill, Americas one
phrased nightingale, or the still more
weird and eerie note of the distant loon.
The houses along the road seemed
deserted; no lights were shown any
where. The widest rumors were
abroad concerning the slaughter of the
day, and the population, scattered as
1T was, appeared to have retired into
it's she'll. A spell Of silence and dark
ness was over the land, and the rapid
| hoof-beats Of the horse sounded with
startling distinctness on the harder
portions of the road, emphasized by
intervals Of complete stiffness when the
| fetlocks sank in the sand and progress
was more difficult for the pluclxy little
animal. The only thrill of fear that
Margaret felt on her night-journey was
when she entered the dark arch of an
avenue of old forest trees that bordered
the road like great gloomy cathedral
aisle in the shadow of which anything
might be hidden. Once the horse, with
jump of fear, started sideways and
plunged ahead; Margaret caught her
breath as she saw, or fancied she saw,
several men stretched on the roadside,
asleep or dead. Once in the open again
she breathed more freely, and if it had
not been for the jump of the horse she
would have accused her imagination of
playing her trick. Just as she had
completely treasured herself, shadow
moved from the fence to the middle of
the road, and sharp voice cried:
HALT"
The little horse, as if it knew the
meaning Of the word, planted it's two
front hoofs together and slid along the
ground for a moment, coming so quick
ly to standstill that it was with some
| difficulty Margaret kept her seat. She
saw in front of her a man holding a
gun, evidently ready to fire if she at
tempted to disobey his command.
''Who are you, and where are you
going?" he demanded.
ooh, please let me pass" pleaded
Margaret, with tremor of fear in her
voice. II am going for a doctor-for
my brother; he is badly wounded, and
will perhaps die if am delayed"
The man laughed.
"Oho!' he cried, coming closer; "a
woman, is it? and a young one, too, or
I'm heather. Now, miss or missus,
| you get down. I'll have to investigate
this. The brother business won't work
with an old soldier. It's your lover
you're riding for at this time of the
night, or I'm no judge of the sex. Just
slip down, my lady, and see if you
don't like me better than him; and re-
member that all cats are black in the
dark. Get down, tell you"
IF you are soldier you will let me
60 My brother is badly wounded.
must get to the DOCTOR
'"There's no must with a bayonet in
front of you. If he has been wounded
there's plenty of better men killed to.
day. Come down, my DEAR
Margaret gathered up the bride rein,
but even in the darkness the man saw
her intention.
"You can't escape, my pretty. If you
try it, you'll not be hurt, but I'll kill
your horse. If you move, I'll put a bull.
let through him.
kill my horse!' breathed Margaret,
in horror, fear coming over her that
she had not felt at the thought of dan.
ger to herself.
eyes, Missy" said the man, approach.
ing nearer and laying his hand on
Gypsy's bride. But there will be no
need of that. Besides, it would make
too much noise, and might bring us
company, which would be announcement.
So come down quietly, like the nice
little girl you are"
IF you will let me go and tell the
doctor, will come back here and be
your prisoner"
The man laughed again, in low, tan.
talizing tones. This was good Joke.
''Oh, no, sweetheart. I wasn't born
SO recently as all that A girl in the
hand is worth dozen a mile up the
road. Now come off that horse, or I'll
take you off. This is wartime, and
I'm not going to waste any more pretty
talk on you.'
| The man, who,. she now saw, was
hatless, leered up at her, and some
thing in his sinister eyes made the girl
quail. She had been so quiet that he
apparently was not prepared for any
sudden movement. Her right hand
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