Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-26
tremb1e ae>her touci1. outsof the fullness OF
her mother hedrt

her mother hedft
II wish ! could take spu. too, but that
would spoil everything. Swan said, pat
ting her cheek. and almost running away
She had rummaged out her old fiddle, and
put on short fr1ck, much frilled and
spangled, which She had worn In the days
Of the band. It was black, and came low
in the neck, SO she, threw over her shout
ders a blue artilleryman's cape, disposing
one end so the scarlet lining would snow:
At the very last she turned back and
thrust something deep into her bosom, say
ing, with lazy smile. You don't never
know what may come in handy when you
go on a postum hunt this time o the
year.
AS she picked her way through the COM
pany streets there were halls from every
hand-cries of admiration, invitations to
supper, banters for tune-tust one; out
she stayed for none Of them. Words she
flung back in plentyi her tongue had gained
In license, In piquancy and point. A very
young officer, riotously full Of beer, ran
out and tried to kiss her in the face of all,
but was raped smartly over the nose with
pain.
AS she came to the outposts the pickets
made feint of hating her. She stuck the
fiddle under her chin, played three discord.
ant bars, and said: Let me through-or
you'll hear worse than that All the camp
knew her; she had. indeed. the freedom OF
more than one army corps She was KIND
IN a. sickness or trouble, good eomrade , IN
nealtn, square-every man OF them Wouiu
have staked his life on that-and straight,
for all her freedom, both of speech and
action So she won easily to Col. Flow
tow's door She would have passed the
sentry there as she had passed the
others, bu' that Flowtow himself was just
coming out, with yellow Ned, as usual, at
his heels.
"You! What do you do here?" he said,
roughly, catching her arm in hard grip.
Me? Oh, just came to find out If you
all were dead" Swan said, jauntily. Il
didn't know but Mister Forests critter
company had slipped in and made crows
meat OF the lot
What is that to you? Women are not
for fighting" Flowtow said, still roughly
swan laughed-an airy, happy laugh
mo! Women are for kissing" she said.
'Ill kiss you. Col Flowtow. and play you
tune into the bargain. if you'll do just
one little thing 1 want
on, no! l am to be bribed. in face of
the Articles of War" FIowtow roared.
We'll. bride me, swanchen. 1 will hear
what 1t is abOut-afterward."
You shall take the tune first" Swan
said, throwing off her cloak and setting
the fiddle beneath her, chin Before Flow
tow could protest she had struck up Run,
Niger, Rum" looking as she played
straight at FlowtOw's new servant. With
out break she glided into another strain,
almost an Improvisation, full of swelling
chords and soft wailing minors. She had
played 1t first upon her wedding night
Morris had snatched the bow from her
hands, and had dragged her breathlessly
away with him to find a minister.
my kiss! 1 cannot wait" Flowtow said
clutching her bare shoulder. Many things
impend. Swanchen. Pay now-good meas
ure' mind! When they are settled, 1 will
hear what 1t is thou hast paid for
But maybe you'll be dead. Mister For
rest is bad mana mighty bad old man.
Swan said. Tending her lips. Flowtow
pushed her hands aside and took a long
kiss. The next second a stunning blow
stretched him full length upon the floor.
As he sprang up. livid with rage he saw
Swan struggling violently with the mulatto,
VINO was gasping and had the blazing eyes
of a panther
Oh, you Dutchman, I never thought
that little love pat would knock you down"
she cried. But look at this niger. will
you-trying to murder me, Must be he
thinks you're like his white folks-too good
TO be touched by the common sort That's
what all the heightened niggers think
Know used to live down south. Where
dld you skeer him up. Dutchy? Did you
have MIN made special for your guardian
angelo"
Come again. wild swanchen-and you
shall hear F'lowtow said. or. wait, I
shall come back before the midnight we
Will drink together and have much games
and you shall play. As for the mani
VIII send him to company with his horse.
The darkness shall teach him better man
ners."
'Ho! I'll teach him myself" Swan said
to the sentry, as Flowtow galoped off step
ping past him to the; edge of the veranda.
There she began to piay-gay. rollicking
tunes, that very shortly drew all the idlers
about her. Presently she flung down her
fiddle, whirled about on tip-toe. and said,
everybody! 1 feel it in my bones that
there's things to drink close by
She darted away. followed by chorus of
uproarious laughter. But she did not seek
the cellar. In half minute she had
reached "A pcketed horse, and was whisper-
ing to the man standing beside it: Morris,
get away-for Gods sake. Old man Nat
will know you-he has come back-he is
coming hereto see Flowtow this very
night. That was why Lob. why didn't
you keep quiet? What did kiss more or
less matter? You have bought your free
DOM
Some things one cannot buy" Morris
said breathing hard. Swan. l shall stay
until you agree to go with me-
You are crazy-craZy as a LOOM she
cried. First to come here-then all those
papers. l know what they are; so will old
man Nat. He taught you, remember, the
Murrel clan cipher so you could write all
sorts of things to me. Go away l tell YOU,
Flowtow will hang you at sun-up. as sure
as he finds out how he has been fooled
IF you will come with me- Morris said,
springing into the saddle and holding out
his arms. Swan thought a minute then
waved him down. Il must ride-and lead
you with a halter" she said "or we shall
never get past the pickets. / will say I'm
driving you out of camp, back to your own
side, because | hate you. Then, when we
are outside
you will have to keep on Morris said.
doggedly. Swan shivered family
I'VE will settle that as happens" she
said.
I.
you are my wife still. 1 will never let
you go back Morris said when the last
picket was 200 yards behind. Swan had
slipped from the saddle. and was unbipding
his hands. She had driven him mercilessly
fiourishing silver-mounted derringer above
his head. The pickets had laughed at her.
but had not tried to stop her. 1t was only
one of Swans freaks, and Swan in their
eyes, could do no wrong.
The two halted in broad clear road.
The moon shone so bright it was nearly as
light as day. AS the last knot came loose.
there was stir in the bushes at the road
side-old Mats ambling mule snranr
through them, and old Nat himself cried:
so you've been a-spying-eh, Morris-and
your wife's helping you out? Mighty nice
game-but I'll block it-though l CANT ston
you now. I owe your father day in har-
vest! l reckon the times comm when I
can pay In full
The last words came faint-he had set the
mule OFF in a headlong gallon. Morris
sprang into the saddle, leaned down and
snatched Swan up before him She tried
to writhe out of his arms-in three minutes
at most the mounted pickets would be after
him-how could he escape with his horse
doubly weighted?
BE quiet! Give me that pistol"' he said,