The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-05-01
IY CAPTI E.
By JOSEPH A. ALTSHBLER,
4Aathor of "A Soldier Of Manhattan"
'The Sun Of Saratoga" Etc.
Bv J0sEPE A. AJ,TSHELER.
Icopright, 1900. by Joseph A. Atsheler.]
CHAPTER [
A TRYING SITCATION.

A TRYING SITUATION.
I looked at the prisoner, and I was
v1ed by doubt. With battle on one side
Of him and woman on the other what
Ma man to do? She returned my gaze
WSsth great, pure eyes, which seemed to
say was villain, monster, yet l
had been doing my exact duty, that of
a faithful soldier in the cause Of the
Continental congress and freedom, while
SIZE, woman, a girl, had presumed to
turn from the things for which God
had intended her and to NEEDLE with
war. was more than vezed-I was an
y, angry at her for attempting such a
task and angry at myself for being forced
into situation so full Of troubles
sOn the right, in the fringe Of woods
~sauarter of a mile away. the last rife
s5ot had been fred, and its echo was
seeding across the far hills, The pow
Der flashed no more, and the smoke rose
IN lazy coils over the ground on which
uan had fought and some had died
The vscsors, the captured detail with
leSsm, were riding away. almost fan
CID I could hear the beat Of their
&erses' hoofs, and the dead, ] knew. lay
with their faces upturned to the sun,
waiting there until the last trump called
aa them to rise again. And here was L
an atom, left in the drift Of the armies,
CIT off from INV comrades and alone
with this girl
1The horses shifted about uneasily,
stamped their feet, and once mine raised
his head and neighed. as if in truth he
6sard the beating hoofs of the galloping
attachment He knew that his COM
rides, too, were leaving him, though /
cannot say that it was a desertion in
Snded by either horse or man
The girls look of reproach turned to
one of inquiry. She sat on log, her
:retle riding whip hanging idly in her
hnd For the first time l took note of
6sr face-the delicate but firm molding
4 each feature; the clear depths of her
dark. blue eyes; the bronze gold of her
hair, clustering IN tiny curls around her
4rehead; the rose red Of her cheeks, like
9fush: her 1.-the, strong, young figure,
Why is it that when God wishes to
make women especially wicked and
tDublesome he makes them beautiful?
"Wen, you rebel, she said, when
d. you purpose to set me free:?''
'sWhen you give your word Of honor
tsat you viii tell CORVALLIS nothing
about the strength of Morgan's forces
AID our present movements .
''That will not do =
''Then you remain my prisoner. 4"
Yet l would have been 6 fool even to
have taken her word of honor What
woman has any regard for the truth in
ralitary matters: If she could find a
chance. she would certainly give infor-
nation that would bring Corvallis as
we'll as Tarleton. on Morgan
81 think that it is enough for Eng
Bshmen themselves to fight US without
sanding their daughters also against Us,
1-said
my father did not send me. she said
Quickly Il came OF my own accord
$50 much the worse, !" replied
But nothing was to be gained by
sanding there ard talking Besides, it
. never well for a soldier to dispute
with his prisoner 1t argues an INSULT
ctency for his position a captor should
bear himself with dignity and reserve
1would show my quality
united the horses and led them to
the log on which she was sitting
Get upr said CURLY and IN a tone
os command
The natural rose flush OF her cheeks
6sepened little
lyon speak as if you were my mas
GE, she SAID
.'That Is Just what am-for the
present., replied Mount your horse
as once
She gave me sidewise look from eyes
that flashed. but she stood upon the log
This log is too low. and the saddle
10 too high, she said
stepped forward and held out my
hand 60 assist her
Don't touch me, you rebel!' she
cg5ed and leaped lightly into the saddle
felt hurt
..I wish you wouldn call me a
sebel, said
..Whya'
Its lmpolite. .
.sBur It's true
'WelL perhaps it is in a way. and in
saway. 700. am proud Of it Are you
~oud Of vour klng?''
Yes
1T doen t take much to arouse Eng
lish pride
"You will think more Of him when the
war is over It will pay you to do So .
Meanwhile We will wait until
eAen.
What do yon purpose 70 dc with
@e-keep me prisoner"
.'It is my misfortune,
1.-The courtesy OF rebel .
~ shall take you to General Nor
gan
..Then Tarleton will rescue me- Your