The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-23
CHAPTER XVI.
CROSS THE BATTLEFIELD.

ACROSS The bAIILE-fl1bb'
liter the great battle was over,
Lieutenant Ballanche was sent by
General Jackson to confer with the
British officers regarding the burial
of the dead lying so thickly tumbled
together on that bloody plain. In
the course of the interview he did not
fail to make inquiries concerning the
captive ladies, and when he was told
that they were in small country
house not far from the battlefield, he
felt his heart leap. He had to
smother impatieuce, however, and 60
on with his military duties just as
though love were a matter of subordi-
nate impor tance, and if the burial of
a few hundred invaders were of
higher obligation than rescuing
a beautiful and adorable sweet
heart from a situation of suffer-
ing and danger. A young man must
be under good discipline to be thus
welded to military duty; but it may
be remembered that Andrew Jackson
had a way of making everyone about
him regard orders as absolutely bind
ing beyond even life itself.
What set the terrible sting of doubt
in the lieutenant's heart aud made
him chafe through every moment of
that seemingly intefminabl confer
ence, was the fact that none of the
British officers could tell him whether
or not the captives were still safe
from harm. All that they could say
was to the effect that the ladies had
been kindly treated and safely guard.
ed up to the time of the battle. Since
then no one had SO en- them nor heard
of. them. And what might have hap
pened during that wild rush of over
throw, when the whole British army
was torn and scattered, and when the
exasperated soldiers were left to shift
for themselves without officers to re-
strain them? The thought was one
to chill the young mans blood; but
he went on with the conference, his
agitation showing only in certain
austerity of manner which the British
officers attributed to native churIish-
ness. When at last he had finished
the matter, he hsstened to General
Jackson with his report.
Mr.. Vernon was present when he
arrived at headquarters and had al
ready asked leave to 90 in search of
his family. The old mans face lighted
up wonderfully when Ballanche told
what he knew.
Sand they are safe" he exclaimed,
showing more passionate excitement
than any one had ever witnessed in
him before. 'They told you that
they were safe?" A singularly be-
seaching note rang through his words.
The lieutenant could not have the
heart to tell him that there was
doubt.
General Jackson would not permit
any precipitate action. He reminded
Mr.. Vernon that a truce was pending
and that due formalities must be OBJ
served in the matter of penetrating
the British lines for any purpose.
The old man bore the delay in the
spirit of a Gagged lion. 1t seemed to
him that year might have elapsed
since he parted from his wife and
daughter; every moment now dragged
by like snail.
- What added peculiar dread to the
situation was the thought of Loring,
Vasseur and old man Burns all going
in the direction which might lead
them to where Mrs. Vernon and Paul
iue had been left by their captors.
Mr.. Vernon's whole mind dwelt on
the fear that his wife and daughter
might be told the secret of his past
life. His imagination, which was as
vigorous and lawless-as his frame was
stelwart, built up all manner of dark
prophecies and filled him with FORE
bodings too dreadful. for any thought
to give them definite form. He &C.
cused himself with all the bitterness
of which self-accusation is possible.
Why had he not left his loved ones at
home, where they would have been
so safe now? What demon had pos
sessed him to send them (of all places
in the world) to that plantation house
right in the path of the British army?
When at last, after hours of delay,
all necessary formalities had been OBJ
served and everything was ready,
General Jackson ordered six men de-
tailed to accompany Mr.. Vernon and
Lieutenant Ballanche on their Journey
of love.
Old Enos Peevy was one of the
squad. A young British officer joined
them to see them safe to their destin-
alton. They were all mounted; but
three of the horses were to bear the
ladies back to the American lines.
A rough bridge had been hastily
cast across the ditch of death, and
over this Mr.. Vernon led the way,
passing into the awful swaths of wars
reaping. Peevy rode beside him, sit
ting awkwardly but firmly on little
creole pony, his long, bony legs reach
ing down 80 far that his feet almost
touched the blood-tinged ground. He
was very much interested in noting
the condition of the dead British as
he passed along.
'Thar's a feller at I plumpted a
hole through" he exclaimed present
ly with great satisfaction, pointing to-
ward a stalwart Highlander out
stretched on his back. II put it to
i'm jes' ez e wal"
Hush. MANI said Mr.. Vernon in
an undertone, remember that we
have an English officer with u.s."
''Oh, tarnation take the officer!
Wat air I er keerin' fer limp" grum-
bled the scout. IT Wush at I'D er