Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-05-04

Then / showed the table away again
and, overcoming my repulsion, dragged
the dead body to sitting position A
chill struck into my marrow, but /
dragged off the red British coat and, hav-
ing thrown off my own, put it on. Then
] gathered up the wallet OF food and Old
/ Puts bride and took down the bar from
/ the door
Come . said; I'VE are going to
leave this place while they are planning
by the fire and their backs are turned to
l u.s. -
| 1t was bold measure involving
many risks, but | believed that it would
succeed if we kept our courage and
presence OF mind For at least two or
| three minutes they would think / was
Crowder, victorious, and that would be
worth much When had taken down
the bar, l stopped moment.
keep by my side, ! said. Re-
member that we must become separated
by no chance Here take this pistol
| You can shoot, can't your
She said Yes and took the pistol
Then | opened the door. and we dashed
out, running with quick and noiseless
/ steps across the open toward the wood.
which rose in dim line ahead Of us
While the window opened toward the
campfire of the besiegers the door did
not, and we had gone perhaps so yards
before they saw us This knew by the
1 surprised shout that came to us, and
/ looking back / saw them hesitating as
If in doubt about my identity. and at
| last running toward their horses. ! was
/ glad that they would pursue ON horse
back, and had taken that probability
| into consideration when we made our
dash from the house, for even at the
/ distance | could see that the dim wood
looked dense and poor place for the
use of horses.
Courage JuliaF
hand. "In minute or two we will be
into the woods, and they mean safety.
! | looked back "a second time The
! guerrillas bad reached their horses,
mounted them and turned their heads
our way, but III doing it their time lost
was our gain Unless famed by some
unlucky pistol shot we would surely
gain the wood They fired once or twice,
and | heard the thunder of their horses
/ hoofs but had little fear | still held
the girls hand in mine, and she made
no effort to draw it away. She was run
ming with firm, sure step, and, though
her face was white and her eye excited,
she seemed to retain both her courage
and presence of mind.
The wood was not as far as had CAL
culated, and when our pursuers were
many yards away we dashed into it at
such headlong haste that | tripped over
vine and fell upon my nose, burying
it in pile of soft leaves, which saved
it from harm But was up again, re-
joicing at the accident, for in wood
interlaced with vines horses could make
no progress.
II hope you are not hurt?" asked
Julia anxiously.
Hurt Not bit of itr' / replied
"What blessing these woods are How
dark it is in here, and what a blessing
that is tooP'
In fact, the wood was our good luck
and our best luck at that for even we
ON foot found it difficult to make our
way through it. Afar we could hear the
British cursing in profusion and variety
as they strove TO force their horses
through the dense bush.
Hold my hand, said to Julia,
"for otherwise l might lose You in all
this darkness and density"
But instead of waiting for her to take
my hand, which she might not have
DONE / took hers, and, bidding her again
to step lightly, led the way, curving
among the trees and bushes like brook
winding around the hills in search OF q
level channel My object was to leave
our pursuers at a loss concerning our
course, and we soon ceased to hear their
swearing or the struggles of their horses.
/ dropped into a walk, and of course the
girl did likewise.
Il think we are safe now, " said.
There is not one chance in a hundred
to bring them across our path again.
What a fine wood What a glorious
wood There is no such wood as this in
England. 1t grew here especially for
our safety, Julia.
1T did grow up in time, !" she re-
Piled, but now that you THINK as safe
again you can call me Miss Howard and
not Julia "
THAT'S true, and now that we are
safe again | must ask you, Miss How
ard, as an especial favor to me, to please
quit holding my hand "
II am not holding your hand, Nh.
Marcel P'>she replied Indignantly. II,
is you who are holding mine, but you
shall not do SO moment longer.
She tried TO jerk her hand away.
let her jerk three or four times, and
then added as an afterthought:
1T is very dark here, and there is still
danger that we might become separat-
ed / think / will let you hold it a lit
tie longer, but l shall endure it merely
because it is a military necessity"