The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-03-22


by no chance Here, take this pistol
You can shoot, can't you:
She said Eyes" and took the pistol.
Then l 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 CT the besiegers the door cid
not. and we had gone perhaps 80 yards
before they saw US This knew by the
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 l 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 a poor place for the
use of horses.
Courage, Julia" said, taking her
hand I'm minute or two we will be
into the woods. and they mean safety.
looked back a second time The
guerrillas had reached their horses,
mounted them and turned their heads
our way. but in 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 a 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 l was up again, re-
joicing at the accident, for in a wood
interlaced with vines horses could make
no progress
81 hope you are not hurt?" asked
Julia anxiously.
Hurt? Not bit Of itl'' I replied.
"What blessing these woods are How
dark it is in here, and what a blessing
that is too!''
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 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, l led the way, curving
among the trees and bushes like brook
winding around the hills in search OF a
level channel, My object was to leave
our pursuers at loss concerning our
course. and we soon ceased to hear their
swearing or the struggles of their horses
l dropped into walk, and of course the
girl did likewise
II think we are safe now," said
There is not one chance in hundred
to bring them across our path again.
What a fine woodl What a glorious
wood There is no such wood as this in
England. 1t grew here especially for
our safety, Julia"
"It did grow up in time, I" she re-
piled, "but now that you think us safe
again you can call me Miss Howard and
not Julia"
''That's true, and now that we are
safe again l must ask you, Miss How.
ard, as an especial favor to me. to please
quit holding my hand"
II am not holding your hand, Mr.
Marcel'' she replied Indignantly. 1T
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 l added as an afterthought:
''It is very dark here, and there is still
danger that we might become separat-
ed. | think will let you hold it lit
tie longer, but shall endure it merely
because it is q military necessity"
She gave her hand most violent jerk,
and it nearly slipped from me- but re-
newed my grip in time.
"Simply military necessity" re-
peated, and, seeing that it was useless,
she made no further effort to withdraw
her hand could not see her face, the
darkness being too great, and therefore
had little opportunity to judge of her
state of mind. We walked on in silence.
winding here and there through the
wood, with an occasional stop to lis
ten, though we heard nothing but the
common noises of forest-the cracking
rustic of dry leaves and twigs. the gen.
tie swaying of some old tree as the wind
rocked it and the soft swish of the
bushes as they swung back into place
after we had passed between.
ITO BE CONTINUED.