The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-23
Copyright. 1899 and 1888 By Robert Boomers Sons
man would think he could Jump across

man would think he could Jump across
it.
Mr.. Vernon could not bear mod
crate pace. AS soon. as they were
we'll beyond the first windrow of the
battle he urged his horse to canter,
then into a gallop. Ballanche spurred
forward and joined him. A mighty
impatience was burning the blood OF
the two men.
How far is it yetp' Mr.. Vernon
huskily demanded, after they had
gone beyond the battlefield proper
and passed through stretch of wet,
plashy woods.
"Just yonder, around the point of
magnolias, was the almost breathless
answer. "The house is behind those
trees"
The old man leaned forward in his
saddle and put his horse to the best.
sI fear that we shall run into trou-
BILE at this rate" said the English Of
ficer vino had chanced to come side by
side with Enos Peevy.
"Ef we do" said the scout, with q
grim leer, "I'll pop you the fust one.
Mary Ann yer, wat I hev in my han,
kinder wants ter max yer 'quaintance
anyhow"
The conversation ended at once.
The Englishman bit his lip and drew
} in his horse 30 as to fall behind. Soon
enough he was out of sight, and the
Americans saw him no more. He was
tired of the ride.
Mr.. Vernon and Lieutenant Bal
lanche were too much absorbed in
the thought of reaching the magnolia
point and coming within view of the
house to note the absence of the Of
fcer until Peevy called to them:
THAT air feller hev smoke off," he
cried, in his shrill treble. "That
etarnal OFFICER air gone!'
They slackened their pace to let
him come up with them.
"Let him CO." said Mr.. Vernon,
when he understood the matter. "we
don't need him." And again they
spurred on.
Lieutenant Ballanche had fresher,
stronger horse than the one that bore
Mr.. Vernon, and by the time they had
swung around the point with the little
plaptstion-house full in view he was
considerably in the lead.
1t was with an indescribable sitting
sensation that he leaned over his sad
dle.horn and gazed between struggling
orange trees toward the low doorway
beyond a broken gate. The place
looked lonely and desolate. 1t was q
picture of silence set against a gray
background of wilderness.
Mr.. Vernon and Ballanche had rid
den into the enclosure and were ap-
preaching the house. The walk or
pathway was narrow and Mr.. Vernon
was now in advance, Suddenly he
drew his horse back with such force
that it almost stood upright on its
launches; at the same time he uttered
deep ejaculation of surprise and
horror.
A man lay dead, doubled up across
the path near the front-door of the
house. Mr.. Vernon recognized the
face instantly, although it was pinched
and distorted.
Peevy saw that something startling
had been discovered and hurried
through the gate.
"W'at air the matter now, fellers?"
he inquired. Then, seeing the dead
body, he added: "W'y, it air thet
thar feller who went cavortin'--"
He was interrupted by sharp cry
from the house, and the door was
flung WIDE open.
"Etarnal Jerusalem" he exclaimed.
"Jes' look, will ye!"
Mr.. Vernon and Ballanche we're al.
ready looking. They had seen many
dead men that day, had ridden past
them and over them, but this one de-
manded more than a glance, OF least
from Mr.. Vernon, who did not look
at once, even when the voice rang out
from the open door Of the house.
ruADTEP YYVTT