Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-19

If only Esther had not sung MY Mary
landr' My Maryland which she loved
best of all the war songs Her unframed
voice was so rich and true 1t carried nall
across the bush pasture. She had stolen
there with salt for the young horses, graz
ing for safety amid the intricate thickets
They had had none for a month. In the
third year of the civil war, to man and
beast alike, salt almost a luxury
throughout middle Tennessee. The whole
region was debatable land The bluecoats
held the railway towns and turned them
into fortresses more or less Secure. over
the wide green country road about gray
horsemen rode and raided almost at pleas
ure. Thus salt was among the things reck-
oned "contraband of war and to be bought
only in such niggard quantities as were
marked upon the permits from headquar-
tiers. 1t was high triumph of diplomacy
when Major Ventress. Esther's father,
came home from Beilsboro town the
day before with three full barrels in the
wagon rafting after him.
NewSpaperS-newS even-were likewise
contra band of war. Thus the countryside
fed its hopes with the vain imaginings of
the grapevine telegraph and bore the
burden of hostile occupation in full faith
of ultimate triumph. 1t made no factious
opposition to orders from headquarters, but
took such oathS, signed such paroles and
paid such taxes the post commanders re-
quired, meantime sleeplessly alert to help
their own men,
Say further that between bluecoatS and
gray, horses had come to be the most I'M
certain of all possessions and the stage set
ting is complete. Esther sang because she
dared not whistle the regular horse call.
She knew Princess, her own mare, would
come at sound of her voice, and most likely
bring the herd pell-mell at her heels, since
she was easily its queen. She was also
tfNrNrr 1brn1 lot no 10 CT fnn NJ n
dam never beaten at four miles. Princess
five years old, Esther seventeen. They
had grown up playmates and comrades,
each full of tricks and delight in the other.
Esther need not have sung. Her foot was
scarcely off the rail fence when Princess
came charging, mouth slightly open, ears
batted. Five yards off her mistress she
stopped short, dropped her head, half
wheeled and sided gently until her withers
lay under Esther's hand. A low, merry
whinny entreated the girl to mount. Esther
patted the satin neck, but shook her head.
saying: No, Princess; no ride this morn
ing. l came for something else"
Incautiously she thrust her hand within
her huddled apron and brought up some
salt grains upon her open palm Princess
licked them savagely, thrust her head
as if to paw her with angry hoof. Es-
theirs right hand clinched, and flew straight
out. I'm ashamed of you, Miss Greedy"
she said. ashamed that l have to hit you,
but You will have it
Princess truly loved her mistress. but she
was mad with salt-hunger almost the
strongest known to the beasts of the field.
She caught the apron folds and Esther's
left hand between her teeth, and backed,
rearing slightly, and paving, not viciously,
but with light flicking hoofS. To save her
self Esther flung her free arm about the
mares neck. and swung clear of the
ground, saying sternly: "Ho, Princess,
Stand, Let gor'
Princess kept backing and paving. The
Eerd caught the sound and came rush
ing. She wheeled to meet the rush, with
Esther still swinging. and let fly a her
mates with both heels. In the shock of
impact her teeth shut cruelty upon Es-
Tiers hand but still the girl did not cry
out. lnStinctively she understood that
once she showed herself afraid she would