Evening star., 1902-03-22

across the moon and piling up in the east
if preparing for great snow storm
The soldier detailed to act as our escort
through the picket lines was inclined to
be talkatiye. but he got no encouragement
from Dorothy or me. We were returning
defeated and thoroughly disheartened. At
last we came to the road leading to Wash
ington. There 1t lay, broad and straight In
the moonlight and we were to turn our
horses heads in the other direction. 1
looked up and met Dorothy's eyes. The
expression which / read on her face star
tied me- though for an instant l did not
understand She gave the signal follow
me-" and before l had time to draw breath
her horse was on a dead run straight down
the road toward Washington.
Our guard emptied his pistol so quickly
that the five succeeding shots sounded like
the echoes of the first. They whistled dan
gerously near me- but flew wide of Dorothy.
There were shouts and calls and other pis-
toll shots from pickets. but still we swept
on. our horses hOOfbeatS ringing sharp ana
clear on the cold night air.
Then came other hoofbeats. and. as the
moon burst from under the cloud. L saw
two horsemen gailoping down a side road
from the camp. / drew out my pistol and
dug my spurs into my horse. Dorothy was
going like the wind. fully fifty yards ahead.
The moon was covered again, and we gal
loped on in the shadow. the hoofbeats be-
hind me growing more distinct. The moon
came out. l turned in my saddle. took aim
and streams OF flame leaped from-my pis-
tol until every chamber was empty. The
weapons of the men who pursued us were as
busy. and 1 felt sharp stitch in my side,
then l knew that my hat was cut, but there
no slack in Dorothy's pace, and drew
{, deep breath and thanked God.
Again we rode In darkness. and T. took
out my last pistol and made ready. 1 knew
the two riding behind had the advantage,
since they might take long and sure aim.
They rode facing us. while had to turn in
my saddle and fire almost wild We were
I
hoping to gain some little on the more
heavily burdened horses of our pursuers.
The clouds passed, and l saw Dorothy
as silhouette on the top of the hill. A
saddle. answering to the last ball in my
weapon. The horse in the lead staggered.
lurched forward and fell on its head. 1
reached the top of the hill. Dorothy was
we'll down the slope. still holding her pace.
I knew the piece of horsefiesh she rode.
She had raised it from a colt. and 1t would
go at her urging as long rs there was
breath in it's body. but nay own beast was
weakening. and knew if the horse behind
held its pace l would soon be overhauled.
A cloud blotted out the moon. and tried
TO reload The horse behind was near
:hat I could hear his paintings. When
turned In my saddle 1 saw it had gained
many yards. here was a black object in
the road in front OF me. and my horse
swerved to one side and stopped. The beast
behind me was coming in great leaps. and
the man held his pistol leveled. The moon
flashed out from beneath the cloud.
Jack" / shrieked; don't shoot.'
My warning came too late. With the
bang of his pistol l heard him Sexclaim:
Great Cod"
The next instant he was down on the
ground. lifting Dorothy from her dead
horse. He held her in his arms as mother
would hold lost child. pressed her cheek
against his own and stroked her hair. Nor
did she resist. Then he set her on his
horse, and, finging his arms about her.
stood with his face buried in the folds Of
her skirt. She sat like a statue. her face as
white and still AS the unbroken sneD in the
fields around us. Finally she looked down
at him. lifted his cap. touched his hair and
stroked 1t caress;ngly.
Your shot did no HARM" she told him.
and her voice held all the reinsurance Of
gentle kiss. 1T only put Peggy out Of
her pain a little sooner. She was wounded.
poor horse. as We topped the HILL
l knew his bullet had been aimed for
another mark. and the horror Of what
might have happened was wringing his
soul.
1t was two hours past midnight when we
was expecting the dispatches that Jack
bore and sat Up waiting. Colonel Kellogg
insisted on taking his prisoners of war to
the President without delay. 1t was q
bold deed, but / had come to know that
Colonel Kellogg was accustomed to doing
bold deeds. We found with the President
his Secretary Of War; and 1 saw frOwn
OF displeasure succeed the fash OF sur
prise that shone on stanton's face when
We appeared.
Jack tated the situation 3ust as It was