The Savannah morning news., 1902-04-20

the end-God knows. Now tell me the
way"
There is none 1 can tell you, but I
can. show you one-a blind trail, woods
roads and cattle tracks" Esther said,
scrambling upon her mares back and
wheeling her half about. Meet me
/ outside the back bars. l shall be there
in little while"
No. no. You must not think of it,.
| cannot allow you" Sanford began.
The strengthening drums silenced him.
Esther smiled and dashed away.
twenty minutes after she was at the
bars to meet him, sitting straight and
light in saddle, as he had known she
, would ride. Without a word she gave
MN parcel. Then he knew she had
read the hunger in his face He was
ravenous-not a morsel had crossed his
lips since breakfast the day before. He
ate In silence, riding a half-length back
OF MS guide. who struck quartering
| across the long ridges of the woods.
| Iheir trend riverward told the lay of
| the land. The river was much less
than 10 miles off, but could be crossed
safely only at the rifles.
| How does it happen You are so fine
a woods rider?'' Sanford asked after
a mile. Esther smiled at him over her
shoulder. and said inconsequently: L
am all the boy my father has, tom
boy, you see and SO l go with him
everywhere. He took me fox hunting,
riding behind him, when l was not 4
years old"
Il should like to shake hands with
him, for wise man and a good one"
sanford said. Esther did not answer.
! she leaned slightly forward scanning
the way narrowly. The SUM- westering
sharply, shot long golden lances down
through the fretted green high over
head. Here or there a light shaft
showed an old blaze uopn a tree
trunk.
I'VE must follow the old trace-fa-
Their showed it to me last year" Es-
Their explained after another mile. The
woods were thinning. The trace had
led to ridge top whence they could
see in places the big road running
white and straight, through the coun-
try lowland. Presently they came into
a cattle track. Esther frowned to see
/ that 1t was not freshly trodden, but
followed it, unquestioning, until it ran
square into a wide new clearing, with
bigger deadening on beyond. Neither
clearing nor deadening was fenced.
Both were green with tobacco the
broad leaves glistening jewel-wise
wherever the sun struck. The tobac-
co ran to the door of a ramshackle
cabin, new like all the rest
20, forgot! How could l let myself
forget" Esther, said. wheeling her
horse and motioning Sanford back.
BILL Risley has settled here. He's the
only Lincolnite in our end of the coun-
ty. He and his boys are forever spy
ing. If they saw us they would run
right straight to the soldiers
They would not have far to go!
Look! Sanford said, waving his hand
downward. Through the low road a
winding column swept. a column brave
in blue and brass. with drums still
beating, colors flying. 1t was the ad-
vance guard-only two platoons.
AS Sanford and Esther watched
them the same thought shaped itself
in both minds. They faced each other
smiling. Sanford spoke first, with
somehow a curious tightness in his
throat. They can never catch US
and the chances are they cannot shoot
to hit u.s.
mo, they cannot catch us-not I'M
der Ave miles. They could not do II at
all, only our horses are full of grass"
Esther said, smiling In turn, though
her face was white. You can swim?"
she said interrogatively Sanford
nodded. Then suddenly he caught
himself sharply lifted his hat and
said Young lady. you must 20 home.