The Savannah morning news., 1902-04-20

heroism had left her. In 10 minutes
she would be going back to the world
of every day.
Sanford raised her hand to his lips.
"You have saved my life-and more, +"
he said, slowly, then burst out impetu-
ously; "but, please, please. never do it
againl No mans life is worth it. All
along I have have been asking myself
What if she were your sister? You
are a heroine, but please go straight
homei If 1 was risking only life l
would take you there at all hazards.
Even as it is"
Il am goingi" Esther broke in, white
to the lips.
Then had come to the river road.
CHANGING along it they saw squads Of
bluecoated horsemen dotting its whole
strength. The scout was caught fairly
in a trap from which there was but
one way out-the river.
'In there!" Esther cried, waving to-
ward the stream. Sanford caught her
reins. with you! Not otherwise!"
he said. Instantly he urged the ami
mails forward. The nearest bluecoats,
fifty yards off, sent a hail of lead af-
ter them. Before they could reload the
horses were in deep water, breasting 1t
calamity, Sanford slipped from his
horse, dragged Esther out of saddle
and held her in the hollow of his arm,
the while with his other hand he guild
ed the horses quartering down stream.
Hanging thus, shielded from the bull
lets he had a fair hope of escape. But
less than midstream a ball ripped
through poor Marquise's backbone and
sent her screaming to the bottom.
Hold to the saddlel You must-else
I shall go straight back and give my
self up" Sanford said imperatNely.
Soldiers were plunging in after them
stronger swimmers it might be, with
fresher horses-He took the check rein
in his teeth and swan beside Princess,
giving her her head, but keeping her
to the course. Esther chung obedient-
ly, just where he had set her hands.
He felt her tremble at his touch. He
turned to look at her. Her face was
deathly, but the lips quivered like
those of grieved child.
And then he knew. Here was the one
woman in all the world for him, al
though he had never heard her name.
Across the binding consciousness he
head shout-hoarse, happy, many
keyed, "Sur-r- ender, Johnny Reb!
Games up! Thar blows the gunboat."
He faced about and drew Esther TO
his breast, whispering, Darling, for
give!" Princess snatched her freed
head high, turned half-about-and
struck bottom. They had been SWIM
ming for yards along the margin of a
submerged ledge. In a twingling Sand
ford had crowded Esther into saddle,
and was wading waist deep beside
Princess. Half mile down stream he
head the putting gunboat. Unless they
could make land and hide there Sc
curely, all was lost.
The ledge ran down to the bluffs end.
A ShnH StrI1nlx the woods hofnrn the
swimmers gained them. o. joy! An
other shot echoed the shell-a shot
from out the wooded south bank. And
over it there rose the rebel yell, not
faint and quavering, but in lusty
strength from 500 threats. Mister For
rest had a knack of being on the spot
when wanted. Solid shot soon per-
suaded the gunboat that it might be
better occupied elsewhere.
1t painted off between banks of
cheering blue and yelling gray. If the
graycoats yelled in greeting to their
comrade, what shall one say of what
they did when the whole story was
told But when, three hours later, in
face of the whole brigade, there was
a wedding, at which Mister Forrest
himself gave away the bride. nobody
made a sound, every head was barred,
and more than half of those looking
on saw Drlde ana bridegroom through
dim eyes. The bride went straight
home, under flag of truce, by way of
Bellsboro, where the federal command
er, a lover of true romances, turned
out the guard in her honor, and gave
her a silver cup-her only wedding
present.
Mrs. John Sanford has silver a.
plenty, but none so treasured as that
plain. thin bit. A proud and happy
grandmother, she loves to tell the story
of it to some little lads, whose greatest
ambition is to grow up soldiers like
grandma and Rrandnama