Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-05-06
y y y " i n X n y n u

which is the same thing, ana you know
what he is. l am afraid when he finds
you missing at tattoo he will send out
detail. That is why said you must
be off at once. l have mapped out your
road. You have plenty of money, but
you ought to leave the violin behind"
81 couldn't" said he quietly.
every WE'LL" she said, "but look"
From the bottom of the basket she
took out some citizens clothes.
"Of course you won't keep to the
trails" she said, "but even on the plain
until you reach the railroad you must
not wear the uniform"
"You are my angel" he said. 81 new
err thought of it. l just wished to
go away, to be alone with the violin,
far from those-t those fellows-to be
free"
II know, dear" she said sympathet-
ically-"I know. The army is no place
for you. Now you must be off"
katy" he said, Couldn't you come,
too-now, I mean?"
She shook her head and laughed.
when you are settled down, wher-
ever it is, write, and l will come. l
promise, Noel"
"My dearest, 1t won't be long"
| Before the last note of taps had died
sadly away in the hills there was 81
lent hustle at the stables. Sleepy and
growing men We're throwing the sad
dies on the horses and leading them
out until half troop was formed. AS
they came Corporal Healy turned to
the sergeant in charge.
can what the diviPs eatin' the adju-
tant now, sergeant?' he asked, with q
yawn.
"Deserter," said the sergeant briefly
-"Faval of the band"
Healy swore gently.
ga bandsman, the wee man that
plays the fiddle! Is it him we're max
In all this fuss about? Begab an be.
! COB, there's been ten good men taken q
1 walk in the year, an we let 'em &c. an
now we're after a half built man, a
fiddler, whin the blankets is hungry
fur us. Let him go"
$50 say t. said the sergeant sullen
ly. Prepare to mount! Mount! Right
by twos. march! No talking"
They left the post and silently trot
ted down the road to the creek. Their,
they advanced by files and crossed tt
the island. One by one they disap
peared in the shadows of the scrul
oaks.
"Katy, Katy" said the deserter, 81
am free, yet not free. Until you come
] to me my heart must still be in the post
with you"
He had eaten, had been in the thicket
and changed his clothes had received
his last instructions from the girl on thu
road he should 60. and now they wer'
standing again in the moonlight, ant
his arms were round her.
They stayed little while yet, an,
from across the creek came the hoars
voices of the sentries on post, "Hal
past 10, and all's well!'
"Now, Noel, now. You must have :
good start. They won't go after 70,
until morning, and by that time yol
should have bought horse and be wei
on the way to the railroad. Goodby
dear; goodby! What? Listen! VIVA
was thatY
They separated suddenly and stood
lips apart, listening. Down the islam
were crushing of leaves and a crasf
ing Of branches and the snort of
horse. The deserter's face blanchet
and he threw his arms up despairingl,
"Already!" he cried. "They have su,
pected it alreadyw
The girls face, too, was white, BIT
she did not despair.
"QuickW she whispered. MAKE fc
the canyon-the mountain! Quick! The
will only search the island Quicl
Quick! Fly! oh, Noel, fyv
He hesitated; he was bewildered.
"But where" he cried-"where is m
violin%
She took itNfrom the rock and gave
him impatiently.
"Flyv' she said. "oh, quick, quicl
quick"
The trampling of the horses was no
! distinctly Heard and the command {
, Sergeant Holmes, ITO ten yards, clos
p distance!" The girl pushed her love
from her, and at last he went. ST
!, turned and ran back to the creek. ST
. sank down with cry Of despair. Fro
Z the upper end of the island came I'll
I noise Of more horses, of another con
mand in another voice, that of Adj,
q tant Wynn.
t She listened breathlessly, and 500
she heard sharp challenge: evil
: goes there? Halt, or you'll be fired vi
e on! Faval?"
There were pause, momentar
i scuffie and petulant, boyish cry {
rage. Then came the officers quie
searching voice:
8 Got him? All, fancy he must |
cold lying out here. Take him to IL
guardhouse, sergeant, where he ca
: get warm"
o The girl, white and trembling, slippe
silently across the stepping stones.
e "You fool" said Sergeant Holmes [
his prisoner. you should have bee
S miles away. What made you har
$ around here? Do you suppose wishe
e to catch you?"
The unhappy musician looked up ,
the grim sergeants Scared and ugl
: face wrathfully.
I you are farther away from her tina
:. ever now" he said.
n Mrs. Malone's moods were ut mo
+ times uncertain, but for weeks she ha
n been without even temporary relap
k into availability unless indeed towal
the morose and taciturn. Sergeal
e Holmes, Katy Malone, her daughtc
t and First Sergeant Malone her hu
!. band, found 1t more comfortable to |
b out of the house as much as possibl
1t was month after the capture
Noel Faval when Mrs. Malone foun
8 herself alone with Holmes. That hal
n pened frequently. The sergeant's visi
to Katy's home were the gossip of IL
Il post, for Holmes was not popular; e
k cry one knew that his face was homo