Oxford Democrat., 1903-09-29

disaster befell Ecr, for, treacherous
root turning under Princess foot, she
foundered and went down with q
scream of pain as near like the human
voice as Gods dumb creatures ever at
tain. In moment Dulcine had cleared
her skirt and was ut the animals head,
plying, coaxing, petting. But Princess
could not rise. \ Shaft Of young moon.
light piercing the leafuSe above showed
the eyes wide open with pain and mute
appeal. The girl put her arms around
the creatures neck. sobbing hysterical.
ly. Her only mcans Of carrying her
warning to the doomed patriots was
.,one, and she had probably killed the
lcrsc that WAS as u comrade to her.
TcnGcrIy " the faint light she
Strengthened out the crumpled leg and
iOosened the grth, pulling the saddle
away by main force that it might not
add to the animals discomfort. Then
she knelt moment with her hand fOn-
ding the satiny neck in farewell, for
in her mind was no other thought but
that she must continue her journey on
foot. Perchance she might meet some
one to speed u message for her.
But suddenly she stood up, breath
less. shaking. for out Of the shadows
through which she had ridden horse
man was coming. was even now SO
close upon her that she had barely time
to slip into the bushes by the roadside
before he halted, warned by a whinny
from Princess herself that IN obstacle
was in the road. He sprang to the
ground and came into the rift Of light,
and the heart of the hidden girl gave u
great bound, for 1t was Peter La Brun.
He had not, then, gone back to send
the alarm to Tarleton, and there might
yet be time to save the camp II only
she could get away.
"Ah" La Brun had struck light
from his tinder box and was leaning
over the PROSTATE horse. 80 it's you.
Princess! Your mistress must have got
off unhurt, but she cannot be far
ahead, so my guest is SAFE" And,
thinking thus, lie stopped to examine
the horse, unmindful that his own
steed had straycd back few yards
down the road to pool Of water that
lay like leaden mirror close to the
underbrush.
But the girl In her covert saw, and n
sudden daring purpose leaped to life
within her. On Peters own horse
would she carry her warning to Mari
on and Robert Crenshaw. Stealthily
she followed the creature to the pool,
and when it put down its head to drink
she seized the rein and by sheer force
Of desperation swung herself up to the
big saddle and gathered the bride
taut. A bold dash would carry her past
La Brun, and her mission would be
sped.
"Stand, Sultan" cried the crouching
man over his shoulder. thinking all the
noise came from his horse. But Sultan
obeyed the whip on his flank and start
ed forward. There was thrill Of sa-
tirical girlish laughter on the air, n
white throat scarf streamed, meteorlike,
through the dusk, and La Brun knew
what had happened. Not moment did
he hesitate, but with spring like
some agile footed tenant Of the jungle
he caught the flying bit as the horse
passed him and held to 1t in spite Of
the blows the girl rained upon him,
and Sultan, knowing his masters
voice, hesitated. With whip and voice
the girl urged him on furiously. She
had been so self confident SO sure of
success, moment ago!
"Hold or I shoot the horse under
you! thundered the man, reaching for
his pistol with one hand. And she knew
he would keep his word.
With this horse dead there would be
absolutely no hope for the patriot
camp, for she knew that La Brun
would never permit her to proceed on
foot. She slackened rein to parley
with him, command and entreaty, al
ternating oddly in her voice:
"Peter La Brun, for the sake Of those
men yonder in Marion's camp, the
playmates of your childhood, the
friends of your youth, put up your pis-
tol and let me pass"
81 will not"
"Do it then because of the manhood
that is in you."
Never"
"Then because Of my weaker woman
hood" In her tones now was only the
Intensity Of entreaty.
"No."
"Out-out of the love you bear mel"
mo"
Then despair made her desperate.
Beyond the murmurous branches tho
sky was losing its inkiness. Not a mo-
ment could be lost, Tarlcton was per-
chance already OH the move. There re.
muined but one plea more. With dry
sob in her throat she leaned out Of her
saddle to make 1t:
"Peter La Brun, let me pass on my
way, and as am Langston l will
wed you when the war is DONE"
There followed a moment Of death
like silence; then he said slowly, "Y0u
swear it?'
She lifted her hand, and there was
the acme Of self renunciation in hel
voice. II swear It,"
Another moment he hesitated, then
his pistol was lowered, and his hand
sank from the bride bit. He made nc
other motion, but she took this for as
sent, and the freed horse, answering
the rein, swerved past the dim figure
in the road and disappeared like some
exercised spirit Of the night down the
dusky arcades Of the forest. For few
minutes the sound Of his galloping
came back splashily to the man left
behind. Afterward silence-the creepy
pregnant silence Of the forest-fell
upon him.
For the first mile Dulcine's face did
not lose its hard lines, then suddenly
her cheeks were wet with tears, and
she sped on sobbing like a hurt child
Another mile, and the forest thinned
and faded backward and the level, cul.
tivated district of Laurens stretched
dimly before her. The great yellow
morning star shone full in her face,
and low down on the horizon was q
long. thin line Of gray.
"Tarleton is comingw she cried to q
man who came sleepily from wayside
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