The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-02-12

| that he had already known there were
armed men on North Mountain, and that
| they were operating" as Sam said, on
his refugee line" He further told Sam
seven refugees concealed in an obscure
ravine, not far distant, and that within the
| week he would be in readiness to conduct
them to the promised land" beyond the
| border. To Sans surprise "Marsa Todd
told him that one of the bushwhackers,
| Sam Harding, was his personal friend, a
loyal Union man, and that it was more
than likely, when en- route to Maryland
with the refugees, he would call at the
cavern to pay his respects to Harding and
also his wife and daughter, who had ac-
companied him to North Mountain. The
astonished Sam scratched his woolly head,
but gave expression to no protestation or
warning, his confidence in the wisdom and
prowess of "Massa Todd" being illimit-
able.
The truth was that Sam Harding had
sought refuge with the bushwhackers that
he might escape the fury of mis- enemies,
the rebel sympathizers, one of whose num-
Der he had killed in the heat and passion
camp was some 10 or Is miles from
Harding's home. Hastily gathering such
necessary articles as he could conveniently
carry, he abandoned his pretty. but hum
BILE, home in the dark hour of night, and,
accompanied by his gentle wife and beau
tiful daughter, Sue, sought the mountain
cavern, flying from known ills to others
unknown.
THE BUsHwHAcKER's DAUGHTER.
Meier did Grecian chisel trace
A nymph, Naiad, or Grace,
OF finer form, or lovelier facew
Sue Harding had been the pride and joy
of the deserted home,
Where her fair hand had taught to Irvine
The ivy and Idean vine"
Her opportunities for education ami cul-
ture had been limited to the circumscribed
boundary of the little valley in which she
had lived her 1S years of life. She
YVES beautiful, but her loneliness of per-
son did not exceed her charm of manner
or the purity of her heart-pure as the
mountain air she breathed. The sun had
tinged her cheek with brown, the color of
her hair and eyes. Her voice was clear
as bell and musical, although upon her
speech there hung the accents of the noun
tain tongue" Free and untrammeled this
gentle, courageous girl roamed through
valley and over mountain, her song at
tuned to that of the merry choristers look
ing down apOn her from leafy bowers in
the woodland. The luster and soft ex-
preston of her eyes and the agility with
which she leaped from crag to crag on
the mountain side were suggestive Of the
gaelic:
"A foot more light, step more true,
Meier from the heath-fower dashed the
dew"
In T. is dark hour of Sam Harding's life
he lea ned that in shadow as in sunshine
his daughter was true. AS a burst of light
this revelation dawned upon him when
making the night journey to North Noun
tain. While she was not unmindful of the
discomfOrts and dangers of their environ
ment she tactfully endeavored to dispel the
somber thoughts and evil forebodings that
occupied her brave and devoted fathers
mind. Knowing full well that his chief
concern was for the comfort and safety
of herself and faithful mother, she sought
to make him understand that she was not
afraid, and that he could depend upon
her. By degrees he found himself relying
upon the intelligence and indomitable will
Of the spirited, undaunted maiden whose
counsel in more than one instance was
intuitively wise and opportune.
just when Sue Harding was in the
flush of young womanhood there came
the fierce civil war which was horribly
cruel in her border home, stirring the
worst passions of the people among whom
she dwelt. The dreadful scenes enacted
under her own observations, and others Of
which she heard, induced her to procure
a revolver and learn how to use It effec.
lively. Her nerve being strong and her
eye true, she soon became an expert with
both pistol and rife.
sPooK's cAvEsN.
at was a lodge of ample size,
But strange OF structure and device"
Harding and his companions had gone
a considerable distance up the mountain
slope when they were challenged by u
countersign, the refugees displayed a white
handkerchief. it then being daylight, az q
flag of truce. The sentinel quietly and
critically gazed upon them for q few mo-
ments, the presence Of females evidently
puzzling him, and then he, also, exhibited