The National tribune., 1903-02-19
Continued from last week.

to the Shenandoah Valley. Their environ
ment was enchanting and their Seclusion
ideally romantic. Nature was arraying
herself in all the colors of the flushing
year,
"In that soft season, when descending
showers
Call forth the greens and wake the rising
flowers"
Having gone some distance down the
mountain side, they came to an embowered
retreat-and there they dreamed loves
young dream and told the old, old story.
Here | draw the curtain, leaving the read
er to imagine what l cannot describe.
Early OH the following morning when
Aurora was painting the mountain with
golden light, the lovers again sought their
sylvan bower, where naugLt broke the still
ness save the birds in full song, and the
tinkling of q fountain rill murmurlng in
unison with the subdued voices of two
young people reaffirming their pllgbted
troth-again telling the sweet old story.
Melton had been warned that the camps
must be broken up on that day and that
he could tarry no longer; therefore, they
visited the sequestered dell for the last
time, where, if in the fullness of their
hearts their voices should be hushed, the
eyes could speak tue gentle good-by.
TRAGIC SCENE.
The lovers tryst was a short distance
beyond the sentry's station, and the sharp
eye of Sue Harding was the first TO descry
impending danger. A body of Confederate
soldiers was slowly winding up the noun
tain side. Instantly the lithesome damsel
was ON her feet and giving the signal cry
of warning to the sentinel, further up the
mountain. He in turn sent in the alarm
to the camp. Then running forward to
recOnnoiter he fired upon the head of the
Confederate line advancing in single file.
Instead of hastily retreating, the noun
tain heroine drew her ready revolver and
fired several shots at the leading Confed-
crate, who, however, was not yet within
pistol range. The Confederates then fired
two or three shots, one of which wounded
the girl who, with a faint cry fell into the
arms of Melton. Tenderly laying her
down on the grass and flowers, he endear-
ingly sought to ascertain the nature and
extent of tile wound.
sit is nothing more than flesh wound
in my right ARM" said the brave girl.
Then, in the next breath she cried, Ely,
dearest, fly! The enemy will capture you.
They are even now upon us. You can do
me no good by remaining here. l shall fall
into their hands, but you must escape If
possible"
Seeing that he hesitated, she cried in a
sharp voice, 81 command you to fly! If
YOU lONe sou VIII oDcy. w Shsih iiSSt
again; if not in this world, l know that
we shall surely meet in the Brighter
Land beyond the stars"
The distracted lover pressed the fearless
maiden to his heart, kissed her pale lips,
and fled up the mountain, the Confederates
sending several shots after him without
effect.
THE BUsHwHACKERs DISPERSED.
The bushwhackers had delayed their de-
parture too long, permitting themselves to
be surprised. The surprise might have
been more serious had not Sue Harding
delayed the Confederate advance. Aston
ished at finding beautiful young girl lying
wounded in their pathway, they inyolun
tarily halted to make inquiries and admin.
lister to her wants.
The bushwhacker Chieftain, however
acted promptly. Seeing at glance thai
resistance would be useless, he ordered q
retreat. Turning to Harding he said:
Lieutenant, you remain here. Hide
yourself in the secret cave, with which You
are familiar. Your wife and daughter vii
be captured by the Confederates. They
will not be harmed. You can go to then
later This is the last command / shall
ever give you. May God be with you til
we meet again. Mrs. Harding, go to your
daughter. You will need each other. Fare
wellr'
10 the Dduu, ue CIlcu, IoIHd
men, up the ridge!'
The attacking Confederates consisted Of
infantry, about $50 strong, and McNeil'
Partisan Rangers.
A Captain, coming up and finding Mrs
Harding engaged in bandaging the arm o
fair young girl, demanded to know why
they were there and the whereabouts Of
the bushwhackers, or rather, the robbers
as he called them.
'They are gone" said Mrs Harding
However, having captured two women
one of them wounded, your foray has moi
been altogether fruitless."
Some of the men then explained thai
they had fired in reply to shots coming
from up the mountain, they supposins. o.
course, that they had encountered tn,
bushwhackers. In the distance they hat
not noted the presence of a woman.
Surgeon now came forward and re
spectfully offered his services. Havin,
carefully examined and dressed the wound
he said it was by no means serious, bu
that it would be the cause of much dis
comfort, and for that and other reasons
he advised the removal of the maiden t.
her homo as soon as possible.
One OF the Rangers" known to Mrs
Harding, inquired: Did Uncle Jimm.
Todd, of White Oak Lick, have any con
nection with the bushwhacsersT'
Smiling. Mrs. Harding replied: well
uncle Jimmy sent message 10 lHc DuSu
whackers, some days ago, commanding
them TO keep out of his way"
'And did they move out of Uncle Jim
my's way"
"They certainly did. No one who know
Uncle Jimmy wants to get in his way"
"You remember, Serg't Melville" con
tinued Mrs. Harding, that Uncle Jimm
marked one of your Rangers by shootin
off a piece of his ear, and then sent wor
10 Capt. Mcneil that if any of his men al
tempted to pass through his dominion Q
White Oak Lick, they would lose thei
lives instead of fragments of their ears"
A handsome officer, commandant OF tn
expedition, happening along, was mnc
amused at the colloquy between Mr.
Harding and the Sergeant Laughingly h
said: Sergeant, think that will do. Th
lady is too much for you" Then, turnin
to Mrs. Harding, he courteously saif
"Please do not pay any further attentiO
to the Sergeant, Madam. / regret exceed
ingly that your daughter is wounded. Th
Surgeon informs me, however, that til
wound is slight. | advise you, therefore I
take her home. Please command me for an
assistance you may need"
Being called away, the officer sent
parting shot mt Melville. Sergeant, loo
out for spooks! Keep a sharp eye o
Uncle Jimmy Todd and de not lose yor
ears"
UNCLE JIMMY REAPPEARs.
Returning from Cumberland, whence
had safely conducted the refugees, Unc
Jimmy Todd travelling his regular rout