The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-08-07

terror she did not spare her now, and
more than once the whip fell stingingly
upon the quivering flank. Over her
We're the murmuring branches, beyond
these the silence of the starry skies,
around her the multitoned sounds of
the swamp. Once and again imagina-
ton redoubled the beat of her own
horses hoofs and changed them into
the sounds of pursuit, and ever and al
ways she YVES listening for the call to
halt. A fox slipping through the under
brush set her to trembling, and once
when a bat tapped past her in the
blackness she gave forth a piercing,
nervous quivering cry.
Then finally a new dread beset her.
La Brun had turned back from the
chase and sent messengers to hurry
Tarleton, who lay five miles nearer
..aurens than her fathers plantation.
She would be outwitted, defeated of
her purpose, after all, and she began to
sob as she hurried Princess on.
Easter, fasterw she cried and leaned
forward and patted the animal on the
neck, then lurched violently to one side
and barely saved herself from a fall,
for Princess had slipped in one Of the
pools that dotted the road, and when
Dulcine had pulled her up and encour-
aged her she went forward again, but
limping sorely.
All hope of haste was now over, and
so for half an hour they plodded pain
fully forward. At this rate it would
be wide eyed day before she reached
the camp at Laurens, and by that time
the work of death would be DONE The
sobs were again in her throat, the mis-
cry tugging at her heart, when a final
disaster befell her, for, a treacherous
root turning under Princess foot, she
fOundered and went down with a
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 at the animals head,
pitying, coaxing, petting. But Princess
could not rise. A shaft of young moon
light piercing the LEAKAGE 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 means of carrying her
warning to the doomed patriots was
gone, and she had probably killed the
horse that was as q comrade to her
Tenderly by the faint light she
Strengthened out the crumpled leg and
loosened the girth, pulling the saddle
away by main force that it might not
add to the animals discomfort. Then
she knelt Il 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 a message for her,
But suddenly she stood up, BREATH
less, shaking, for out of the shadows
through which she had ridden a 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 an 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 a
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 if only
she could get away.
"Ah!' La Brun had struck q light
from his tinder box and was leaning
over the PROSTATE horse. $50 tits you,
Princess! Your mistress must have got
off unhurt, but she cannot be far
ahead, so my quest is safe" And,
thinking thus, he stopped to examine
the horse, unmindful that his own
steed had strayed back a 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 a
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 a thrill of sa-
tirical girlish laughter on the air,
white throat scarf streamed, meteorlike,
through the dusk, and La Brun knew
what had happened. Not moment did
he hesitate, but with a spring like
some agile footed tenant of the jungle
he caught the flying bit as the horse
passed him and held to it 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, a moment ago!
~"Hold or l 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