The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
CHAPTER VIII.
How Joan saved the Day.

VIII.
How Joan saved the Day.
And now did / indeed abandon my
self to despair. Few would have given
q croat for my life, with that crew at
nv heels; and I least of all, now that
nv dear comrade was lost. The wound
in nv shoulder was bleeding sore-l
could feel the warm stream yelling
vet rot so sore as my heart And l
dressed my knees into the saddle nap
and wondered what the end would be.
Molly was going her best, but the
best was near spent. The sweat was
ocZing, her satin coat losing the gloss,
the spume fling back from her nos-
trils-"Soh!" 1 called to her; "Soh, my
beauty; we ride to save an army" Il
loose stones flew right and left as she
reach'd out her neck, and her breath
came shorter and shorter.
A mile. and another mile, we passed
in this trim, and by the end of it must
nave spent three-Quarters of an hour
at the work. CHANGING back, l saw the
troopers scattered; far behind, out fol-
lowing. The heights were still a weary
way ahead, but l could mark their
steep sides ribb'd with boulders. Till
these were passed, there was no chance
to hide. l reached these at last, ana
then, high above, on the hillside, L
heard a voice calling.
l iook'd up. Below the sleeper ridge
OF the tor a patch of land had been
clcar'd for tillage; and here a yoke OF
oye:n was moving leisurely before 4
plow Ctwas their tinkling bells I had
heard Just now; while behind fol-
lowed the widest shape, by the voice
of q woman.
She was not calling to me. but to her
team; and as ! put Molly at the slope
her chant rose and fell in the mourn
fullest singsong.
"so-hoa! Cop Comely Vean! oop,
~tten-o-oop!"
l rose in my stirrurs and shouted.
At this and the sound Of hoofs. she
stay'd the plow, and, hand on hip,
looked down the slope. The oxen,
softly rafting the chains on their yoke,
turn'd their necks and gazed. with
sunk head Molly heaved herself up
the last few yards and came to 4 halt
with a stagger. 1 slipp'd out of the
saddle and stood, with a hand on it,
swaying.
whats try need, young man-that
CONTEST down to Temple wi sword
a'danglin'"
The girl was a ~half-naked savage
dress'd only in a strip of sacklns ina
barely reach'd her knees. n a scant
bodice Of the same, lac'd in front with
pack thread, that left her bosom and
brown arms free. Yet she appear'd no
whit abash'd, but lean'd on the ploW-
tail and regarded me, easy and frank,
as a man would.
Sell me a horse" l blurtcd out.
"Tvcrty guincas will l give for ore
within five minutes. and more II he DE
good. l ride on the Kings GRAND
Sell thee a horse? Hire thee a Ded,
man more like. Nay, then, lad
But l saw her no longer; only cailed
"Oh-ohw twice, like a little child, and
slipping my hold of the saddle, droppu
forward Oh her breast.
I was reused by the touch OF a hand
thrust in against my naked breast
over my heart.
WHO is it," I whispered.
Joan" answered a voice, and the
hand with withdrawn.
.Joan-what besides"
"Joan's enough, l reckon; lucky for
thee it's none else. Joan O. the Ior
folks call me, but may yet be Joan
i Good Time. So Eold thy peace, al
an cry out so little as may be-"
I felt the ripping Of my jacket sleeve
and shirt, now c!otted and stuck to the
flesh. 1t pain'd cruelty, but l shut my
teeth: and after that am the smart
and delicious ache of water, as she
| rinsed the wound. =,
Clean through the flesh. lad-ln an
ont like country dancin'. No bullet to
probe nor bone TO set. Heart ul. soce!
THY mother Shall kiss thee yet. Whats
thy name"
marvel, John-Jack Marvel"
can marvel it's thou'rt Marvel yet.
| Good blood there's in thee, but little
eEow."
IT. hn continual