Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-10

cision. To warn the sentry might cause
! the whole plan of General Henderson's at
tack to be overthrown, ana would result IN
his own court-martial for disobedlence to
orders; to fire, after that powerful, though
unconscious appeal for mercy, would be
murder.
Leaping to his feet, the federal officer
| shouted: Look out for yourself, Johnny!
The sentry started, paused a moment. and
waving acknowledgment to Wood, disap-
peared in the grove at his back. AS he did
| SO, confederate bugle sounded the as
| sembly'' near by. The federal force ad-
yanced on run through the scrub.
1t was ten minutes before the battalion
| had searched the grove and penetrated to
| the other side When they had done so,
cry of thanksgiving welled up from captain
Woods heart. Far to the south squad IN
gray, we'll mounted, was galloping hard IL
was the outpost he had warned.
half mile to the west, and hopelessiy
behind the fugitives, General Henderson
brigade marching from the encircling
woods. Immediately in front was the en-
campment of the confederate brigades, and
here was the secret of Woods rejoicing.
for it had been deserted several hours:
Taking fright, the confederates had fled
in the night, leaving the mounted outpost
as blind to cover the retreat. His warn
ing to the sentry had done no harm, and
Captain Woods reputation was saved
The fire famed up brightly. and the Cap
tain Wood of other days awoke to his sur
itbliuiHSS Will SldIt Hat Siio"SN III
l did not fear to do right he said TO
himself.
Yes the unbidden thought sprang up;
hut what has that to do with this case!
Are you showing mercy now?
II am insuring my daughters happi-
ness"
How do you know" Knocked the other
self rs she not capable of choosing? is
McLane's poverty crime? What else IS
there against him.
Many times the colonel Travelled the
weary mental round, always approving, al
Ways condenning. At 10 o'clock he VS.
back again to the giant soldier beneath
the tree. Somehow the man, a meteor
who had crossed his mental sky but once
in forty years, but whose light had proven
torch to his feet, seemed intimately con-
he tied with the perplexity. His memory
seemed to supplicate-this time for another
southerner. 1t was another little war; this.
the crisis of the battle.
The room was dark now: the nre n3u
settled to a bed OF Goals. glowing dlmly
the hearth. The colonel, sunk In ms
easy chair seemed to hear the roar OF
the thunder, the pate: of the rain; to
feel the two sharpshooters. guns at the
Ready kneeling beside him, waiting the
word to fire; the unconscious figure leaning
on the long gun:
Jesus lover of my SOUL
Let to Thy bosom fly.
A splendid barytone voice of peculiar
timbre sang the verses, the familiar words
made more attractive by the singers
southern accent. now great was liiC po"
er of imagination, to bring back the mans
very voice.
But this was not imagination. The song
was being sung; it was ringing through
the house on that instant. In amazement
he rose and crossed the hall, pausing in
the doorway of the parlor. His daughter
was at the piano. McLane, the southerner,
was singing. Grace had told him of her
fathers decision, and the words were at
once a prayer, a beneuiction and fare
well.
You sing WELL said the colonel quietly,
as the last stanza closed. That is my
favorite song, Mr.. McLane."
"And mine, sir I sing it often
Grace had turned from the piano in sur
prise at her fathers presence. Her eyes
were trimming, but she smiled bravely.
'others of your family may have known
and liked it. Your uncle, or your father,
perhaps?"
If McLane thought it strange, this sud
den interest in his affairs on the part of
man who had just refused to consider him
as son-in-law, he did not show it. He
answered readily and simply. 1T is my
fathers favorite, too. In fact, he thinks
it saved his life once
Would you mind telling me the story?'
Grace, her eager lips half parted, gazed
from her father to her lover and back
again Something strange. and of which
she knew not the drift was happening;
but her woman's instinct whispered that
her fathers attitude favorable, and
the soft color mounted to her cheeks.
We'll, you see, sir began McLane che
was confederate soldier, and in '63 he
was left with outpost to guard the re-
treat of Guthries men in Kentucky.
Guthrie heard that he was to be attacked
at daybreak, so he left in the night Cen
eral Lee had forbidden an engagement
My father was the farthest picket He
expected that the attack would be delivered
from across the river in front of him, and
that he would be the first to fall Just
before daybreak something told him his
hour had come. 1t storming and he
thought of mother, who had promised to
wait until after the war for him. He
couldn't retreat until ordered, for that
would be cowardly; but he was not afraid
ne SAID, so he sang. All this may not be
of interest to you. SIR
On the contrary, it is of the deepest
interest. Pray, go on
HIS instinct, or reasoning, as to the pres
ehce or the enemy was correct. for he had
barely finished the second stanza when a
Union offlcer jumped up from the bushes
Just ahead and warned him to watch out
At the same instant the commander of the
outpost discovered Union troops in force
to the. west and the assembly, was sound
ed; They mounted their horses and got
safely away. The infantry of the main
pooy mad seven hours start and the Yam
KEGS never caught up
Did he tell you when and where this
happened?' @
Yes, he did? 1t was"
Let me tell said the colonel. "It was
on the smoky river, October "a 1868 and
was the Union officer"
HAIR an hour later the comparison of
notes mad been about completed and the
war brought to a satisfactory conclusion,
Grace bright-eyed and very happy, sat be-
tween the two men on the sofa and Nj
Lane surrept1tiously obtained possession of
her hand. He was casting about for some
method OF asking permanent possession of
lem =" ZIG pioo-
want to see your father, John he re-
marked for the tenth time, and I think
ne q ilke 10 see me. But that can be easily
arranged; of course he'll be here and uo1,
mother too, for the wedding"
Noiseless Paper Money.
From the New York Sun