Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-01

eye picked the speediest with the un-
erring Judgment of the born horsewom-
IN. She leaped to his back. took the
yard paling and flew across the soft
loan field to the highroad.
When Lieutenant Colonel Banistre
Tarleton entered the kitchen smilingly
to see why breakfast delayed he found
the room empty, and sounds from the
clubhouse told him the rest. The petu-
liant Tipped lad became instantly rag
ing demoniac, and the crestfallen men
tumbled out, mounting with speed in
creased by threats and revilings.
A sight of the horseless trooper sent
the leaders, passion leaping to knowl-
edge "'Tis the girl!' he cried. "The
deuce! She's Off to warn theml'
And his curses suddenly mixed them
selves with steel sharp orders.
Mrs. Walker wrung her hands rs the
last trooper galloped Off inter the rest
on horse impressed from the stables.
"God grant they don't catch her!" she
prayed.
AS Anne sped along the curving
stretch of road over the low hill spurs
she leaned to the horse's name, crying
to him: run, you splendid boy! Run!
IT'S to save the assembly," And the
great creature, slim, lustrous blood
bay, snorted and settled to action, his
limpid eye catching the terror-white as
If he, stolen from some Virginia stable,
knew what the words meant.
Gallop and gallop; she heard the red
clods patter on the road behind rs she
went. One mile-two miles. The wind
warped trees stretched by in whirl-
ing, drunken race of foliaged dervishes.
Three miles-they must surely know
by now.
She passed two riders and noted their
glance of wonder. One called out tc
her, but she did not stop. The terrific
pace made her breath come jaggedly
and it was only by supreme effort
that she kept her seat on the pommel
less saddle.
The last two miles flung away in O
| dulled red roar.
There were groups upon the court
house steps when she pulled up hel
frothing horse, and Henry himself
pushed forward to her side.
"Tarleton," she painted, "at Castle
Hill-coming toNtake the assembly,!
Henry turned and repeated the mes
sage. 1t was caught up on all sides
and banded up and down the CORR
doris. There was rush for the shed.
and hurried mounting. Then another
cry spread: Jefferson-he was at Mon
ticello!
"How much time?' asked Henr,
briefly of Anne.
"Ten minutes" she answered at haz
ard.
"Too little. They will be upon hin
before this" He brought his horse ant
vaulted into the saddle. evil Tarle
ton know you have comeY'
Eyes"
'Then you must not stay" he sail
firmly. "You shall ride with me-"
| Before she could answer horsemal
came Gathering in from a bride path
It was Colonel Carter, and he took ii
the preparations Mt glance.
Good" he shouted. Lose no time
gentlemen. Captain Jouett has warn
ed Monticello. The assembly stand
dissolved, to meet at Staunton tire
days hence"
About noon hoofs rang behind then
in the finty road, and Henry and Ann
refined their horses into the brush. Tw,
i more riders galloped by, to wheel an'
come back at Henry's halloo. The,
were Mr.. John Tyler and Colonel Har
rison. Fatigued and hungry as the,
were, both essayed to smile.
"Is Jefferson safeW cried Henry.
AYE" Colonel Harrison assured hin
"The family are gone to Colonel Car
ter's, and all of the gentlemen VIII
were at Monticello are in the noun
tains. Twas narrow squeak"
"Whither think you we had bes
rider" Colonel Harrison asked as the
started.
Lafayette is nigh the RapId-Ann,
said Henry. az faith"-with a smil
at the girl beside him-"the man VIII
named 1t should have seen you ride
Best to reach our own lines for til
night, and tomorrow we will off 70
Staunton. Ely's house should be nea
our troops, and Mistress Tillotson Gu
! get safe escort to fredericksburg"
At midafternoon they stopped at
small hut in gorge and asked 70
something to eat.
After the meal and rest the four rod
some hours through shaggy ravine
, strewn with wrack of storm, where til
green veins Of every growing thing ra
flush with frenzled sap, then to the 10,
valleys of the Rapid-Ann. And her
ut last spirals of smoke showed thel
where Lafayette lay encamped, wal
ing junction with Wayne to marc
against CORVALLIS.
The first challenge they met cam
from detachment Of Virginia riff,
men, and, finding an old friend in the
commander, Major Call, Colonel Hal
rison and Mr.. Tyler elected to go n
farther Ely's house, Henry Learned
was but a few miles beyond the picke
lines, and as to the morrow's escol
for Anne the major sent lieutenar
with them a mile down the river 4
headquarters to ask 1t.
1t was q picturesque ,encampmer
through which they passed. Ther
We're few tents-merc wigwams of fires
cut boughs to shed the dew. Here an
there fires of blazing fence rails glove
yellowly in the gathering twilight.
The tent of the acting colonel of til
Virginia Continental regiment wa
pitched apart on patch of beate
grass. Stools and q light folding tab
holding pen and paper sat just outsid
the open flaps, from whose angle a lal
tern hung, already winking in the dusl
Benches were on nnn side md ho,,