The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1904-01-15

The wind bowed the treetops and swept
bowling over the level country. the rain-
drops battered down, and night birds,
with hoarse cries, duttered over our
heads
We could not see an inch beyond our
eyes, and it seemed an impossibility TO
find our way to the farmhouse. 7 was
just making up my mind to turn back
when light cleaned some distance be-
fore us
THE house! Hurrah-there's the
house." whispered one of the men, and
took my field glasses and anxiously
tried to discover the building.
Yes, the light was shining through
the glass-it must be the window pane
and at times was obscured as though
shadows were gliding before it.
The room was evidently occupied by
he enemy.
We rejoiced. The stormy weather IA
vored our approach, the wind and rain
would drown the noise of the horses
hoofs. We had the best prospect of be-
ing able to reconnoiter unseen.
So we rode forward, first cautiously
examining the ground; then, as It
proved to be grassy. velvety meadow
land, growing holder and moving more
rapidly.
We advanced for some time noiseless-
ly and swiftly, then the ground suddenly
became harder, and sometimes there
was grating noise, as If from loose peb-
bles.
Yet we rode on at a rapid pace. for
we were coming nearer and nearer to
the light. and, according to our calcula-
tions, must reach it in ten minutes at the
latest.
1t seemed strange that neither plowed
land nor fences appeared in the vicinity
of the house, but it was possible that
these signs of habitation were on the
opposite side, while the front over
looked the open moor.
The light burned steadily and bright
ly in the midst of the raging gale.
1 was riding in advance of my men,
with my eyes fixed intently on the fame.
whose brightness grew still more daz-
zlirg account of the darkness.
SUDDENLY / started so violently that al
most unconsciously I refined my horse
back. thus stopping the riders behind me.
With dilated eyes and hair fairly
bristling with terror gazed at the white
robed form Of a woman who had ap-
peared out of the darkness, waving me
back-my mother! Really, and in bod
lily form, the mother who had been sleep
ing three years in German cemetery al
home.
saw her distinctly-every line Of her
dearly beloved face, her eyes, her lips.
her figure in the white shroud. just al
had gazed at her for the last time in de-
spairing grief-my mother.
Now she suddenly stood before me in
the midst of the darkness of the night
in the enemy's country on the lonely
moor.
"Mother!" cried, "mother!"
The corporal seized me by the arm in
horror.
"For heavens sake! Captain!"
Then the strange apparition fadet
from my sight Again, with every sign
of the most intense anxiety, she mo-
toned: Back! Back" Then the
thick darkness again surrounded me.
sat In my saddle utterly incapable
of speech. I felt my horse tremble IN
der me as drew it back snorting.
Captain"
"Haekert-didn't you see anything?"
I gasped. at last.
mo, captain. What?"
"And did the rest of you see nothing?"
mo, captain" they answered, in evi.
dent surprise.
drew myself up resolutely.
Halt! Not another step! Some dan
ger is threatening us. Haekert. hold my
horse!" sprang to the ground. Let
me go few steps forward"
Loose pebbles creaked under my feet,
and 1 heard one roll along the ground
and then rattle as though it was falling
into some deep chasm.
What was the meaning Of that?
AS / stood irresolute. hesftating t.
move another step forward, the moon
shone brightly through the clouds and
I looked into the yawning depths of a
stone quarry upon whose opposite side
a lantern had been hung.
A trap set for us by the Franc-tireurs!
A chill ran through every limb. Two
steps more and we would have Deem
crushed ct the bottom of the chasm.
leaped back upon my horse.
Wheel! We are On the edge Of q
stone quarry!" said. in low tone. and
my brave men, who had seen the dan
ger at the same moment, turned their
horses.
Then shots ratified from the opposite
side Of the stone quarry. Bullets whis-
tied over. our heads; one struck my cor
7oral's carbine, but he had already
raised it to his cheek, and we, too. fired.
Twice we fired into the darkness. The
moon was again hidden. We no longer
saw the foe and now dashed through the
wind and rain to the shelter OF the
woods.
Not until later, when we had rejoined
our own troops in safety, did the MEM