The National tribune., 1904-03-24

fsick." I impressed those words upon
her-she must not let the fever get the up
per hand, or we were lost.
could see tile determination to con-
quer repossess hlf-would she win? That
was then a a1omentous question.
She bathed her hands and face in the
cool. liHpid spriHg, and drank. Then she
: took comb frons her pocket and straight
ened out the beautiful golden hair.
How could Ifhave been SO completely
deceived! As shsf sat there on the messy
rocks, l think it was the first time had
really ever seen her-Jones. How thor
oughly girlis4 she was. and how ludicrous
she looked, ip her loose clothes! My mind
had been so full of my bitter fate that
never really thought much about Jones'
refined lad, outside of his sphere among
soldiers.
l said: "Jones-Miss Marjory;" she
turned with a faint smile at my mistake.
Il must find some way out of this-I will
not be gone long," cautioned her to be
the place would be raided-merely wish
ing to keep her occupied. started to go.
She stopped me. She took a small pack
age from the lining of her hat and putting
it in my hand said that might help me. l
put it in my pocket without unwrappng
it and left. My mind was so conferred on
other things, l didn't at that moment look
to see what she had given me.
L had no plans, but l would try to find
negroes on whom l could depend. l was
greatly depressed. Here was in the very
heart of rebeldom, liable to be captured 1t
any moment, with fever-stricken child
depending upon my skill to deliver her
into the hands OF friends. l could not take
her further, that was sure. She must be
sent North-but how? l was worried al
most to desperation, as l thought Of the
terrible situation. didn't know how
sick she was, nor how long she had been
sick: nor how soon she would collapse
Maybe she would have but touch of
fever. Maybe this was already the last
stage Of a slight attack. That was a
happy thought.
walked out of the woods, into the
bottom-lands. without caution. I went
through field Of tall corn that quite hid
me, and heard voice ahead. Without
caring whether the voice calling the horses
in the field ahead was from white or col
ored. [ pulled out my pistol and climbed
the fence and saw colored man. I was
At first disappointed. l really wished he
had been a planter, so that I could have
forced him to care for this sick child.
I called, and the old, white-haired negro
came to me.
"Where do you live, Uncle?'
sober dah," jerking his thumb toward
the east, ION de road. l belongs tel
Mains Cahtah, subj"
ais Mr.. Carter at hOme|
'No, sub. All OBJ de menfolks dur
gwine off to de wah. and only de ole Miss,
and de gals and de niggers ali to home
sul."
"Do you know me, Uncle?
Two rows of ivory showed at this. 81
spec you is err Yank, do you clothes an
rebel" My trousers were stuffed into my
boot-tops and he could not see them as
sat on the fence. l thought it would be
difficult for me to masquerade as rebel
especially il | were required to talk.
Glow old are the girls?"
Now. Iemple see; dah's Miss Sally, she
wah BON de, week befo' C'rismus. two
Felix rund off Wild li'r Miss Betty Sum
mahs an he's elest chile"-
Never mind, w. I said. How tall are
Zones dat big; an ones dat big. an
ones dat big" he said, measuring their
hight from the ground.
l knew there We're few manageable me-
croes on the planta tons who were not
married. and didn't ask him whether he
wife to get ecompletef outfit belonging to
the youngest Miss Carter, ard bring it up
, to the cabin in the woods: there's q little
Yankee girl Up there. Now go!' '>'@
But he didn't a. Kq, , His chin dropped and
fmarSa." Ia 'do agyt'ing TO- huh an you
bit. miss Tiliy amt got many clo'es-
en-fA." He kept twisting his old hat
!. in his hands and was much disturbed.
Il THAT'S all right, Uncle. ! didn't mean
! exactly .t0 take them-just borrow them
for dav or two. ] reached in my pocket
1 was going to give him my pocket knife
1T was the only thing I could give him
Ny hand touched the package Miss Mar
: newspaper covering and pulled ont a
bunch of greenbacks. / don't know whose
eyes bnlged out the most-the negro's OIL
mine. Money! what an inspiration it was
Surely, nothing talks so convincingly
and so quickly as money. The matter was
/ settled right there and then.
/ asked him how far he would have to
go to find a doctor. He said there was nc
/, doctor nearer than Palmyra, 10 miles
. north. 1t puzzled me gfeatly-how to put
her under the care Of a doctor, without
suspicion, and without embarrassing
questions being asked. After all, fever
essential than medicine. / gave up the
doctor idea. Yet I would send her te
Palmyra.
The old darby had told me his eliza
r worked in the "big house." dropped q
$40 bill into his oHstretehed palm. and
do. l didn't know whether he would
prove treacherous or not If he should
would carry out my plan with force i
]. need be. l followed him, and went a,
! near the plantation house rs could, with
out being detected: l watched for seyera
hours. Rebel soldiers passed the house
4 The old man saw them. but they passed
on, and l was satisfied he would prov,
e true.
hurried back to the cabin. Marior,
was asleep. Her face and hands wer,
: slightly moist. 1t was all right now. / lie
her sleep. The fever was leaving her.
was SO happy mt the outcome that [, wa
z beside myself with joy. had no though
$ Of sleeping. but waited anxiously, watch
! ing every approach to the cabin with it
}. precious contents. =
q The sun had passed mid heaven, but n,
"Auntie" with the clothes was get
: ting nettled and anxious. Miss Marion,
), came out OF the cabin, much refreshed
after long sleep. She sat down besid,