The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-09-22

kept MS SCOUTS securing southern New
England for cattle, sheep and other
supplies, which enabled Washington
to feed his furnishing troops, and on
which, at times, the success of his
military operations was wholly de-
pendent
A hasty reading of her husbands
note revealed to Mabel Harndon that
no time was to be lost, it it's object
was to be accomplished. The hoped
for furlough for one more embrace Of
wife and child could not be granted.
He was already on the march, and the
note was to apprise her that the COM
pany to which he belonged would, that
very night, encamp within ten miles Of
their home, to be on the southwark
march at early dawn the next morn
ing, while he was sorely in need of
necessary articles of clothing, which
| must reach him that night, if at all.
1t was already four o'clock in the af-
ternoon, and for some time there had
not been a man within call, so fully
had the citizens Of the town respond
ed to the urgent call "To arms!"
Mabel quickly reached a decision
her heart sorely strained between her
wifely devotion and her mother love.
She could not take her baby with her.
as was often the custom of the moth.
ers of that time when in the saddle:
nor did time permit her to call or.
neighborly assistance to care for her
charge. The last reQuisition for
horses to facilitate the armys move
ments had left her with only a spirit
ed young colt, which had never been
mounted by a woman; but accustomed
to his mistress call, she soon caught
him and had him saddled and bridled
for her journey.
| Then nursing her baby to sleep and
gently laying it in it's cradle, she fast
ened the door of her house, and Sc.
curely tying her bundle to the POM
mel of the saddle, with one bound
placed herself securely in her seat.
Unhitching deity the prancing colt,
while she held firm grip on the
bride, she dashed Off down the road,
leading in the direction of Washing
tons army
The sun was sinking low in the
west, when Mabel Harndon and her
colt, covered with foam and dust,
reached the camp, soon after the ar
rival of the soldiers, who were lighting
the fires for their evening rations.
But no sooner were the loving greet
lngs over and the bundle of clothes
and "home goodies" to sweeten the
soldiers scanty fars-that had been
SO hastily gathered together-deliver.
ed, than the mother love sounded the
knell of the interview With renewed
strength and confidence she faced the
return ride, as hey husband, with his
strong arms, placed her in the saddle,
at the same time soothing the FESTIVE
colt. The sultry atmosphere o. the
afternoon was NV eliminating in
ominous black clouds-rolling like
great pillows across the luminous al
ter-glow in the distant horizon. And
before she had gone many PAGES her
heart quailed, as long, deep roll of
thunder warned her Of what lay be-
tween her anG her baby. She could
not think of seeking shelter at any of
the scattered farm houses by the way,
not knowing what might be the fate
OF her baby when he should waken
from his slunsber, and in such a storm
as threatened.
She had MT comprised a fourth of
her Journey when dense darkness en-
veloped her and the storm broke in all
its fury 1'ne at first terrified colt.
subdued ~ the awfulness of the
storm, KEEP steadily On his way, en-
couraged ty her voice; and as is the
4 won't of ANIMALS under such conditions.
he seemed to rely on her for protcc-
ton, while she could only depend uocp
his keener instinct to keep her in tire
path. Fsr the ground, softened hy the
downpoJ, no longer resounded TO his
hoofs, aid only by the flashes of light.
ming could she assure herself that he
had not taken wrong turn, or wan
dered cut of the road. Just as the
storm Atopped, and the young moon
golden crescent appeared throcg;, a
rift iA the swiftly moving and Ssill
heavy clouds, she reached he- own
door liz safety, none the worse-:ha nks
to the trusty instincts of her dumb
companion-for her thorough crenth.
ing. Hastily tying the now wholly
subdued colt under the nearby slad,
she tremblingly unfastened the door,
as the clock sounded the hour q zine.
Not another sound broke the op.
pressive stiffness, save the drip, Grip,
of the vines on the porch, and the ,ow
twitter Of mother bird to her young
in her nest Observation-Disclosures by
her entrance. Her heart misGsge
her, as with bated breath she felt her
way to the cradle and listened Tor hs.y
baby's soft breathing. So gentle was
it-only mothers accustomed .,l.r
could detect it. Then, raking open
the Goals on the hearth, she lighted a
candle-for the blessing Of a lucifer
match had not then dawned on the
woodland shading the light with her