Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-05
CHAPTER VI.
A Struggle in the Dark.
RANDALL PARRISH

A Struggle in the Dark.
/ have seldom been more deeply embar-
raised than at that moment. l knew not
what to say or how best to approach this
young woman left so strangely to my pro-
lection The very fact, which 1 now real
lied that she was both young and fair
added some indefinite burden and complf-
Gated the delicate situation. saw no safety
for us but in careful hiding until Craig
could return, a squad of hard-rfding troop
ers at his back To permit the girl to ven
ture forward alone through the desolate
country we were In, Overrun as knew II 10
be by irregular bands whose sole purpose
was plumber. and whose treatment of wo-
men had made my blood run cold as lis
tened to its recital, was not to be so much
as thought of. Even If by rare good for
tune she should succeed in safely reaching
the federal picket post in our front, the
men on duty there were just as likely as
rot to prove of the same desperate stamp,
and every indignity might be offered her
were she to appear alone. Nor could I
venture to accompany her on such a trip.
for to do so would but assure my own cap
ture. and involve months of confinement in
northern prisons. even We're fortunate
enough to escape with life. Wearing as l
did the full field uniform of my
rank. it was hardly probable that
| regular troops would treat me
as a spy. even though caught within
their lines: but If we fell into the hands
cf guerrillas it would be short shrift
indeed.
There was no help for it, and but one
way out. disagreed BILE as that might provo
to my lady. She stood there before ne.
nOtionless and silent as n statue, exactly
where she had alighted when the SER
geant took her horse, and it seemed to
me l could plainly read righteous indigna-
ton in the inGistinct outline of her figure
and the naughty pose of her head. To her
1t that moment l was evidently most
disagreeable and even hated companion,
a rebel the being of all others she had
been taught to desp.Se. the enemy of all
she held sacred. Gould any good thing
come cut of Nazareth?'
Well. unpleasant was the task, it
had to be done, so. mastering my courage
for the ordeal as l never had to DO in time
OF battle, l advanced toward her, hat in
hand She never so much as glanced about
at the sound of my footsteps, FOR deigned
by the slightest motion to acknowledge my
presence. So intense, indeed. was her evil
dent sense of indisnity that it awoke with
in me something akin to anger at her I'M
reasonableneSs, and for the moment l
clinched my teeth to keep back the hot
words burning upon my tongue. Then l
smiled grimly with the rare humOr EFF it,
and became myself once more.
THE time has come when it becomes my
dirty to look after your comfort and safe
ty, / said striving to disguise all self
consciousness. Every moment We delay
row merely Increases the danger of our
remaining here.
II imagine | might very easily dispense
with any further care ON your part
Her reply nett1ed me, and l answered
with an earnestness which she could net
Their ignore nor check: Possibly you may
think So but if you do it is merely because
of your utter ignorance of the disorgan-
iZe0 conditions which prevail in these noun
tains. Your pride Is almost ridiculous UNI
Ger all the circumstances. You have no just
cause to feel that l am forcing myself un-
Il
to take you in charge has proven as dis
astrous to us as to you. Personally l can
say that nothing will relieve me more than
TO be able to place you uninjured into the
care of your own people. / would willingly
assume great risks to that end. But while
you remain here and in my care I shall
perform my full duty toward you as though
you We're my own sister. Now please rs
ten to me- and | assure you l shall speak
pothing for the mere purpose of alarming
you, but simply that you may better COM
pl ehend the facts which must influence our
present relationship. l have sent forward
Sergeant Craig with the message especially
Entrusted to me for delivery and thus ;f It
fail to reach its destination l have laid
myself open to the charge of a grave mill
tary crime. In doing this l have not only
rer1led my own future but the lives of MY
comrades and the faith of my commander
Yet have deliberately chosen to do so be-
cause l feel the impossiblity of leaving
you mere unprotected, and because l was
parion. l made this choice remember,
without in the least knowing whether you
were young or DID, worthy of respect Or
unworthy. 1 did it because you were a
woman, alone and without friends Whcth-
er you spurn my protection or not will
make no difference: I shall simply con-
tinue to do what 1 may on your behalf
ulitA you are again in the hands of those
You trust"
But why may 1 not go to them now
The question was impetuous, but the
voice sounded more gentle. My words had
al least pierced her armor
Simply because / dare not permit Won Tn
traverse these roads alone,' I said soberly.
The mountains all about US, deserted as
they now appear, are filled with wandering
bands OF desperate and hunted men whose
be the hiding place of an outlaw. any dark
ravlne the rendezvous of as wild gang as
ever murdered for plumber For months
past-yes. for years-the two great armies
have secuted these hills have battled for
them, and every forward or backward
movement OF the contesting lines has left
its worthless horde of stragglers behind.
until with guerrilla and bu-hwhacker, flee
such a meeting place of rascality and crime
as to be veritabe hell on earth
But the sergeant said there was a fed
White Briar'
Her voice trembled as she spoke.
He merely supposed there would be; but
even II 1t were true, We have no positive
means of knowing that the men stationed
there would be of the regular service
Doubtless these thieving, numbering bands
such as that headed by Red Lowrie of
whom you may have heard-are sufficiently
organized to keep patrols posted. and may,
indeed be utilized at times by both armies
for that purpose. Were you to go to them
you might be simply walking into den of
wolves"
But could you not go with me?,
L inn
query.
II wish you to feel that | have never
thought so much about my own danger as
about yours l returned quietly sRnt
would it be a pleasure even to you to behold
me swinging from the limb of tree, hung
as spy without trial. merely because /
ventured to walk with you into a federal
Campo"
l could see her eyes Low resting full upon
me, and much of the hardness and doubt
seemed to have gone out of them az she
scanned my uncovered features in the dim
light. 1 scarcely think / was ever consid-
cred a handsome man even by my friends,
but | was young then, frank of face, with
that about me which easily inspired con-
fidence. and 1t did me good to note how her
eyes softened, and to mark the perceptfbIe
tremor in her voice as she cried impulsively:
oh no, Not thatr'
7 Your words yield me new heart" I re-
piled feryently. determined. now that the
Ice was partially broken to permit M ex-