The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1905-01-04

great creature, slim, lustrous blood
bay, snorted and settled to action, MS
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 req
clods patter on the road behind as 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 TO
her, but she did not stop. The terrlhe
pace made her breath come jaggedly,
and 1t was only by supreme ehort
that she kept her seat on the pommel
less saddle.
The last two miles flung away in a
dulled red roar.
There were groups upon the court
house steps when she pulled up her
frothing horse, and Henry himself
pushed forward to her side.
"Tarleton" she painted, "at Castle
uill.-coming to-take the assembly"
Henry turned and repeated the mes
sage. 1t was caught up OH all sides
and banded up and down the corrt-
doris There was rush for the sheds
and hurried mounting. Then another
cry spread: Jefrcrson--he was at Mon
ticclo.
GLOW much timer asked Henry
briefly of Anne.
"ren minutes" she answered at haz
ard.
"roo little. They will be upon him
before this" He brought his horse and
vaulted into the saddle. "Will Tarle-
ton know you have Gomez"
"Ycs."
"rhen you must not stay" he said
firmly. "You shall ride with me-"
Before she could answer horseman
came Gathering in from Il bride path
1t was Colonel Carter, and he took in
the preparations ut glance.
"Good! he shouted. "Losc no time,
gentlemen. Captain Jouctt has warm
ed Monticello The assembly stands
dissolved, TO meet at Staunton three
days hence"
About noon hoofs rang behind them
in the flnty road, and Henry and Anne
refined their horses into the brush. Two
more riders gallOpcd by, to wheel and
come back at Hcnry's halloo. They
were MIR. John Tyler and Colonel Har-
rison. fatigucd and hungry as they
were, both Cssaycd to smile
"Is Jefferson safcI" cried Horny.
"Ayc," Colonel Harrison assured him.
"Thc family are gone to Colonel Car
tcr's, and all of the gentlemen who
W pt IN,
tains. Twas Il narrow squeak"
WHITTIER think you we had best
ridc?' Colonel Harrison asked us they
Started.
"Lafaycttc is nigh the Rapid Ann"
said Henry. ~ faith"-with smile
at the girl beside him-"thc man who
named it should have seen YOU ridc
Best TO reach our own lines for the
night, and tomorrow we will off for
Staunton. Ely's house should be near
our troops, and Mistress Tillotson can
get safe escort to Fredericksburg"
At mdaftcrnoon they stopped at
small hut in Il gorge and asked for
something TO eat.
After the meal and rcst the four rode
some hours through shaggy ravincs
strewn with wrack of storm, where the
green veins of every growing thing ran
flush with frcnzicd sap, then to the low
valleys of the Rnpid-.Nnn And here
AT last spivals of smoke showed them
where Lafayette lay cncampcd wait
ing junction with Wayne 10 march
against Cornwallis.
The first challenge they met came
from Il detachment OF Virginia rifle
mon, and, finding an OLD friend in their
commander, Major Call, Colonel Uar-
riSon and Mr.. Tyler elected to go no
farther Ely's house, Henry learned
was but IL few miles beyond the picket
lines, and rs 10 the morrow's escort
for Anne the major sent IL lieutenant
with them n mile down the river to
headquarters 10 ask it.
1t was n picturesque cncampmcnt
through which they passed. There
were few tcntS-mcrc wigwums of fresh
cut houghS TO shed the dew. Here and
| there fires of blazing fence rails glowcd
| ycllowly in the gathering twilight.
The tent of the acting colonel of the
! Virginia Continental regiment was
| pitched apart on Il patch of beaten
| grass. Stools and IL light folding table
''i'i'ilS- l'Nii 'lNl lIHlJtI SIT just OutSluc
| the open flaps, from whose angle lam
tern hung, already winking IN the dusk.
Benches were on one side and here.
while their horses were cared for. Hen
ry and Anne seated themselves to wait.
| Near by the dusty silver of sycamorcs
swaycd against the shredded canation
of tho sky, and from the distance
through thc warm evening came the
hum of the camp, noises of mess pre-
pairing and the tramp and neigh of
horses.
They sat awhile silent Annc's every
nerve tired. Henry watched her How
softly white her checks, how deep the
longing in her eyes!
"'Twas Il quick plan and Il splendid
ride" he said ut length. "a brave act
rs arc all of yours!r
She crngcd suddenly. az hate that
word SOL" she implorcd and he knew
of what she was thinking.
All at once she locked ut him, speak
ing earnestly: do you believe | shall
ever see him? oh, if he could but
know-but know that / was not false
to him in my heart. At first thought
L would be content to know he was
alive, even if | never saw him again
if he hated mel But now-now,
would give my life to hear him say
that he fOrgavc mc!"