The Ordway new era., 1906-12-07

strange situation ON the night he was
taken to Lyndhurst. a prisoner.
True. he was made q husband of
convenience. and welded 10 q girl to-
ward whom he had zince been wonder.
fully drawn. but at tho same time he
had incurred the hostility OF ~ venge-
full a man as either Of the opposing
armies could bonst.
Major Basil worden could not bo
said TO represent tho chivalry OF the
South.
He was genuine Mississippian.
md had cut quite n figure In the af.
fairs Of that State:l but there were
lacking in his composition certain ele.
ments that are by common consent
supposed to mako gentleman. no
matter whence he comes.
Worden's fiery nature was ablaze at
the cruel trick fate played upon him.
Once before, In connection with
Johns cousin had he attempted to
down tho Yankee colonel. and In that
well-laid scheme they had been defeat
cd. Ms We have seen, by the good sense
Of Moliie Granger.
This time Worden came with several
companions sworn To run any risk In
order to accomplish his end.
When Colonel John fell into their
hands. to dispose OF him then and
there would have been easy enough.
but the chagrined Confederate had
made up his mind that he could never
rest easy unless his fortunate rival
met the fate that had been designed
for him on that former occasion.
A soldiers death would be too good
for the man he hated.
Men often overreach themselves In
struggling TO clutch the first fruit that
is just little beyond their grasp. ig-
noring that which could be obtained
without much effort.
Colonel John received rough treat.
ment at tho hands OF his captors. but
although dazed by the blows they
dealt him he did not quite lose his
presence OF mind.
Taught by the cunning opossum.
which he had as boy hunted in the
woods near Atlanta, he feigned state
OF insensibility. and allowed his cap
tors to carry him out of the grounds
neck and heels. as though he were
only billet OF wood.
These men knew what they were
doing. and had made all preparations
for successful carrying out of their
plans.
Lyndhurst was close upon the outer
line of the Union Army. and once be-
yond the pickets they need fear no
further danger.
A vehicle was In waiting, rather a
ramshackle AFFAIR. drawn by mule
and engineered by n darky. but II
served their purpose admirably and in
short time they were moving over
the neutral ground lying between the
hostile armies.
Colonel John had fully recovered his
senses. but feigned an apathetic state.
condition.
Lying there. jolted by the passage
Of the springless wagon until the
breath was almost knocked out Of his
body. he endeavored to catch what he
could OF the conversation between the
men who were crowded In the small
space.
Learning what they intended doing
with him was not conducive to COM
Portable frame of mind. but as SOL
der. Colonel John had long ago learn
ed to take danger by the throat and
throttle the monster.
He showed his characteristic diplo-
macy by arranging certain plans OF
his own. whereby he might be able to
defeat the enemy at his game.
At length the darky turned his an
Client quadruped into an open gate.
way.
Here lay an old house that. having
been in the line of fire during one Of
the last fierce engagements before At
lanta. was pretty much Of a ruin now.
Into this half-wrecked building, now
within the Confederate lines. as the
two armies had In q measure changed
places, they carried John. ,
1t was a At place for such a dark
deed as the Confederate major had In
view.
Gaping holes in the walls showed
where the shot had plunged through
piles OF debris on the floor told Of
ruin above, and It was only question
OF time when storm would lay the
once stately pile low. t
Such are the ravages Of war; they
could be seen like the trail Of the ser.
pent wherever hostile army made
It's way.
A devastated Shenandoah Valley,
once fruitful. veritable Eden, now
blackened waste. spoke in eloquent
language Of wars cruelty.
And later ON Sherman's march to
the sea would cause . swath Of do.
stfuction behind. for when such an
army cuts loose and lives upon the
land they leave little behind.
In this old house Colonel John was