The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1910-10-06
THE END OF A
PER|L0US RIDE.
courtship In the Saddle to the
Music of Flying Bullets.

Music of Flying Bullets.
BY MARTHA NC WILLIAMS.
copyright. 1902. by Martha McCulloch-
WilliamsI
II only Esther had not sung MY
Maryland. My Maryland" which she
loved best of all the war songs Her
unframed voice was so rich and true 1t
carried half across the bush pasture
She had stolen there with salt for the
young horses grazing for safety amid
the intricate thickets. They had had
none for month. In the third year
of the civil war. to man and beast
alike. salt was almost q luxury
throughout middle Tennessee The
whole region was debatable land The
oluecoats held the railway towns and
turned them into fortresses more or
less secure. Over the wide green coun
try road about gray horsemen rode
and raided almost at pleasure. Thus
salt was among the things reckoned
'contraband of war" and to be bought
only in such niggard quantities as were
marked upon the permits from head
quarters.
Between bluecoats and gray. horses
had come to be the most uncertain of
all possessions. Esther sang because
she dared not whistle the regular horse
CALL She knew Princess. her own
mare. would come at sound of her
voice and most likely bring the herd
pellmell at her heels. since she was
easily its queen. She was also thor
oughbred. jet black, the last foal of q
dam never beaten at four miles, Prin-
cess was five years old. Esther seven
teen. They had grown up playmates
and comrades. each full of tricks and
delight In the other
Esther need not have sung. Her
foot was scarcely off the rail fence
when Princess came charging mouth
slightly open. ears batted. Five yards
off her mistress she stopped short.
dropped her head. half wheeled and
sidled gently until her withers lay I'm
der ESther's hand.
Incautiously she thrust her hand
within her huddled apron and brought
up some salt grains upon her open
thrust her head tiercely against Esther's
breast and made as II to paw her with
an angry hoOf.
Princess truly loved her mistress.
but she was mad with salt hunger. al
most the strongest known to the
beasts of the field She caught the
apron folds and Esther's left hand be-
tween her teeth and backed. rearing
slightly and paving. not viciously. but
with light flicking hoofs. TO save her
self Esther flung her free arm about
the mares neck and swung clear OF
the ground. saying sternly: "Ho. Prin-
cess. Stand! Let go!'
Princess kept backing and paving
The herd caught the sound and came
rushing. She wheeled to meet the
rush, with Esther still swinging. and
let fy at her mates with both heels.
In the shock of impact her teeth shut
cruelty upon Esther's hand. but still
the girl did not cry out.
She hung facing the mare. so saw
nothing else until muscular fingers
locked themselves in Princess fore
top and gripped her nostrils hard. In
stantly her mouth few open. Esther
snatched away her hand and dropped
to earth For breath she stood ST.
lent. then said. with stamp of her
foot, Princess. never thought you
could be SO meant"
aren't you yourself to blamev'
Princess captor said. He was tall.
we'll made fellow. with soldierly
air for all his citizens coat, pair OF
keen gray eyes set In brown face
and the dust of hard riding all over
him. Give the salt-at once" Esther
obeyed in silence. Neither spoke again
until the last grain had been licked ur
and the beasts were biting the earth
where 1t had lain. Then 1t was Esther
who asked a question. How does ii
happen you are hereT"
81 came for a, horse and crept ou,
OF hiding to listen to song." the man
said. smiling. .'rhe song assures the
NAV tell you | am John SaDdford. q
scout for Forrest--in plain words.
spy At daylight this morning found
out something my generai ought Il
| know at once. Since then have rid
den my horse down. The poor beast
| Is lying by the thicket youder. mus
have something in his stead-some
thing that can go like the wind
"You shall not have Princess. though
| she was so bad" Esther said quickly
locking her arms around the bIaci
mares neck. ''Marquise. the brown
over there. Is almost as fast. Father
| wonlc give her to you gladly. only h'
has taken the oath. SO you must no
ask him He will not mind you takin.
her,
II see will come and thank hin
after the war;" Sandford said. laugh
ing. Now tell me the nearest fort
and how can get to It quickest
"The bend is nearest only ten mile
ofr-but you cannot cross there rh
Yankees keep pickets in stociad'
| Just By the ford. You will have t
strike for the Rifle. That is five mile
| lower down.
"The Rifle: How shall get there? !?
/ .'(io out that way" Esther said
sweeping her arms southerly "Stris
through the woods to the big road !
is only a mile Follow It 10 the cross
| roads. and there take the left"
She stopped short. Straight fror
the south came the grumble OF drums
undervoired by the blurred beat