Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-06-24

hour they si0ou sill. breathing heaft-
liz. In the river bottom meadows that
stretched quite 10 the waterside. til"
river itself showed shrunSen aud NJ
full between high banks. Another bi..
road rau along the margin of Ii. over
the stream there were frown.ng b:uHS.
shcerly PRESCRIPTIONS. Tie roadway Was
worn down yards below the meadow
level Thus the two who rode across
the grass were unaware of what pass
ed along IL.
They came swiftly, yet SoheTiy. sand
ford raised Esther's hand 10 his lIS.
You have saved my life-and more,
he said slowly. then burst "ui imretu-
ously: But please please. never do 1t
again, No mans life is worth 1t. Al!
along have been asking myself
What If she were your siS'rrE lou
are a heroine, but please go straight
home. IL was risking only life
would take you there at all hazards.
Even as il is
Il am goingr' Esther broke in, white
to the lips.
They had come TO the river road.
CHANGING along it, they saw squads OF
bluecoated horsemen dotting its whole
stretch. The scout was caught fairly
in a trap from which there was but
one way Out-the river.
"ln there" Esther cried, waving to-
ward the stream. Sanford caught
her reins. with you-not other
wiser he said. Instantly he urged the
animals forward. The nearest blue
coats, fifty yards off, sent a hail of
lead after them. Before they could
reload the horses were in deep water,
breasting il CALAMITY. Sanford slip
ped from his horse. dragged Esther
out of the saddle and held her in the
hollow of his arm, the while with his
other hand he guided the horses quar-
tering downstream. Hanging thus,
shielded from the bullets, he had a
fair hope OF escape. But less than
midstream a ball ripped through poor
Marquise's backbone and sent her
screaming to the bottom.
Hold to the saddle! You must, else
| shall go straight back and give my
self up" Sanford said imperatively.
Soldiers were plunging in after them
stronger swimmers it might be, with
fresher horses. He took the check
rein in his teeth and swan beside
! Princess, giving her her head, but
keeping her to the course Esther
chung obediently just where he had
set her hands.
And then he knew. Here was the
one woman in all the world for him.
although he had never heard her name
Across the binding consciousness he
heard shout, hoarse, happy, many
keyed SURRENDER, Johnny Reb
Games up! Thar blows the gun
boatr'
He faced about and drew Esther tC
his breast, whispering, Darling, for
givem Princess snatched her freed
head high. turned half about and
struck bottom. They had been swim
ming for yards along the margin OF
a submerged ledge. In a twinkling
Sanford had crowded Esther into the
saddle and was wading waist deep be
side Princess. Half mile down
stream he heard the putting gunbnat
The ledge ran down to the bluff
end. 4 shell struck the woods before
the swimmers gained them. Oh. Joy
Another shot echoed the shell, shot
4, n wooded hank \ nd
over it there rose the familiar yell, moi
faint and quayering, but in ltsty
strength from 500 Threats Mr.. For
rest had knack of being on the spot
when wanted. Solid shot soon per
suaded the gunboat that it might he
better occupied elsewhere.
1t painted off between banks Of
cheering blue and yelling gray. If the
graycoats yelled in greeting to theil
comrade, what shall one say of wha
they did when the whole story wa.
told? But when, three hours later, il
face of the whole brigade, there wa,
wedding. at which Mr.. Forrest him
self gave away the bride, nobody made
soand. Every head was barred, anC
more than half of those looking OF
saw bride and bridegroom through
dim eyes The bride went straight
home, under flag of truce, by way OF
BellsbOro. where the Federal com
mander, a lover of true romanCes
turned out the guard in her honor ant
gave her silver cup, her only wed
ding present.
Mrs. John Sanford has silver a-plen
ty, but none so treasured as that plain
thin bit A proud and happy grand
mother. she loves to tell the story o.
it to some little lads whose creates
ambition is to grow up soldiers Xix,
grandpapa and grandmamma.