The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-10-12

Let me 80 win rou."
but the lives of my comrades and the
faith of my commander. Yet | have
deliberately chosen to do so because
feel the impessibility of leaving you
here unprotected, and because | was
unwilling to trust you alone with my
companion. dare not permit you to
traverse these roads alone. The noun.
tains all about us, deserted as they
now appear, are filed with wandering
bands of desperate and hunted men
whose tenderest mercy is death. Any
rock may be the hiding place of an
outlaw, any dark ravine the rendez.
vous of as wild a gang as ever muir
dered for plunder."
'But the Sergeant said there was a
Federal picket post at the crossing OF
the White Briar."
Her voice trembled as she spoke.
He merely supposed there would
be; but even II It were true, we have
no positive means of knowing that the
men stationed there would be of the
regular service. Doubtless those
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 sim
ply walking into den Of wolves"
But could you not go with me?"
I smiled at the naive innocence of
her query.
II wish you to feel that | have
never thought so much about my own
danger as about yours" / returned
quietly. But would II 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 Fed.
eral camp?"
/ could see her eyes now resting
full upon me, and much OF the hard.
ness and doubt seemed to have gone
out of them as she scanned my un-
covered features in the dim light.
scarcely think / was ever considered
a handsome man even by my friends,
but was young then, frank Of face,
with that about me which easily in
spired confidence, and II did me good
to note how her eyes softened, and to
mark the perceptible tremor In her
voice as she cried impulsively:
"Oh, no! Not that!"
Your words yield me new heart"
/ replied fervently, determined, now
that Ice was partially broken, to per-
nit no excuse for It's again forming
"for L you but once fully realize our
situation you will certainly feel that
! am merely endeavoring to perform
my plain duty 'aatieTs'T' t'''' -
'T will. OF course, bow to the newt
able, sir" she said, "and shall en-.
deavor to adapt myself to the require
ments Of my unfortunate situation.
May venture to inquire what you
now propose to do?"
To the right of where we stood the
ground sloped rapidly downward un-
I'll the dense darkness at the foot OF
the steep deflle shrouded everything
from view. The descent appeared
rocky and impracticable. and could
distinguish the sound OF rapid water
far below. On the opposite side stood
dense wood, the outer fringe OF
trees overhanging the road, and
through the waving leaves the moon.
light checkered the ground with sil-
yer. while the dense mass beyond
seemed TO flow back up the steep side
OF the mountain, thick with under
brush. Just below us, and possibly
nifty feet from the highway, could
perceive a small o~e-story log cabin
az silent, gloomy, and deserted TO all
outward appearance as were the som
Der woods OF which It formed part
There seems small choice" ! said
speaking as cheerfully as possible
But propose to investigate the log
hut yonder, and learn II It may not
afford some degree of shelter. II you
will rest here. in the shadow of these
trees, | will soon discover whether il
has inmates or not"
, She followed me in silence across
, the road to the spot designated, but as
I | turned to leave her seated upon the
/ grass. and well protected from pryine
: eyes, she hurried quickly after me
, and in her agitation so far forgot her
: self as to touch my sleeve with hei
3 hand
(rro Ra Continual