The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-23

"And how far from the river to your home?"
 Bout another mile. We live on a road ez runs from the Chattanoogy pike to Anderson"
 That's well. I want to reach the pike"
 "waal, yTl only hev ter go couple O mile from our house t git thar" "You seem to know all about this country"
 Reckon I do. I was born hyar. I woods l toted gun all over 'em." Hell me something about yourself. What's your namer
 ''Souri"
 ''Souri whatT
 Slack"
 'Oh. yes! You're one of the Stacks. you told me. Isn't Souri a singular name for a girl?"
 "Waal. dad. he kem from Missouri So tbet's what he named me-"
 Have you a motherY'
 "Yas"
 "Brothers and sisters?"
 ''HeDery and Jakey."
 "How old are they?"
 "Henery, he's bout twenty-two. He's in Jim Browns company O east Ten nessee cavalry"
 .sWhat? Union cavalryY
 'Tas"
 ~You mean regiment, not company. l know Brown we'll How old is your o.her brother"
 "Jakey. he's thirteen"
 "At home?"
 sYas.'
 ''what are you going to do with me when you get me to your homer"
 ''Take y to the barn, reckon"
 'sWhy not to the house. Aren't your folks all right? I thought you said they were Union."
 "Oh. they're all Union. But mebbe they thought suspect at the tavern (seefn' I'm gone 'thout sayen goodby and knowen I'm Union) thet I've put y up to somep'n or tux y hum."
 'Souri." said Mark meditatively, 'do , you know that since I met you have been thinking that you're nobody's fool"
 The girl laughed. or rather chuckled. She enjoyed the compliment and was too unsophisticated to pretend that she did not
 They soon struck dirt road leading directly south. which they followed till they came to the Sequatchie river, striking ford at the same time. Souri led the way into the ford, Mark fol- lowing. Her pony was used to such ! crossings. this one in particular, while Marks horse preferred to feel his way slowly; consequently Soun reached the opposite bank before Mark had got half way over.
 1t was now night, but 1t was clear, and a half moon cast it's faint light upon the land and the river. Mark suddenly looked up from the water and saw Souri on the bank watching him. Had he been near enough he would have seen anxiety depicted on every feature of her face.
 Keep up the streamr' she called, pointing at the same time.
 He turned his horses head as she directed, but soon lowering his eyes to the water began to go down stream again.
 Look at me-" she called; "don't look at the water. It's runnen makes 1t seem sif 7 war goen straight when yer goen crooked. Thar's a ledge O rocks below thar and deep water beyond'
 Mark fixed his eyes on his guide. and turning his horses head toward her urged her forward. She picked her way slowly, as if conscious of danger, and at last coming to the brink stepped quickly out of the water and shook herself.
 What makes you tremble sot" he asked of Souri.
 "I ain't," she said. coIoring.
 "Is f 1t a dangerous fori?'
 "Ef d a-tumbled offen the ledge y'd 'a' drownded."
 I've done some scouting before this, but see now that I haven't learned to cross current till today. Next time I'll look out for something on shore to steer by."
 Another ten minutes brought them home. Souri led the way to a rickety barn. where both horses were stabbed She left Mark in the barn while she went into the house to inform the in- mates of his presence.
 Presently she came out.
 Dad lows y mought come fin fur a spell 'thout much resk They won't know O VT bein hyar yet awhile. Leasta ways thar's no hurry. But dad reckons y thought sleep in the barn with one eye open"
 "I shall not sleep anywhere tonight. I must go on. But I'll go in with you for awhile"
 A man met them at the door with white. shocky hair and stubble beard. He looked sixty, though he was ten or fifteen years younger. He walked as if he were following the blow. His trou- sers were drawn nearly up to his arm- +-~ auupie breasted wajstcaet -erveo in lieu of a coat
 Tbem blue clothes looks kinder peart to we uns down hyar ez ain't seen nothen but gray" said the man. T lowed when you uns went up ter Chattanoogy last June and fired them big guns at the town y was goen to hold onto these hyar parts"
 "porhapo roiSfoI-a cold