Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-10-19

uuueT IuS IFble'llun, IL ueF uuSuaud
is taken and She needs me, send for
me-"
As soon us he had gone Taliaferro
called a negro woman, and told her to
go to the lady'S room and ask her Uf
she had not gone to bed, to come to
him. as he had communication TO
make.
Madam" said the major deferen
TALLY. your husband has gone"
"WhereT asked Laura, with a
blanched cheek
He walked away in the presence of
Captain FiIz Hugh, who would not de-
tain him or inform me that he had
gone till he was Obliged TO do so"
Laura caSped her hands and mutcly
breathed Il blessing on the man who
had spared her husband for her sake
How long has he been gomez" she
asked
More than half an hour"
Have you ordered his pursuit?'
II have"
And he has start off,
Thirty minutes"
you III never luxe MN. ne uedTS
charmed life"
And ROW. madam, what can | do
for you? My friend charged me to see
that you have every attention"
II will go on and join my mother"
Tonight"
Tonight -now.'
"Youl phaeton shall be at the door in
n few minutes. You must accept my
escort. There will be a guard be
sides"
In ten minutes Laura, Major Italia
ferro seated beside her. six stalwart
cavalry men in gray about her, was on
her way to join her mother.
Mark knew the direction of the roads
leading from Anderson. and believed
that he could avoid the pickets Max
ing his way over Il space covered with
bushes and low growth of timber. he
struck the road by which he had come
that day at point beyond the vedette
Then half miles run brought him.
out of breath. to a house. The occu-
pants We're not asleep, and Mark sue
ceeded by persuasion and threats in
getting horse to take him to Stacks,
promising to send it back the next day
with liberal pay for its use
He arrived at Stacks shortly before
midnight. and his horse fell exhausted
in the yard Slack received him with
shotgun pointed through the cracks
of the door. Mark made himself
known and asked for his uniform and
his arms. The old man got them for
him. and taking them to the stable
Mark put them on. Then he went to
the stall where his horse stood The
mare knew her master when he threw
his arms about her neck and seemed
as glad to see him as he was to see
her.
"Ah. Madge, my darling. Once on
your back. old girl, and the devil may
catch me If he can"
He lost no time in putting the bit in
her mouth and strapping on the sad
die. Then. putting his foot in the
leather covered stirrup, he lifted him
self into his seat.
For the first time in ten days Mark
felt the comfort of being in the saddle
with his arms about him,
A few steps took him out of the
barn: then turning his horses head in
the direction from which he had ap-
preached the place with Souri,, he rode
away among the trees Before going
hundred yards he stopped and lis
tened Some sound had caught his
ear 1t was the galop of horsemen
He waited dreading a neigh from his
own horse. which he patted to hold
her attention The horsemen passed
on down the road.
Ride on. brave boys" said Mark;
IF you're after me. the faster you go
In that direction the better I'll like it"
In the light Of the waning moon he
trampled over the shadows of leaves
as ON a crazy quilt" He crossed the
Sequatchie by the ford over which
Souri, had guided him. and took care
not to head too far down the stream.
as he had done before. Then he cross.
ed the creek near the fallen log. He
struck the road by which he had left
Jasper just south of the fork at which
Souri, had halted him. Without hest
tating a moment he struck out at a
brisk canter over the left OF the two
roads one leading TO Tracy City
Mark had never experienced such
sensations as now On his own feet
horse his carbine sIung on his shout.
der. his pistol at his side. on the road
to the Union camps. a wife whom he
adored 10 join him in case he should
arrive safely-why should not the spirit
within him fairly glow with hope?
Aud never had the beautiful. Madge
borne her rider with such evident ex
hiaration.
CHAPTER XVI