The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-01
v War Story
A l7if1ieah Anniversary
@v RANDALL PARRISH


you might not get away owing to the sudden advance of the troops. Is il true we have started on movement by the hank?"
 sYes, that report is all true enough. replied striving to hold my voice as low as possible, as I could recall nc marked peculiarity in the tones of my late antagonist to initiate; ''the aids are riding in every direction with or ! ders for a forced march. went ir and saw General Johnston as soon as first heard the rumor, and explain ed to him exactly the situation here The old man was very sympathetic and as he had already met Jean, he ar ranged 10 send me out in this direc tion with his orders, and gave me a furlough of twenty four hours in which to attend to my own affairs. I am to be in Minersville at the expiration o1 in horsedesh."
 "What about the, Tenth Georgian"
 'They take up the march at mid night, guarding Coyne's battery"
 "Then that means a hard ride fol both dad and me. with little enough time to spare. But dismount, Calvert and come up to the house."
 In the excitement Of swiftly sue ceeding events had entirely forgot ten that particular errand which had brought Lieutenant Dunn to this neigh borhood. Here was a most awkward predicament, indeed-the prearranged hurried wedding between him and that young, sweet faced girl, with the gray blue eyes. The pleasant memory o1 her came before me instantly, tht musical sound of her soft voice, witi its delicate southern accent, the pa thetic pleading of her girlish expres sion. the carelessly ruf1ed hair, the in dignant tone with which she had spoken of her coming lover.
 There appeared to me no path lead ing out from this labyrinth now. but through the killing of some one; ye' every manly instinct within me revolt ed against cold blooded murder. wa. a soldier, but never an assassin. And surely there was yet an opportunity for escape-the very lateness of tht hour. the urgent requirement. for haste on the part of all concerned, the pos sibility that the necessary papers had not been procured, the girls strong op position to the ceremony.
 We were at, the steps, and could perceive the outlines of two black fig ures rising up to greet me. It was tht deep voice of the elder Denslow whicl spoke. his outsnetched hand warmly grasping mine.
 "The last minute, Calvert. my boy the last minute. So we are to marcl at midnight. you say? We'll, we car make it with hard riding. and I car go now with a relieved heart, know ing Jean will be well looked aftel while we are away. Come up, my boy The thieving Tanks have not left us , light about the house, nor very mucl of anything else. However, we car get along in the dark. reckon thu parson knows his lines without book Chaplain Mordaunt. you must be ac quainted with Lieutenant Dunn, as you are both stationed at headquarters? 'I have seen him occasionally, al though. as you may recall, be is bu newly assigned"
 "True; only your second week ot
 staff duty, isn't it, Calvert? Jean
 daughter"
 A swift hope thrilled through me that she might have already fled ol have hidden herself within the dark ened house. The hospitable colone had half forced me back into vacat ed chair and remained facing me standing shoulder to shoulder with his son on the upper step. The chaplain remained seated close upon my left All about us was latticework thickly covered with trailing vines. The only way of escape would be by dlnging both father and son headlong to the walk below, or perhaps sudden dash back into the unknown interior.
 I neither saw nor heard her as she came forward. When she answered her slight figure suddenly appeared standing between her father and the chaplain. mere indistinct outline. yet so womanly as to send a sudden thrill to my heart.
 "Very well, father, am here to keep my word with Lieutenant Dunn"
 It, had come. The urgent necessity for instant action. for immediate de cision was upon me, and-I failed. saw the chaplain rise deliberately to his feet, and struggled up also. fierce ly gripping the back of my chair. half tempted to use it as weapon with which to sweep the steps before me clear. Yet I hesitated. swayed by doubt. influenced by many emotions