Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-08-03
CHAPTER II.
A CHANGE OF UNIFORM.
Gomez

self
Crossing the road. the two entered
wood on the other side. The girl kept
straight course till she came to a
creek. which she forded below and
near a log that had been felled across
it to be used for a footbridge On the
farther side she struck an old road.
abandoned, at least for wheels. Mark
rode up alongside of her. She was a
wild looking thing. with hardly trace
Of civilization about her except her
calico dress and coWhide shoes.
where are you taking me to?"
asked Mark
Hum"
where's home?"
"Tother side tn Sequatchie river"
How far is it to the river?'
"'Bout mile from the creek we jest
crossed"
'And how far from the river to your
homer
bout another mile. We live on
road ez runs from the Chattanooga
pike to Anderson"
That's we'll. / want to reach the
pike
"Waal. VII only hev ter go couple
o mile from our house t. git thar"
"You seem to know all about this
country
"Reckon l do. was born hyar.
done a heap O. hunten in these hyar
woods. l toted a gun all over 'em."
''Tell me something about yourself.
What's your nameY'
''Souri"
"Souri what?"
SLACK"
ooh. yes! You're one of the Stacks.
you told me. Isn't Souri, singular
name for a girl?"
WAL. dad. he KEN from Missouri
So thet's what he named me.'
Have you mother?"
"Yas''
brothers and sisters?"
"Henery and Jakey."
"How old are they?"
"Henery. he's bout twenty-five. He's
in Jim Browns company O east Ten
nessee cavalry"
'What? Union cavalryY'
''Yas"
"YOu mean regiment, not company.
know Brown well. How old is your
o:her brother?"
"Jakey, he's thirteen"
"At homer
"Yas."
"What are you going to do with me
when you get me to your homer"
"Take y to the barn. reckon"
"Why not to the house. Aren't your
folks all right? I thought you said
they were Union"
ooh. they're all Union. But mebbe
they mought suspect at the tavern
(seein' I'm gone 'thout sayen goodby
and knowen I'm Union) tibet I've put
y up to somep'p or TUX y hum"
''Souri." said Mark meditatively, do
you know that since 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 a 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 Souri, reached the
opposite bank before Mark had got
half way over.
1t was now night, but 1t was clear,
and a half moon cast its 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 II
seem sif y war goen straight when yer
goen crooked. Thar's 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 so?" he
asked of Souri,.
81 amt" she said. coloring.