The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-09-29
A CHANGE OF UNIFORM.

trunk of a fallen tree mounted by her
self.
Crossing the road. the two entered q
wood on the other side. The girl kept
a straight course till she came to a
creek, which she forded below and
neal a log that had been felled across
ii 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 a trace
Of civilization abou her except her
calico dress and cowhide shoes.
where are you taking me too"
asked Mark.
"Hum."
where's home?"
"T'other side o tn Sequatchie river"
"How far is it to the river"'
"'Bout a mile from the creek we jest
crossed"
"And how far from the river to your
homer"
"'Bout another mile. We live on a
road ez runs from the Chattanooga
pike to Anderson"
That's well. / want to reach the
pike"
"Waal. vi only hev ter go a couple
O mile from u house t. git thar"
You seem to know all about this
country"
Reckon I do. I was born hyar. l
done a heap o. hunten In these hyar
woods. ! toted a gun all over EN-"
What's your manner"
"Souri."
"Souri what?"
"Slack."
"Oh. yes! You're one Of the Stacks.
you told me. Isn't Souri, a singular
name for a girl?
WAL. dad. he KEN from Missouri
So thet's what he named me-"
"Have you a mother2"
"Yas."
"Brothers and sistersT
"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
l know Brown well. How old is your
cher 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. I reckon"
why not to the house. Aren't you
folks all right? l thought you sale
they were Union"
.Oh. they're all Union. But mebb,
they mought suspect at the tavern
(seein' I'm gone 'thout sayen goodb.
and knowen I'm Unionl tibet I've pu
y up to somep'n or TUX y hum"
Souri," said Mark meditatively, ID
you know that since I met you I hav,
been thinking that you're nobody
fool"
The girl laughed. or rather chuckled
She enjoyed the compliment and wa
too unsophisticated to pretend that sh'
did not.
They soon struck a dirt road leading
directly south. which they followed til
they came to the Sequatchie river
striking a ford at the same time. Sour
led the way into the ford. Mark FOL
lowing. Her pony WAS used to sacl
crossings. this oae In particular. Will
Marks horse preferred to feel his wa.
slowly: consequently Souri, reached tn
opposite bank before Mark had 60
half way W
It was now night. but It was cleal
and a half moon cast it's faint ligh
upon the land and the river. Mar
suddenly looked up from the waite
and saw Souri, on the bank watchin,
him. Had he been near enough b
would have seer anxiety depicted O.
every feature Of her face.
Keep up the stream" she called
pointing at the same time.
He turned his horses head as sh
directed. but soon lowering his eyes t
the water began to 60 down strear
again.
Look at me-" she called: don't loo
at the water. It's runner makes
seem sit v war goen straight when ye
goen crooked. Thar's a ledge O. rock
below thar and deep water beyond"
Mark fixed his eyes on his guide, an
turning his horses head toward he
urged her forward. She picked be
way slowly. as II conscious Of dange'
and at last coming to the brink steppe
Quickly out Of the water and shoe
herself.
"What makes you tremble aot' b
asked Of Souri,.
ri ain't," she said, eoloring.