Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-09-16

ed, 1t meant certain and deserved dis
grace. Yet could absolutely trust
him with the dispatch; he was . sol
der. and would faithfully perform .
soldiers duty. More. he would carry
the message with even greater GER
tainty than I, for he knew the roads
much better, and-I write the words
hssitatingly-I could not trust him
there alone with the woman.
glanced aside at him - ! thus
turned the pcrplexing situation over
In my mind tall. gaunt mountain
Ger, whose sole discipline Of mind and
body had been the army: hardened BY
service until every muscle In his lean.
shewy frame was like steel. cavalry.
man who would follow his leader into
the very jaws Of he'll. but whose NOR.
ais were those Of the camp, and
whose face revealed audaoious devil
dy such as no man would care to see
In ono to whom he intrusted the vel
fare Of sister or wife.
Sergeant" I asked, hinging aside
tho improvised brush, ~how far do you
suppose we are from Longstreet's
picket line?''
"Ten miles at the very best, SIR. %
he answered promptly. IAN reckon
with another Yankee outpost atween.'
with fair luck and good riding It
might be made by daylight"
Il reckon az how 1t might. captain.
II We only he'd sum fresh bosses" he
said glumly; "but it's bin mighty hard
on my nag; I've looked fer him to roll
over Ike yer sorrel did for the las
two mile.''
well, Craig, you shall have both
horses. Ride tho woman's. It is the
fresher of the two: but you are to
get through II you kill them both and
then walk"
His face Frightened, and be raised
bis hand In salute.
"And you?" he asked, wonderfully.
II remain with the woman; there
10 no other way. Wait hero moment
while speak with her"
left him standing there, and moved
back to where she waited. Az came
up she facsd me, and for the first time
i(for the night had lightened some
what) could go her eyes and dis
Germ some faint outline Of her face
where tho night wind flung back tho
upturned cape. It was . winsoms
sight to soldier vision, but With Ger
tain semhlance Of pride and reserve
about It that caused hesttancy In my
speech strange to mo.
"Madams"-l rested my hand upon
her horses name and looked at her
with . glance % proud as her own
1T might b - we'll for you to draw
the cape closer about your; faoe : at
present. There are rough men In all
armies who would consider your
beauty . lswless prize. The life we
lead II not conducive to sentleness:
virtue IL not born In camps. and it
would be better not to provoke dam
ger which may b so easily avoided"
cYou claimed, believe. to be an
.odosr and . gentleman she said
!coldly.
! smiled, even ~ I felt the full
chill Of her words, and my purpose
istinened within me.
Even a. yet claim. and trust to
be able to prove to your satisfaction.' -
my eyes looked unfalterinsly into
.hers-"but unfortunately. have one
with me tonight who II neither. l
would that he were for my own sake.
However, madam. let that pass. The
fact 10 here. and We have no time to
argue or quarrel. have already told
you that We ride with dispatches for
Longstrsst. These must 60 forward
at all hazards. for thousands Of hu.
man lives depend upon them; yet I
dare not leave you here alone and an
protected to tho mercies of the
wolves who haunt these hills"
you are exceedingly kind
Tho tone In which she spoke was
most sarcastic.
II thank you for your appreciation"
and bowed again; but venture to
tell you this merely because have
already fully determined to dispatch
the sergeant forward with the mes
sage, and remain behind myself to
render you every protection possible"
Very we'll. sir; simply yield to
what am powerless to avoid. and
will obey your orders however dis
tasteful they may be. What IL your
first commando"
THAT you dismount. The sergeant
must ride your horse. as he 10 the
more fit of the two"
Greatly to my surprise and relief
she placed her gauntleted hand In
mine. and. without % much % word
.of protest, permitted me to swing her
lightly from the saddle to the ground.
Craig" called, come here.
"You know your work. said to
him briefly. And now the sooner
you are at It tho better. Ride this
horse and lead your own. Az soon ~
you deliver Lees message at head.
quarters. hunt up the cavalry brigade
commander and report to him my po-
sition. Get . detail. insist upon ono.
and b hack here by tomorrow with.
out fail. That 10 all"
He saluted. wheeled about swung
lightly into saddle and rode on on q
rapid trot, graspfng. - 10 passed
down the hill. the rsin Of his own
mount, and leading It, tagging BE-
hind him, until the night swallowed
the figures, a2d even the sound Of the
hoof-beats could b no longer heard
We were alone.
(Tn no Nnn&Iumndl