The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-08


(Continued.)
The party were stopped near Ander-
son by a picket. Mrs. Fain produced
her pass and stated that the two be-
hind were In her company. The officer
took no especial care in reading it, and
when Mark and Laura came up they
got safely through without question.
Mark was now anxious about the
picket which must be passed in a few
minutes on the road leading west from
Anderson. Mrs Fain was still ahead.
and he hoped that all would go as well
as at the picket just passed Not
word was spoken between him and
Laura; both dreaded getting out Of An
derson. but once past the next picket
they would breathe easier.
When they reached it Mrs. Fain had
been passed through and gone on. The
officer in command, however. had read
the pass carefully. He had not noticed
any mention of Mark In it
where's your passr he asked.
didn't the lady ahead show it to
you?" asked Mark.
"Her pass didn't include you"
"Didn't it?" Mark feigned surprise.
no"
"Oh, 1 forgot; mine and my wife's is
Deparate." and he drew out the pass Of
Thomas Green and wife,"
Meanwhile Laura had turned white
as cloth. The officer read the pass.
and would doubtless have let them go
had he not noticed Laura's agitation.
you'll have to go back to headquars
ters and get Major Taliaferro's order
ON that He commands at Anderson"
Mark demonstrated. He argued that
he would become separated from Mrs.
Fain; he urged his wife's desire to
reach her sick father. - in vain. He
was told that the teaLI .larters were
only half a mile down the road and
he would lose but little time. He
made a virtue Of necessity and drove
back with apparent good nature.
The commanding officer had gone to
Dunlap, five miles away, to pay his
respects to General Bragg, and would
not be back for an hour or two.
Mark resolved to report his absence
to the officer Of the picket post. in the
hope that he would not be compelled
to wait. He drove to the picket and
used his tongue persuasively, but to
no purpose. The more anxious he
seemed the more resolved grew the
captain.
There seemed to be nothing to do but
return and await the arrival Of the
commanding officer. Mark reluctantly
turned the horses head and drove back
to HEADQUARTERS. Laura's heart sank
within her.
1t was sunset when Major Taliaferro.
a pleasant looking man of twenty-sev-
en- or twenty-eight, rode up to the
door and entered the Office.
Major TaliaferroY' asked Mark
Fat your service. SIR"
"Major. 1 have been detained by the
officer at the picket, who wants your
name on my. pass. My wife's mother
has gone on, and her daughter is very
anxious to join her. 1t is extremely
unfortunate for us to get SO far sep
arated from Mrs. Fam"
''Fain. of the Fains OF Chattanooga
1.-The same.'
'T have heard OF the family, but have
never had the pleasure Of meeting any
member Of It. One of my friends Is
engaged to Miss Fain. 1. have just
parted from him at Dunlap"
Mark and Laura cast quick glance
at each other-e glance Of terror on the
part of Laura.
I'VE are fortunate In falling into your
hands," said Mark, land I beg you
will not delay Us q moment" And
Mark handed him the pass.
Certainly not" And the major took
up a pen TO write his Endorsement.
First he re3d the pass carefully. He
was thinking Of what his friend Fitz
Hugh had told him of the Fains. He
was under the impression that there
was but one daughter.
"Mr. Green" he said. looking up
from the pass, hadn't you better stay
here over night? The road is noun
famous and infested by guerrillas. 1t
Is positively dangerous to travel"
"By no means. What would Mrs.
Fain think Of our not joining her on
the 70 -"
1T Is dangerous for her as well as
yGu. I'll send a messenger after her
and advise her stopping at some farm
uOuSc- i Ii w DSllcT ludI. 4 IL
send a corporal and half dozen men
to insure her safety till morning."
There was something in the mans
tone, polite as 1t was. that Indicated to
Mark that he was held for further In
formation.
"As you please. major"
2 "And / shall insist upon your accept
ing my hospitality. One connected in
any way with my friend Fitz Hugh
must not want for any comfort / can
supply"
The house occupied by Major Talia-
ferro belonged to a family who had
gladly given up portion Of it for the
safety insured by the presence of a
commanding officer. The major was
given a room down stairs for an of
fee, and a bedroom up stairs.> When
1t was decided that Mark and Laura
should remain he gave Mrs Green. as
he called her, the use of the latter for
the purpose of arranging her toilet
before supper.
When Laura was up stairs Mark was
looking out OF the window of the ma
jor's Office. He saw the men ride of
to overtake Mrs. Fain. To his con-
sternation another cavalryman, with a