Middletown transcript., 1911-12-09

charming d guide, madam, and cal
assure you | shall most gladly do m!
part toward the success of the expedi
ton. The Major was expected bacl
before this, / believer"
HE left word that if he had no
returned by twelve l was to wait fol
him no longer, as he should go directly
to his quarters. | find the life Of {
soldier to be extremely uncertain"
I'VE are our country's servants
madam he replied proudly, and ther
taking out a pad of blanks from hil
pocket, turned to me.
May ask your full name anG
rank, Colonel?"
Patrick L. Curran, Colonel, Sixth
Ohio Light Artillery"
He write it down rapidly, tore of
the paper, and handed it to me.
That will take you safely through
our inner guard lines" he said grave
ly, that being as far as my iurisdic
tion extends. Goodnight, Colonel;
goodnight, Mrs. Brennan"
We bowed tremendously, and the
next moment Mrs. Brennan and
were out upon the steps, breathing
the cool night air. glanced curious
ly at her face as the CLEAN Of light
fell upon it-how calm and reserved
she appeared, and yet her eyes were
aglow with intense excitement. Al
the foot Of the steps she glanced ur
at the dark, projecting roof far above
US.
DO you suppose he can possibly be
up there yet?" she asked, in a tone
so low as to be inaudible to the ears
Of the sentry.
Who? Bungay?" l questioned in
surprise, for my thoughts were else
where. "Oh, he was like a cat, and
there are trees at the rear. Prob.
ably he is safe long ago, or else
a prisoner once more"
Beyond the CLEAN Of the uncovered
windows all was wrapped in complete
darkness, save that here and there
we could distinguish the dull red
glare Of camp-fires where the company
cooks were yet at work, or some
sentry post had been established. We
turned sharply to the left, and pro-
ceeded down a comparatively smooth
road, which seemed to me to possess
a rock basis, it felt so hard. From
the position Of the stars judged our
course to be eastward, but the night
was sufficiently obscured to shroud
all objects more than few yards dis
tant. Except for the varied camp
noises on either side Of us the eve
ming was oppressively still, and the
air had the late chill of high attitudes.
Mrs. Brennan pressed more closely to
me as We passed beyond the narrow
zone Of light, and unconsciously we
fell into step together.
A few hundred yards farther a fire
burned redly against a pile Of logs.
The forms Of several men lay out
stretched beside it, while a sentry
paced back and forth, in and out OF
the range Of light. We were almost
upon him before he noted our ap.
proach, and in his haste he swung his
musket down from his shoulder until
the point Of its bayonet nearly
touched my breast.
Haiti" he cried sternly, peering at
US in evident surprise. Halt! this
road is closed"
Valley Forge" whispered the girl,
and / noticed how white her face ap-
peared in the flaming Of the fire.
The word is all right, Miss" re-
turned the fellow, stoutly, yet with
out lowering his obstructing gun. But
we cannot pass any one out on the
countersign alone. II you was going
the other way it would answer"
But we are returning from the off,
GERS ball." she urged anxiously, and
are one our way to Major Brennan's
quarters. We have passes"
AS she drew the paper from out her
glove one Of the men at the fire
sprang to his feet and strode across
the narrow road toward us. He was
smooth Of face and boyish looking,
but wore corporaTs stripes.
What is it, Mapes?" he asked
sharply.
Without waiting an answer he took
the paper she held out and scanned
IL rapidly.
This is all right" he said, handing
1t back, and lifting his cap in salute.
You may pass, madam. You must
pardon US, but the orders are exceed.
ingly strict tonight. Have you pass
also. Colonel?" / handed It to him, and
after single glance it was returned.
Pass them, guard" he said curt
ly, standing aside.
Beyond the radiance Of the fire she
broke the silence.
Il shall only be able to go with you
so far as the summit of the hill yon-
der, for our quarters are just to the
right, and I could furnish no excuse
for being found beyond that point"
she said. do you know enough OF
the country to make the lines Of your
army?"
'If this is the KendallFille pike we
are on" / answered, Il have pretty
clear conception Of what lies ahead,
but / should be very glad to know
where l am to look for the outer
picket"
'"There is one post at the ford over
the White Briar, she replied. 4
chance to know this because Major
Brennan selected the station, and re-
marked that the stream was SO high
and rapid a. to be impassable at any
o.het point FOR miles. But ! regret
this u as far as my information ex-
tends
S I sfaFted to say somethin Ens
=hs1 y almost itHout
littls Ad 81
ar fhe Hr<T ~ {H x