Middletown transcript., 1911-12-16
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Stacles and peril, nearly forgot 10
the moment the heart tragedy. left be
hind. The swift impetus OF the ride
the keen night air sweeping past me
the fresh sense Of freedom and powel
engondsred by that reckless dasf
through the darkness, all conspired Z
render me negIsctful Of everything
save the JOY of present victory. The
spirit of wild adventure was in M
| blood.
A dozen spits of fire cleaved the In
tense blRckness behind, and / knew
the widely scattered patrol were send
ing chance shots across the stream
A clang Of hoofs rang out upon the
rocks, but / could distinguish moth
ing indicating a large pursuing party
probably the two who were mounted
at the ford, with possibly others fol
lowing when they caught their strayed
horses. / had little to fear from such
half-hearted pursuit as this was sure
! to be. The swift, powerful stride OF
! the animal I rode assured me that
! was not Ill mounted, and there was
. small chance Of contact with Federal
Outriders before should reach the
! protecting picket lines Of our own
! army. ! laughed grimly as ! leaned
; slightly back in saddle and listened;
1t was like a play, so swift and e1,
citing had been the passing events.
80 unexpected their ending. / won
dered what plausible story the dis
cnmfited lieutenant would concoct to
account for his predicament, and
whether the others had yet missed me
back at the Mansion House.
The stars appeared to be paling
somewhat down in the east, for the
coming day-dawn was already whiten-
ing the horizon. l glanced at my
watch, Venturing to strike match
for the purpose, and found the hour
after three o'clock. Early, l knew,
was at Sowder Church, and his ad.
vance cavalry pickets ought to be as
far west as the Warrentown road.
The distance between, by hard riding,
might be covered in three hours. My
horse seemed fresh, his breath came
naturally and without effort, and
pressed him along rapidly, for my
whole ambition now centred upon
bringing the information l possessed
within our own lines. Bungay. be.
yond doubt, had been recaptured long
since, for my own experience told me
how extremely vigiIant were the Fed
eral guards. To one unacquainted as
he was with military customs 1t would
prove impossible to penetrate their
lines; hence, everything must depend
upon my getting through In safety.
Then my thoughts drifted to the
one / had left in such serious predica-
ment. II had loved her before, /
loved her doubly now, for she had
proven herself woman among won.
en- in time Of danger and trial. How
clearly her face, with those dark
sweet eyes and the wealth Of crown.
ing hair, rose before me, while word
by word reviewed all that had passed
between US, dwelling upon each look
or accent that could evince her pos.
sible interest in me. Then reason re.
turned to my aid, and resolutely, de.
terminedly, inspired by every instinct
Of soldierly honor, resolved that ]
would put her from my thoughts for.
ever. She was not mine either to love
or possess, unless the unce. tain fate
Of war should chance to set her free.
Even to dream Of her, to cherish her
in memory while she remained the
wife Of another, was but an affront to
her purity ana womanhood. l would
prove myself man entitled to her
respect, q soldier worthy my service
and corps; II ever again my name
CHANGED to find mention in her pres
ence it should be spoken with honor.
l was musing thus, lulled by the
steady lope Of my horse, and totally
iLsenslble to any possibility of peril,
when clear upon my ears, instantly
awakening me from such reverie,
there rang through the night silence
the sharp clang Of iron on the road
behind me. All sound Of pursuit had
long since died away, and supposed
the effort to recapture me had been
abandoned, But there was no mis-.
taking now-at least one hoFseman,
riding recklessly through the black |
night, was pressing hot upon my trail
"The Lieutenant" l thought, "the
lieutenant, burning with anger at the
trick played upon him, has pushed far
ahead Of his troop, doubtless mounted |
upon a better horse, determined to
risk everything if he may only bring
me back dead or alive"
This thought awoke me in an in.
slant from my dreaming, and !
gpurred my horse furiously, glancing
anxiously backward as 1 rode, but un-
able through that dense gloom to dis
tinguish the form Of my pursuer. Yet
the fellow was coming, coming faster
than any speed could possibly con.
jure out Of the weary black bestrode,
either by whip or spur. Closer and
closer upon me came rushing down
that pounding of iron hoofs on the
hard path. Heavens! how like a very
demon the man rode! AS a trooper ]
could not withhold admiration from
the reckless audacity with which the
yengeful fellow bore down upon me.
In spite Of my utmost efforts it al.
most seemed as II we were standing
STILL Surely nothing less than hate,
and thirst for vengeance bitter as
death, implacable as fate, could ride
like that through the black night Oh
the track Of hunted man!
was able to trace dimly his out
lines now as he rose on an eminence
! my rear, his horse looming dark
gainat' the sky, like those giant
leeds that snorted fire in my child's
dcture-books at home, and then, with
Increasingly louder thunder Of hoof-
eats. he came charging straight down
oward me. In sheer desperation /
danced on either side, seeking some
venue Of escape, but the high banks
rere unscalable; my sole remaining
Iope lay In q shot which should drop
hat crazed brute before he struck
nd crushed me. Riding my best,
nth all the practised skill Of the
ervice, swung my body sideways,
Il