The Lamar register., 1911-11-29
MY LADY OF THE NORTH
Continued from Page p


wounds, so that weakness alone held
me to the blanket upon which | had
been left. The night was DECIDEDLY
chilly, yet | had scarcely begun 10
feel its discomfort, when a man strobe
forward from out OF the nearer group
and stood looking down upon me. He
was a young fellow. wearing a gray
artillery jacket. with high cavalry
boots coming above the knees. | no
ticed his firmly set jaw. and pearl
handled revolver stuck carelessly In
his belt. but observed no symbol OF
rank about him.
rs this Captain Wagner" he asked.
not unpleasantly.
answered by an inclination OF the
head. and he turned at once toward
the others.
"Cass. bring three men over here,
and carry this officer to the same
wagon you did the others" he com
manded briefly. Fix him comfort
ably. but be in a hurry about it."
They lifted me In the blanket. one
holding tightly at either corner. and
bore me tenderly out into the night.
Once one Of them tripped over a pro-
tecting root. and the sudden jar of his
stumble shot spasm Of pain through
me. which caused me to cry out even
through my clinched teeth.
Pardon me, lads" painted,
ashamed of the weakness, but II
slipped out before could help it,
Don't BE- after q mentionin' av 1t.
yer honor" returned = rich brogue.
Sure an me feet got SO mixed CUP
that l wondher l didn't drap ye en-
toirely."
IF 70 had. Cheney" said the man
named Cass. grimly. Il reckon as how
the Colonel would have drapped you"
At the foot of a narrow ravine. lead
ing forth into the broader valley. we
came to 4 covered army wagon. to
which four mules had been already At
tached. The canvas was drawn aside.
and I was lifted up and carefully de-
posted In the hay that thickly covered
the bottom. II was SO intensely dark
within I could see nothing of my i'm
mediate surroundings. but a low moan
told me there must be at least one
other wounded man present. Outside
l heard the tread OF horses hoofs. and
then the sound of Mosby's voice.
Jake" he said. drive rapidly. but
with as much care as possible. Take
the lower road after you cross the
bridge. and you will meet with no pa
trolls. We will ride beside you for .
couple Of miles"
Then . hand thrust aside the can
vas. and . face peered in. I caught
. faint glimmer of stars, but could
distinguish little else.
Boys" said the leader, kindly, Il
wish might give you better transpor-
tation. but this is the only form of We
hicle We can ind. l reckon you'll get
pretty badly bumped over the road
you are going. but I'm furnishing you
all the chance to get away in my pow
er. We shall guard you as long a.
necessary. and then must leave you
to the kindly ministrations Of the
driver"
He reached in. leaning down from
his saddle to do so. drew the blanket
somewhat closer about me. and was
gone. I caught the words Of q sharp.
short order. and the heavy wagon
lurched forward. its wheels humping
over the Irregularities In the road.
each Jolt sending q fresh spasm of
pain through my tortured body
May the merciful God ever protect
me from such . ride again! It seemed
interminable. while each long mile
We travelled brought with It new and
greater agony of mind and body.
The hours that followed were all
but endless. knew We had reached
the lower valley. for the road became
more level. yet the slightest 1olting
now was SUFFICIENT to render me
craxed with pain. and I had lost all
power Of restraint. My tortured
nerves throbbed; the fever grfpped
me. and my mind began to wander.
Visions Of delirium came. and
dreamed dreams too terrible for rec
ord: demons danced on the drifting
clouds before me. while whirling saw
ages chanting in horrid discord stuck
my frenzied body full Of blazing
brands. At times / was awake. call
ing In vain for water to Quench .
thirst which grew maddening. then
lapssd into q semi-consciousness that
drove mo wild with its deliriouB fan
cies. knew vaguely that the Major