Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-12-28
CHAPTER VI.
A Struggle in the Dark.

have seldom been more deeply
embarrassed than at that moment. |
! knew not what to say or now best to
approach this young woman, ieIt so
strangely to my protection. The very
fact. which | realized, that she
was both young and fair. added some
indefinite burden and complicated the
delicate situation. saw no safety
for us but in careful hiding until
Craig could return, a squad of hard
riding troopers at his back. To per-
NIT the girl to venture forward alone
through the desolate country we were
in, overrun as | knew it to be by IT.
regular bands whose sole purpose was
| plumber, and whose treatment of wom-
en- had made my blood run cold as |
listened to its recital. was not to be
| so much as thought of.
There was no help for 1t, and but
one way out, d~isagreeable as that
might prove to my lady. She stood
there before me, motionless and silent
as a statue, exactly where she had
alighted when the sergeant took her
| horse, and it seemed to me | could
plainly read righteous indignation in
the indistinet outline of her figure and
the naughty pose of her head. To her
at that moment | was evidently a most
disagreeable and even hated compan-
ion, a Rebel" the being of all others
she had been taught to despise, the
enemy of all she held sacred. Gould
any good thing com out of Naza-
reth?"
The time has come when 1t be-
comes my duty to look after your
comfort and safety" | said, striking
to disguise all self-consciousness.
Every moment we delay now merely
increases the danger of our remaining
here"
II imagine | might very easily dis
pense with any further care on your
part"
Her reply nettled me, and | answer
ed with an earnestness which she
could neither ignore nor check: Pos
sibly you may think so, but If you do
it Is merely because of your utter ig-
norance Of the disorganized conditions
which prevail in these mountains.
Your pride is almost ridiculous under
all the circumstances. You have no
Just cause to feel that am forcing
myself unnecessarily upon you. Our
being compelled to take you in charge
has proven as disastrous to us as to
you. Personally | can say that moth
ing will relieve me more than to be
able to" place you uninjured into the
care of your own people. ! would
willingly assume great risks to that
end. But while you remain here and
in my care, | shall perform my fall
duty toward you as though you were
my W sister. Now please listen to
me. and assure you shall speak
nothing for the mere purpose of alarm
ing you, but simply that you may bet
ter comprehend the facts which must
influence our present relationship.
have sent forward Sergeant Craig
with the message especially intrusted
to me for delivery. and thus. II II
fails to reach its destination, ! have
laid myself open to the charge OF
grave military crime. In doing this
| have not only periled my own future
but the lives of my comrades and thu
faith of my commander. Yet hav,
deliberately chosen to do SO because
I feel the impossibility Of leaving 70,
here unprotected, and because wal
unwilling to trust you alone with m!
companion. dare not permit you I,
traverse these roads alone. The noun
tains all about us, deserted as the,
now appear, are filed with w~anderini
bands Of desperate and hunted mel
whose tenderest mercy Is death An.
rock may be the hiding place Of a.
outlaw, any dark ravine the render
vous Of as wild a gang as ever muI
/, dered for plumber"