The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-09-07
CHAPTER XIII.

He turned quickly and left the room.
CHAPTER XIII.
OFF FOR THE UNION LINES.
4 II ARK'S first impulse after Fitz
MI Hugh's departure was to
leave the house at once. He
4 \ tried to say something to
Laura to soothe her, to excuse his
own unfortunate part in her breaking
with her lover. He could only go to
her and taking her hand kissed 1t
without a word. Then he told her
that he should take the risk Of cap
ture and depart instantly.
He was discoursing upon the method
Of his departure In quick. excited
tones, when a horseman entered the
yard, and riding up to the veranda
drew a letter from his belt and hand
ed it to a negro who went out TO re-
ceive It. 1t was for Mrs. Fain. It
had been sent through the lines from
Nashville. where her husband was
lying dangerously Ill, and begged her
to come to him.
After its perusal Mrs. Fain deter
mined to set out the next day. taking
with her her daughter and the maid
Alice. Daniel would drive them.
"You shall go with u.s." said Laura
to Mark. 'aThis Is fortunate. In our
company you win be far safer than
trying to make your way alone"
It occurred to Mark that since he
was being hunted as a half starved
creature In the disguise Of negro girl
he would be less liable to suspicion as
a wen dressed man travelling with a
party Of southern ladies than in any
other character. At any rate he took
this view of it, and when Mrs. Fain
announced her intention to go he Of
fered to escort the party to the Union
The offer was accepted. and prepare
lions were made to leave the next
morning. Mrs. Fain wrote note to
the officer in command at Chattanooga
Ito send with the letter she had re-
ceived from her husband for his Pc
rusaD asking for q pass for herself.
her daugher and two servants. Mark
took the missives and went out to find
Daniel. who had just returned from
Chattanooga.
"Wen. DanielY'
II ben dar."
what did you learnr
II hearn every one taken bout So
jers goen to de MORT, and dey sayd
dey was goen to Knoxville. Dey was
marchen n marchen all de same way.
i follered n dey brung up at de depot.
n sor one train after anudder go out
fun O. sojers inside and hangen on to
de platoon and on de roofs"
How many trains did you see 60
outY
"'Bout forty hundred"
"Daniel." said Mark. smiling at the
figures. you're smart as a whip. But
you'll have to go right back to Chat
tano0ga. and take this note to the COM
manding officer with this letter from
your sick master to show him. The
note is q request for pass for the
party to the Union lines. Keep your
wits about you. and If he is an easy
going sort Of man. you might try to
get him to put In three servants In
stead Of two. At any rate try to ring
me in II you can. Do you under
SandY'
Reckon do. sah."
"Can you ready'
"a leetle. Missile Laura learned me"
well. read the pass he may give
you an ask him to fix it so that it
win include me as servant. But you
must use your judgment"
Daniel drove again to Chattanooga.
Mark waited anxiously for his return.
Indeed so impatient was he that he
thought the negro had been gone twice
as long as he had when he saw him
drive into the yard. He at once went
out to the barn to meet him.
ANY luckr' he asked anxiously.
II got de pass for misses and de res.
but didn't get what yo' wanted.
got a paper hyar. Mebbe it'll do"
Mark took the paper. It was pass
Tor Thomas Green and wife from
Chattanooga to the Union lines.
"How did you get thisY' asked Mark,
surprised.
81 hab to wait while folks was get
ten passes. De officer go out to de
udder room fur a moment Dis was
layen on de desk, n TUX hit up and
brung hit away"
well" said Mark. 'it's not exactly
shat l want. but ingenuity will have
- help me through. You're trump.
Daniel"
In the morning when all was ready
fne the departure two vehicles were
6feasnt around to the door. the one. a
two horse carriage, the other Laura's
phaeton. drawn by her pony. Mrs.
Fain entered the former with Alice.
Daniel being In the drivers seat Lau-
"a and Mark got into the phaeton.
All went well during the first ten or
twelve miles. when Mark received a
piece Of information which seriously
Interfered with his plan. Meeting a
eourier riding toward Chattanooga.
who looked as II he might be the bear
er Of some important news. Mark
hailed him and asked If he had any
~*ing from the front