The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1912-01-05

By Captain
F. A.. mitchell
Copyright. 1892. by American
Press Association
CHAPTER XII.

N"P 90 IN NOSA CIV WV VI
bed and opened 1t cautiously.
He half expected to see through
the slight opening he at first made the
muzzle Of a revolver pointing directly
at him. He saw a very different sight.
1t was a large tumbler. with q stray
In it. On a silver tray in the hands Of
a negro.
Mrs. Fain's compliments. sah." and
he handed Mark u mint julep.
"Ah!" exclaimed Mark. with intense
satisfaction.
Present my compliments to your
mistress and tell her l perceive with
pleasure that this noble Virginia Gus
tom has found its way into Tennessee.
as 1t has long ago into South Caro-
lima
Yes. sah!"
However. Mark desired to keep his
head cool. considering the circum
stances. and contented himself with a
few swallows of the julep, and after
completing his toilet joined the ladies
at the breakfast table. He praised
Mrs. Fain's fried chicken and lighr
biscuit and corn bread. and was about
to give the coffee a few words of en-
comium when. tasting 1t beforehand
he discovered the prevailing chicory
So he entered upon a TRADE against
the blockade. and ended by hoping
that Abe Lincoln would at last be
hanged higher than Hannah. a refer
ence that gave him a disagreeab BILE
sensation about the neck and caused
Laura's bosom to heave unanimously.
After breakfast he took his pipe and
e OUT to smoke in the yard. He
Sauntered around to the barn and
found Daniel at work upon the horses,
Daniel" he said. good morning"
"Mornen. sab" said Daniel, eying
him s~uspiciously.
Mark suddenly turned and looked
him in the eye. knowingly.
Daniel" said he. ARE you all right
on the OF treedOmY
Reckon | air. sab"
Suppose you had a chance to favor
that cause. the cause which if 1t tri
umphs will make all darkies free.
would you do itY'
Reckon | would. sab"
well. suppose a Union man were to
ask you to-
"Yo' countenance air berry familiar
to me. sab
no liook like Mr.. SlackY
"God Dress the Lo'd! | wonder II
yo' air Mr.. SlackY"
"Or the colored girl who came here
the other night" Mark asked in a low.
confidential tone.
"Fo' de Lo'd"
"Never mind no I am, Daniel. I'm
a Union man Now | want you to go
into Chattanooga and learn all you can
of the latest army news. Don't trust
your own eyes. but ask people what's
going on. | want TO know il troops
are leaving Chattanooga. and II 50.
where they are going. Here are ten
dollars. Buy some things for the old
woman and the children. and ask ques-
tions-of other people l mean. not me"
'Trus' me fur dat said the old
man, and going to the stable he began
to harness a horse t the family wag-
on.
When Mark finished smoking he
went into the house. He passed into
the library. where be found Laura.
She seemed to feel easier than when
Mark had been W, stairs. but she was
in continual dread. Mark asked her
to sit on a sofa facing n window
while he sat facing another. Then
We'll have the position eniladed." he
said.
Laura did o understand what that
meant. but she did as he desired.
They sat thus without suffering the
watch to relax during three delightful
hours-delightful Notwithstanding the
danger Mark was In. Laura wanted
an account Of his adventures In Chat
tanooga and he gave 1t. When she
came to Souri's part in his escape
Laura was visibly affected; indeed SO
intensely were her feelings wrought
upon by this portion of the story that
she .stakted at every sound. realizing
the more perfectly that Marks neck
was still in jeopardy.
AdCA NHA1S IA oSSouAS Va N00 HA~
the march to the courtroom; the wait
ing for the counsel: the arrival of Cap
tain Cameron Fitz Hugh.
Captain Cameron Fitz Hugh"
Then it was all out that Laura's
lover had defended the spy. and Lau-
"a confessed that she was Fitz Hugh's
betrothed.
In the midst of the excitement at
tending all this Mrs. Fain entered car.
rying a silver tray. on which was a
basket Of cake and a decanter and
glasses.
"A little luncheon may not be amiss.
MI. Rhett." she said. II don't know
your South Carolina customs In such
matters. but my daughter and | occa-
sionally take a biscuit at this hour"
Mark rose and faced about. His
hand went to his heart. and he bowed
low. Laura. too. rose and stood look
ing at her mother.
Madam" said Mark, can I ever
forgot this y"