The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-08-09

l'gAAFN animal bNaI AfL W tbt Hlh "a
the spur, the yells. the waving OF
arms. refused to face the tumult, and
whirled madly about For a moment
! all but lost control, yet even as he
plunged rearing into the air, | saw be
fore me the appealing face OF a WON.
an. How she CHANGED to be there
alone, In the path Of that mob. !
know not. where her escort had dis
appeared, and how she had become
separated from her party, has never
been made clear. But this | saw, even
as struggled with the hard-mouthed
brute under me--a slender, girlish fig.
ure attIred as a lady of the Blended
Rose. a white, frightened face, arms
outstretched, and dark blue eyes be,
Boeching help. Already the front OF
the mob was upon her, unable to
sWerve aside because OF the thousands
pushing behind. In another moment
she would be underfoot, or hurled into
the air. Reckless Of all else, | dug
IN my spurs, yelling to the Light Ora,
COON beside me, even as my horse
leapcd. | scarcely know what hap.
pened, or how II was accomplished
only | had the reins gripped In my
teeth, both my hands free. That in,
slant | caught her; the next she was
on my arm, swung safely to the saddle,
held 10 me with Il grip Of steel, the
animal dashing forward beneath his
double burden into the open field
Then the Dragon, riding madly.
gripped the bit, and the affair was
over, although we must have gal
loped a hundred yards before the
trembling horse was brought to a
stand. Leaving him to the control OF
the soldier, | sprang to the ground,
bearing the lady with me. We were
behind one Of the pavilions, facing the
house. and she reeled as her feet
the earth, so that ! held her
falling. Then her lashes lifted,
and the dark blue eyes looked into my
you must pardon my roughness." |
apologized, but there was no time
for ceremony"
She smiled, n food Of color coming
back into the clear cheeks, as she
drew slightly away.
81 appreciate that, SIR" frankly.
shaking out her rufled skirts, "and
you have made knlghthood real"
Then" | ventured, may | hope to
receive the reward, fair LADY,"
She laughed, a little tremor OF ner-
vousness in the sound. but her eyes
full OF challenge.
And what is THAR"
Your name; the hope of better &C,
q~uaintance."
Her eyes swept my uniform ques.
tioningly.
"You are not Of the g~arrison?"
mo; a courier just arrived from
New York"
Yet an officer; surely then you will
be present t%onight?"
The privilege Is mine; If sufficient.
ly tempted | may attend"
Tempted! How, sir?'
by your plcdging me a dance"
She laughed again, one hand grasp
ing the long silken skirt.
You ask much-my name, a better
acquaintance. a dance-all this for
merely saving me from a mob. You
are not a modest knight, | fear. Sup.
pose | refuse?"
Then an ! soldier enough to come
masked. and win my welcome"
"a thought as much" the long
opening up to me the depths
Of tho blue eyes. IL promise nothing
then, nor forbid. But there is Captain
Grant seeking me. II | do not speak
Of gratitude, 1t IL nevertheless In my
heart, sir" she swept me n c~urtsey. to
| bowed hat in hand, "and now
au revoir."
| stood as she left me, staring while
she crossed the lawn and Joined a
dark-faced officer Of Rangers. Once
she glanced back over her shoulder,
and then disappeared In the crowd
of jewellers.
| had not intended TO remain In
Philadelphia through the night. Al
ready | had secured the information
and now mus consider the
and quickest method OF escape.
It seemed to me this aight, given up
to revelry, afforded the best possible
opportunity for my safely passing the
guard lines. Tomorrow disci-
pine would be resumed, the soldiers
would return to their posts and the
citizens Of the city would again ap-
pear on the streets. This would great.
ly intensity my danger, for, at any
moment. | might encounter some one
who knew me, who might denounce
ME 10 the authorities.
That this was the exact truth Of the
situation could not be denied, yet,
now, every reckless impulse Of my
disposition urged me to remain; the
invitation of those laughing blue eyes,
the challenge | read in the lady's fair
face, the unsolved mystery Of her iden-
tity, all combined In a temptation l
found II impossible to resist. For a
dance with her, a possible understand.
ing, ! was willing to venture life itself.
It must have been nearly nine
O'Clock when, in company with a
young cornet, ! rode up to the house
given up to festivities, and, turning
over our horses to the care OF cavalry
grooms. climbed the wide steps to the
door leading into the hall.
All was a riot Of color, rich, bewil-
dering, with smiling faces. and laugh.
ing lips everywhere, In such a spot,