Gunnison news-champion., 1912-07-26

~ sDur, the yelss. the waving e
orUs. refused to face the tumult. aal
shirled msdly abouf For q nsousssf
J sh but host control. yet even ~ he
plunged rearing into the air | saw -
soss me the appssline face Of q womr
sn How she ch.saed 10 be theps
alone. In the path Of that mob. 4
know not; where her escort had dis
appeared. and how she had become
separsted from her party. has newer
been made clear. but this | saw. even
~ ] struggled wish the hard .mosf he'd
brute under me-a slender. eirlish hg
ure attired - Q lady of the Blenied
hose. q white. frightened face. arms
sufs.retche1. end Gard blue eyes be
esschiaG help. Already the front Of
the mOe vss upon her. unable to
swerve aside because Of the thousands
pushing behind h another moment
sAs would be usasrfoot. or hurried into
the air. Reckless Of all else. l dug
- my apsrs. yelling to the Light Dra-
0oou beside me. even as my horso
lsaped. ] scarcely know what haD-
Dsned. Or how II was sccemplished-
only ] had the reins eripped In ny
teeth, both my hands free. That in
stant ] caught her; the next she ives
On my arm. swung safely to the saddle,
held TO me with . grip Of steel. the
animal dashing forward beneath his
double burden into the open FIELD
Then the drasoon. riding madly.
Eripped the bit. and the affair was
ever. although We must have gal
hoped q hundred yards before the
trembling horse Vas brought to Q
stand. Leaving him to the control a
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
touched the earth, 10 that I held her
from falling. Then her lashes lifted,
and the dark blue eyes looked into ny
face.
You must pardon my r0ushnsss,"
apOlogized. but there wss ne tine
Cor ceremony"
she smiled, . Aeol of color coming
hack into the clear chseks, - -
drew slightly away.
aposeciats that, siF," frankly.
sAakiag out her psalsl skirts, "anl
ves have naAs hnightAsol real"
Then" venturel. may I hope =
peceive the reward. fair lady?"
She laughed, q little tremor Of Ber-
vousness in the sound. but her eyes
tall Of challenge.
"And what 10 that?"
Your name; the hope of better ae-
cuaintance."
Her eyes swept my uniform Qsss-
eioningly.
You are not of the garrison?"
No; . courier just arrived from
Flew York"
yet n officer; surely then you will
~ present tonight?"
The privilege Is mine; if sufficient
~ tempted ! may attend"
Tempted, How, sir?"
by your pledging me Q Dance"
She laughed again, one hand grasp
ing the long silken skirt.
You ask much-my name, q better
acquaintance, a dance-all this foT
merely saving me from q mob. You
are not q modest knight. fear. Sup
pose ! refuse?"
Then am I soldier enough to come
onasked, and win my welcome"
Il thought as much" the long
lashes opening up to me the depths
cf the blue eyes. Il promise nothing
then, nor forbid. But there is Captain
Grant seeking me. If ! do not speak
sf gratitude. it is nevertheless in my
heart. sir" she swept me a curtsey, to
which l bowed hat in hand, "and now
Gu revoir."
stood as she left me, staring while
she crossed the lawn and Joined Q
dark-faced officer of Rangers. Once
she glanced back over her shoulder,
and then disappeared in the crowd
Of revelers.
had not intended to remain in
Philadelphia through the night. Al
ready l had secured the information
sought, and now must consider the
safest and quickest method of escape.
It seemed to me this night, given up
20 revelry, afforded the best possible
opportunity for my safely passing the
British guard lines. Tomorrow disci-
pline 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, I might encounter some one
Who knew me. who might denounce
Re to the authorities.
That this was the exact truth OF the
situation could not be denied, yet.
D0w, every reckless impulse Of my
disposition urged me to remain; the
Invitation Of those laughing blue eyes,
the challenge I read in the lady's fair
face, the unsolved mystery Of her iden-
tfty, an combined in . temptation 1
found It impossible to resist. For .
dance with her, Q possible understand
-. was Wiling to venture life itseH-
II must have been nearly nine
O'Clock when, - company with .