Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-02-14

preston Ct was little more). and q
fieeting CLEAN Of the starlight IN her
eyes as she faced me IN anger, ! was
as totally unaware OF how she really
looked as though We had never met
Her very name was unknown 10 me.
Who was this Major Brennan1 Was
he father. brother or husbandg and
was her name Brennan aisol For
some reason this last possibility was
repugnant TO me. Yet | knew not
why.
You ride as though born 10 the sad
die" said pleasantly; and although
! spoke low. we we're so close to
gether that my voice carried distinctly
to her ears. I'VE have been sum
ciently conceited to suppose that TO
be an accomplishment peculiar to our
Southern women"
81 have been accustomed 20 ride
since childhood" she replied rather
shortly, and was conscious Of re-
straint in her manner far from pleas
ing Yet | ventured upon one more
EFFORT at conversation.
rs Major Brennan an oficer on
Sherldan's staff7"
Il was not aware"-and could not
mistake the accent OF vindlctiyeness
in her yoice-"that prisoners we're
obliged to converse against tAelr
will"
Il ask your pardon. am sure"
returned soberly "But my question
] was not altogether an idle one.
have CHANGED to meet several OF
General sheridans stan. and thought
possibly Major Brennan might have
been Of their number. Seeing that
we must associate for a time, nat
urally felt 1t would prove pleasanter
for both of us II We might discover
some mutual tie"
There was no response.
The road we were following here
took a sudden trend downward. and
we could tell from the sharper ring
+ the hoofs. and the splitting of flinty
sparks beneath us. that we were
among rocks once more. Then our
horses suddenly splashed into water.
and l held them up long enough to
drink. felt thirst strongly myself
and slipping out of the saddle filled
my canteen.
Would you care for & drink"
asked, stemming the stream to reach
aer side. and holding the vessel with
n easy grasp of her hand
actually believe her first impulse
was to refuse haughtily this preferred
civility from an enemy of her coun-
try, but the deep sense of need con
quered her to accept the offering An.
other hill followed, and then another,
and finally we swept swiftly down a
long slope densely bordered by trees
and with irregular piles OF rock up.
rearing ugly heads on either hand. |
caught a swift glimpse of a rough
log house on the right, so set back
among trees that half doubted its
real existence, when-there was a
slip, the crunching of a stone, long
stumble forward that fairly wrenched
my hand loose from the woman's rein,
and then. hopelessly struggling to re-
gain his feet, my horse went down
with crash. head under. and was
hurled heavily forward upon my face,
Craig, startled at the sudden crash be-
hind him. spurred back to learn the
full extent of my disaster. By this
time | had regainad my feet
"I'm all right, think, sergeant"
said hastily, but the sorrel has brolr
en- her neck"
He began to swear at our III luck
but stopped him with a gesture be
knew better than to ignore.
Enough OF that" commanded
sternly. bad fortune is seldom bet
tered by hard words. First Of all
help me to drag this dead body out Of
sight"
CTo BE CONTINUEDl