The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1912-11-22
CHAPTER v.
A Disaster on the Road.


To me she was merely woman
whom It had become my duty to pro-
teot, and whatever of chivalrous feel
Ing may have held toward her was
based upon nothing deeper than this
knowledge. She had come to US unde-
sired and in darkness, her form en-.
veloped in cavalry cloak. her face
shrouded by the night. AS to wheth-
er she was young or old had scarce
means of knowing, saving only that
the tone of her voice and the graceful
manner of her riding made me conf
dent that she had not lost the agility
of youth But beyond this vague i'm
preston ct was little more) and a
fleeing 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 to me.
Who was this Major Brennan? Was
he father, brother or husband? and
was her name Brennan also? For
some reason this last possibility was
,epugnant to me. Yet I knew not
Why
"You ride as though born to the sad
ile," | said pleasantly; and although
spoke low, we were SO close to-
gether that my voice carried distinctly
10 her ears. I'VE have been SUM-
,iently conceited to suppose that to
be an accomplishment peculiar to our
Southern women"
Il have been accustomed to ride
since childhood" she replied rather
shortly, and was conscious Of re-
straint in her manner far from pleas
ing Yet l ventured upon one more
effort at conversation.
is Major Brennan an ofiicer ON
Sheridan's starr"
II was not aware"-and could not
mistake the accent Of yindictiveness
In her voice-"that prisoners were
obliged to converse against their
will"
II ask your pardon. am sure" l
returned soberly. But my question
was not altogether an Idle one. I
have CHANGED to meet several Of
General Sheridan's stnff, and thought
possibly Major Brennan might have
been of their number. Seeing that
we must associates for time. I 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
OF the hoofs. and the splitting Of fiinty
sparks beneath US. that we were
among rocks onoe more. Then our
horses suddenly splashed into water.
and I held them up long enough TO
drink. felt thirst strongly myself.
and siipping out Of the saddle hIled
my canteen-
Would you oare for drinkr
asked. stemming the stream to reach
her side, and holding the vessel w11h'
in easy grasp Of her hand.
/ actually believe her frst impufne
was to refuse haughtily this profEered
ClViuty Aiom al 0-AouAS " hot ~><>->S
try, but the deep sense Of need con,
quered her to accept the Offering. An
other hill followed, and then anothez
and finally We swept swiftly down Q
long slope densely bordered by trees
and with irregular piles Of rock up
rearing ugly heads on either hand
caught swift glimpse Of a rough
log house on the right 30 set bacll
among trees that half doubted itl
real existence, when there was 9
slip, the crunching Of stone. Iona
stumble forward that fairly wrenched
my hand loose from the woman's rein
and then, hopelessly struggling TO -
gain his feet, my horse went down
with q crash. head under. and ! va
hurled heavily forward upon my face
Craig, startled at the sudden crash be
hind him, spurred back 70 learn III