The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-05-09

only by a little shake of the head
I'VE must turn" she said as SANFORD
made to touch her hand The road
goes uphill beyond the crossroads. We
could not keep ahead. We have come
too fast"
Tell me the way and let me go
alone Sanford entreated. Again Es-
Their shook her head
Il cannot tell YOU" she said. No;
we must not follow the crossroads-
the woods again. Two miles through
them we shall strike the river"
The road began to rise. Esther lean
ed forward half the length OF Princess Z
neck. The horses were dripping sweat (
their pace slackening sensibly. She
knew that even without the mounting
roar of pursuit. Dropping shots stil!
punctuated the roar. Sanford turned
to look The foremost file was just
half a mile from them.
This way Esther cried, urging
Princess into tangled growth. The
mare balked the least bit and even
made to rear. A touch of the whip
sent her forward, but fifty yards in
Esther drew her to walk, saying to
Sanford very low: Ride slow. If
they cannot see or hear us they will
not know which road to take"
One horse trod in the others tracks.
quite as though they felt the need Of
caution. 1t was slow work, but in an
hour they stood still, breathing heavi-
", in the river bottom meadows that
stretched quite to the waterside. The
river itself showed shrunken and fit
full between high banks. Another big
road ran along the margin of it. Over
the stream there We're frowning bluffs,
sheerly precipitOus. The roadway was
worn down yards below tie meadow
level. Thus the two who rode across
the grass were unaware of what pass
ed along it.
They came swiftly, yet Soberly. Sand
ford raised Estber's hand TO his lips.
You have saved my life-and more.
he said slowly, then burst ont impetu-
ously: But please, please, never do it
again. No mans life is worth it. All
along have been asking myself
What if she were your sister: You
are a heroine, but please 90 straight
home. If / was risking only life 1
would take you there at all hazards
Even as it is
Il am goingr' Esther broke in, white
to the lips
They had come to the river road.
CHANGING along it, they saw squads Of
bluecoated horsemen dotting its whole
stretch The scout was caught fairly
in a trap from which there was but
one way out-the river.
"ln there Esther cried. waving to
ward the stream. Sanford caught
her reins. With you-not other
WISE" he said Instantly he urged the
animals forward. The nearest blue
coats, fifty yards off, sent a hail Of
lead after them. Before they could
reload the horses were in deep water,
breasting it CALAMITY. Sanford slip
ped from his horse. dragged Esther
out of the saddle and held her in the
hollow of his arm, the while with his
other hand he guided the horses quar-
tering downstream. Hanging thus,
shielded from the bullets, he had
fair hope of escape. But less than
midstream a ball ripped through poor
Marquise's backbone and sent her
screaming to the bottom.
Hold to the saddle! You must, else
1 shall go straight back and give my
self up" Sanford said imperatively.
Soldiers We're plunging in after them
stronger swimmers it might be, with
fresher horses. He took the check
rein in his teeth and swan beside
Princess, giving her her head. but
keeping her to the course. Esther
chung obediently just where he had
set her hands
And then he knew. Here was the
one woman in all the world for him,
although he had never heard her name
Across the binding consciousness he
heard a shout hoarse, happy, many
keyed "Sur-r-render Johnny Re5
Games up! Thar blows the gun
boatn'
He faced about and drew Esther to
his breast, whispering, Darling, for
giyer' Princess snatched her freed
head high turned half about and
struck bottom. They had been swim
ming for yards along the margiB Of
a submerged ledge. In Il twiukliug
Sanford had crowded Esther into the
saddle and was wading waist deep be
side Princess. Half Il mile down
stream he heard the putting gunboat.
The ledge ran down to the bluff
end. a shell struck the woods befo
the swimmers gained them. Oh JOY
Another shot echoed the shell, a shO
from out the wooded south bank. AM
over it there rose the familiar yell, not
faint and quavering. but in lusty
strength from 800 threats. Mr. For
rest had a knack Of being on the spot
when wanted. Solid shot soon per,
suaded the gunboat that it might be
better occupied elsewhere.
1t painted off between banks OF
cheering blue and yelling gray. If the
graycoats yelled in greeting to their
comrade, what shall one say of what
they did when the whole story was
told? But when. three hours later. in