The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-06-21


or accent that could evince her poe-
sible interest in me. Then reason re-
turned to my aid, and resolutely, de-
termnedly, inspired by every instinct
OF soldierly honor, l resolved that |
would put her from my thoughts for
ever. She was not mine either to love
or possess. unless the uncertain fate
OF war should chance to set her free
Even to dream of her, to cherish her
In memory while she remained the
wife Of another, was but an affront to
her purity and wOmanhood. | would
prove myself a man entitled to her
respect. soldier worthy my service
and corps; IL ever again my name
chanced to find mention in her pres
ence it should be spoken with honor.
/ was musing thus, lulled by the
steady lope OF my horse, and totally
iLsensible to any possibility of peril.
when clear upon my ears, instantly
awakening me from such reverie.
there rang through the night silence
the sharp clang Of iron on the road
behind me. All sound of pursuit had
long since died away, and 1 supposed
the effort to recapture me had been
abandoned. But there was no mis-
taking now-at least one horseman.
riding recklessly through the black
night, was pressing hot upon my trail.
"The lieutenant" l thought, "the
lieutenant, burning with anger at the
trick played upon him, has pushed far
ahead Of his troop, doubtless mounted
upon a better horse, determined to
risk everything If he may only bring
me back dead or alive"
This thought awoke me in an in
stant from my dreaming, and I
spurred my horse furiously, glancing
anxiously backward as l rode, but un.
able through that dense gloom to dis
tinguish the form of my pursuer. Yet
the fellow was coming. coming faster
than any speed l could possibly con-
jure out Of the weary black bestrode.
either by whip or spur. Closer and
closer upon me came rushing down
that pounding Of iron hoofs on the
hard path. Heavens! how like a very
demon the man rode! AS a trooper
could not withhold admiration from
the reckless audacity with which the
vengeful fellow bore down upon me.
In spite Of my utmost efforts 1t al
most seemed as II we were standing
still. Surely nothing less than hate,
and thirst for vengeance bitter as
death, implacable as fate, could ride
like that through the black night on
the track of hunted man!
/ was able to trace dimly his out
lines nov as he rose on an eminence
IN my rear, his horse looming dark
against the sky. like those giant
steeds that snorted fire in my child's
picture-books at home, and then, with
increasingly louder thunder of hoof-
beats, he came charging straight down
toward me. In sheer desperation I
glanced on either side, seeking some
avenue of escape. but the high banks
were unscalable; my sole remaining
hope lay in a shot which should drop
that crazed brute before he struck
and crushed me. Riding my best,
with all the practised skill Of the
service, l swung my body sideways,
bracing myself firmly In the deep sad
die, and took steady aim. The ham,
mer came down with a dull. dead
click, the revolver was chargless, and
with an exclamation of baffled rage
l hurled the useless weapon full at
the advancing brute. Almost at the
instant We struck, my horse went
down with the impetus, while over
us both, as II shot from a cannon,
plunged our pursuer, his horse turn
ing complete somersault, the rider
falling so close that l was upon him
almost as soon as he struck the
ground.
(TO BE CONTlNUED)