The Washington times., 1913-09-06

bleeding from wounds, were carried to
the rear by their horses. Others lay on
the road trampled by the terrified
horses running aimlessly about The
| Union troops from the tavern were COM
ing up on a gallop. The Confederates,
| In obedience to some command, were
retreating as rapidly as they had come.
1 In the rear, with man supporting
I him on either side Ariadne could see a.
| big black horse. which she recognized
| as Elson's, bearing the body Of the cap
| tain, which lay Imply upon the pommel
| of the saddle. There had been risk in
the ruse. He had paid for the bit of
| realism with his life. His men were
| carrying his body with his report to his
general A moment since he had kissed
her hand for the sake Of girl in the
South. Ariadne's temptation was to
turn and race after him. Her hand
went to her breast, she choked down
sob.
She had backed her horse as far into
the underbrush by the side Of the way
as she could. In the meantime the
cheering men in blue went racing past
her in chase of the Confederates. II
would have gone hard for the Confed-
crates had not the Union cavalry been
recalled after time by the brigadier.
who presently rode up to where Ariadne
sat her horse, pale as death, her bosom
heaving, her lips dry. a look of terror
in her eyes, and asked what was the
explanation of it all.
This indeed WAS real war, such as
this woman had not before experienced
or imagined. She had not dreamed Of
anything like this. This was what
thought of that soldier who loved her
aided her in her resolution.
Madam" said the general, can you
explain this but You are
wounded
'.Wounded?"
Yes, in the arm
Ariadne looked down at her arm.
Blood was on her sleeve. Some bullet
from one side or the other mad grazed
that arm and she had never felt It.
Allow me-" said the officer, lifting
her arm; 1t Is only scratch" he
went on reassuringly. Have you
handkerchief"
Ariadne did not answer. She was an
The sight of blood. her own blood,
Here" said the general. profrering
her flask. take a swallow Of this.
He tore the thin sleeve, and; produe.
tightly around the bloody streak that
showed upon the tender surface. Ari-
a6ne with difficulty took swallow OF
the whisky. but IL was not easy for her
to speak even then. though she sum-
moned all her courage to reply to the
officer.
Perhaps you can explain now" he
said once more.
L am a Northern woman. sir The
south. l learned. live down near
where this road joins the Catharpin
road. and I am going to the residence
OF friend of mine at Piney Branch
Church. Those rebels. who were scout
ing in the country. took me prisoner.
They didn't guard me very well. and
when / saw your camp through the
trees I made a dash to escape"
Well, you are either a very foolish
woman or a very brave one. You Will
pardon my frankness, l am sure. said
the general. My name is Manning.
command this brigade"
Ariadne started and looked at him
curiously. There had been something in
his appearance that had been familiar to
her She knew that he had been lieu
tenant colonel OF infantry at Gettysburg.
She had not heard that he had been pro-
NOTED successfully to colonel and brig
adler general and had been assigned to
the cavalry for this campaign. She had
seen Manning's picture many times at
the farm house. but he had not worT
beard when IL was taken. For a mo-
ment she thought Of telling him every
thing and appealing to him. but sec
ond thought convinced her that il would
be the height Of foolishness, for Man.
ming would inevitably detain her IL the
slightest suspicion we're awakened in
his mind that she was not heart and
Sodl loi lht MI anu one hHC" tihb
he knew that the wrfe Of Grafton must
be Southern through and through
Therefore when he spoke to her again
and asked her name her answer was
that II was Lewis. II was indeed her
maiden name. but he had never heard 1t.
Well, Miss Lewis" he continued. TAX
ing for granted that so young a: woman
would naturally be unmarried. you
have certainly shown that you possess
plenty of pluck. and devotion to the
cause as well. by risking your life to
get away from our friends, the Con-
federates. How you escaped don't see.
| saw you plainly: you were between
two fres, and you are lucky to have got
of with only this. How does it feel?"
He pointed to her wounded arm-her
left arm, fortunately.
1T il hurts a little" answered
Ariadne, but not much didn't feel 1t
until you spoke and / saw the blood"
There's many a wound that is not
felt" said the general, until the blood
is seen. but that in your arm. fortu-
nately, is superficial. One of my sur
geors will bind II UP, and beyond
day or two,s inconyenienee l;,, ,sL and some Sr.
from 1t. Now. what further can I 90
Nothing but let me get through your
lines to Piney Branch Church.
"Ycu will find our troops on that
road and may have difficulty in get
ting through
Il must CO." said Ariadne. my mother
Is there and
She was astonIshed at the auency
with which she could tell this shock |
ing untruth. and dismayed as we'll 1t |
seemed SO base in her to deliberately |
take advantage Of the confidence Of |
the Union general, who was. more |
over. the husband Of the woman for |
whom she now felt pity, almost affec- |
tion. since Philip did not love her. Well, |
she had earned the confidence o: the |
Northern general by her tremendous |
exploit of 4 few moments before. |
Very WELL" said Manning. ~ will |
give you a note which you can present. '
IL you are stopped by any troops you