The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-17

LET No 90 With You.r
but the lives OF my comrades and the
faith of my commander. Yet I have
deliberately chosen to do 50 because
feel the impossibility of leaving you
here unprotected, and because I was
unwilling to trust you alone with my
companion. dare not permit you to
traverse these roads alone. The noun.
tains all about us. deserted as they
now appear. are filled with wandering
bands OF desperate and hunted men
whose tenderest mercy Ia death. Any
rock may be the hiding place of an
outlaw. any dark ravine the rendez.
vous OF as wild q gang az ever mur.
dered for p,under."
But the Sergeant said there was 4
Federal picket post at the crossing OF
the White Briar."
Her voice trembled as she spoke.
He merely supposed there would
oe; but even II It were true, we have
no positive means Of knowing that the
men stationed there would be OF the
regular service. Doubtless those
thieying. numbering bands-such as
tnat headed by lied Lowrie. of whom
you may have feard-are suniciently
organized to ke,p patrols posted, and
may. indeed. be utilized at times BY
both armies for that purpose. Were
you to so to them you might be SIM
ply walking into den of wolves"
But could you not 20 with me?"
l smiled at the naive innocence OF
her query.
I wish you to feel that / have
never thought SO much about my own
danger as about yours" returned
quietly. But would It be a pleasure
even to you to behold me swinging
from the limb OF a tree, hung as q
spy without trial, merely because l
ventured to walk with you into a Fed.
eral camp"
could see her eyes now resting
full upon me. and much Of the hard.
ness and doubt seemed to have gone
out OF. them as she scanned my un.
covered features In the dim light.
scarcely think l was ever considered
o handsome man even by my friends,
but was young then, frank OF face,
with that about me which easily IN.
spired confidence. and 1t did me good
TO note how her eyes softened, and TO
mark the perceptible tremor In her
voice a. she cried impulsively:
"Oh. no! Not that"
Your words yield me new heart" I
replied fervently. determined, now
that Ice was partially broken, to per-
init no excuse for its again forming,
FOR IL you but once fully realize our
situation you will certainly feel that
| am merely endeavoring to perform
my plain duty"
II will. Of course. bow to tho newt.
able. SIR" she said, ''and shall en-
deavor to adapt myseH to tho require
ments OF my unfortunate situation.
May l venture TO inquire what you
now propose to do?"
To the right OF whore we stood the
ground sloped rapidly downward un-
I'll the dense darkness at the foot Of
the steep denle shrouded everything
from view. The descent appeared
rocky and impracticable. and | could
distinguish the sound Of rapid water
Tar below. On the opposite side stood
dense wood. the outer fringe OF
trees overhangins tho road. and
through tho waving leaves the moon
light checkered tho ground with sil.
yer. while the dense mass beyond
seemed 20 flow back up the steep side
OF the mountain. thick with under.
brush. Just below us. and possibly
nifty feet from the highway. I could
perceive q small o-e-story loS cabin.
~ silent. gloomy, and deserted TO all
outward appearance as were the SOM
Der woods OF which II formed q part,
There seems small choice" I said,
speaking as cheerfully A possible
But propose to investigate the log
hut yondsr. and learn II 1t may not