Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-07-24
Tho Retreat

O$VeV ESN %\Vs
Tho Retreat.
I had NO faith I should md her
tbsre. bst fought my way through to
thet tent It had been knocked half
over, the camp seeve overturned, the
long bench smashed into kindling
wood. With sinking heart l flung
back the sagging canvas. and cast ono
glance within. As heaven witnesses,
she stood there the blanket still
wrapped about her, her hands grasp
ing q rife, her face turned toward
me. Internationally her lips gave ut
terance to cry Of relief, and her ex-
precision changed. l sprang forward.
eager. glad.
"Rene. you are hersi" cried out
why did you stay"
1T was the word Of monsieur" she
answered simply. Monsieur said stay
till he come"
"Yes, yes. know; but never
thought Of this; never dreamed Of
such defeat But there il no time to
waste in talk. There is nothing to do
but run for II now. Come, lass!"
Before she realised what was 60
ing to do. I had nung away my rife
and seized her in my arms. She was
a light. slender thing. and held her
tight In the folds OF the blanket,
scarcely feeling her weight. She made
no effort to resist. yet her eyes-be-
wildered, half-frightened-looked into
whole purpose concentrated on the one
effort to save her. to fight a passage
through that mob of frightened men.
The spirit Of panic had grtpped me
also-not for myself, but for her!
Here was my duty now: not back yon-
der where those regulars stood grimly
in line, and died with their shoulders
touching; not where had fought all
day In the powder-cloud facing those
forest demons-but tn the mob of fu-
gitives, battling and cursing for their
lives. The road was Uttered with guns
thrown away, with discarded blankets
and powder horns. I dared not look
back, straining every muscle, stagger-
ing forward over the ruts. The roar
of guns behind grew faint in the dis
lance; the SPIT of rifles from the
thickets ceased. Exhausted, breath
less, Keeling from fatigue, / put her
down, and. with arm bout her, stood
an instant looking back.
They were coming, a dark mass
bearing down upon us, but ahead of
them. wild with terror. his harness
tapping at his heels, his head flung
from side to side. charged an artillery
horse full tilt In his mad terror he
saw and knew nothing. He came
straight At ~, running ~ II crazed.
flung the girl into tho side Of the
rosd and isApsd rseklessly for his
head. My hand Eripped the name.
then the leather rom; was flung
from my feet, terked into the air, but
hung: my moccasins touched ground
again. was dragged forward, rem
dered half unconscious by blow. but
weight told. I got fingers ON his nos
trils. and he stood still. painting and
trembling. Clinging to him. warned
by shouts to hurry, stripped the har-
ness and hoisted her onto the bare
back. Even ~ this was accomplished
the head Of that sl9fektng mob was on
us: one brute srabbsd her BY the arm
seeking to pull her down. and struck
him with al the force had. Then
ran forward, clsspins tho horse by the
bit. crunchins our way. Needless Of
who opposed or blocked our passage.
And they made way for US; even in
their blind terror. they swept aside
to esespe being trampled under the
animals boots, and left before us a
clear path.
looked eagerly for some place in
which to turn aside, saw the faint
trace Of an Indian trail. seemingly
leading down the bank Of the stream,
and, with instant decision, turned into
1t. walked the horse now. and Rene
sat up straight. and fastened her dis
through dense thieksts and about q
slight hill in five minutes we were
out Of sight Of the road, alone in the
wilderness. To the right through
trees was the glimmer of the yer
The horse painted heavily. and the way
was rough. There was blood noticed
now, on his dank, and he hmped slight
" as he walked. staggered and
rseled from WEAKNESS. feeling reac
ton from excitement, yet kept Srimly
.on until we must have covered two
miles. wandering In and out among the
low hills. No sounds reached us, and
a. we came into q narrow ravine
promising concealment, l released my
grasp on the bit and staggered back
against the bank. Mademoiselle
slipped from her seat and FASTENED to
me.
"You are worn out. monsieur,
wounded?"
Worn out. yet, but nothing has
touched me save blow or two. IL
think we can rest now"
Then 1t occurred to me, q thought
that had swept into my mind once
before-we had no provisions, no
chance to get away and we dare not
shoot. nor build IRE.
What is 1t, monsieur"
'why, we have nothing :. to eat.
Rene" admitted reluctantly. 1T Is
. long journey to the Ohio, aud how
are we to keep from starving? FAITH!
but am near that now"
She stood before me, slender, erect,
the blanket drapsd about her. her eyes
lovered