The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1915-12-04

ing rail. selected among them, as
best could In the darkness. two that
seemed well adapted to our purpose.
Z helped her silently into the saddle.
thrusting one OF my reviewers into the
empty holster, and then mounted my
self
which way had we better got" I
asked. my face close. our horses
touching.
Along the south road ut first;
there is n cutoff Just back OF the old
school"
And the pickets--do you know
where they are posted7"
AT the ford of the Green Briar--
the main ford"
There are none at Bentonl"
mo: ! do not think they. even know
the river is fordable there; II 10 not
on the maps"
We rode forward slowly. my hand
on her bride rein. keeping In the
deeper shadows along the side OF the
road, until we passed beyond the last
1
was not alarmed for another half hour,
our pursuers would be given hard
task. Strange that the Federal
scouts had never located the Benton
ford. To be sure It was narrow, and
OF no value In high water. yet an ideal
place for raiding parties to cross. and
all those hills beyond were full oil
guerrilla bands eager to strike quick
and get safely away. That they dared
to attack small bodies OF troops. and
especially poorly guarded Wagon
trains, had been demonstrated more
than once. and this secret ford gave
them easy opportunity. The Cowani
certainly knew OF It's feasibility, ant
the wonder was they had never uti
lized II before.
The longer thought the more
began to dread the unknown Danger
ahead-the gauntlet we must run be
fore attaining the Confederate lines
We could baffie pursuit. but II once VI
came into contact with those irregu
lars OF the mountains-merciless, TIRE
sponsible-no one could predict tn
! result | could skulk along througl
! the night. discard my horse. trave
afoot, and thus avoid encounterin
any OF those villains. was myself
mountaineer. and knew the secre
trails. But with her beside me. tn
, two OF us mounted. such a feat wa
! almost impossible. must find he
! food and shelter, and we could nc
a travel on horseback without leayln
4 trail unconcealed To be sure.
, knew her OF old that she was stronl
l resourceful. fearless-yet she was
a woman to be protected from insult.
be guarded against exposure; NOR,
!, she was the woman / loved.
a But would she be in any less DANCE
!. II compelled her to return TO Levi
burg? She would be exposed 20 II
:. dignities, To almost certain persec'
!. ton from Raymond.
a "Noreen," l said. turning my fac
r toward her. DO you really think
I best to try this ride with mel"
u You do not wish me TO gog" sh
/. asked, as instantly refining up. ""Yo
n want me 10 return7"
7 mo. not that. have no though
a but for your own good. Only do ye
~ understand the perils through whiC
. we must pass in those mountainsg"
~ Yes. | do understand" she a
q swered soberly. and comprehend,
you cannot, the danger OF my retur
n ing to Lewisburg. will never
~ back there; but. II you think II be
"A for us 10 part. will endeavor TO reaS
N Charleston alone"
10 "You would rather 60 on with me
4 II made that choice. but II you co
10 slider me burden"
h. no. II is not that. Noreen."
H. terrupted, touched by the regretf
n tone OF her voice 1T was OF you
was thinking. not myself. Then '
I go on together7"
pt She was silent, her eyes on 4
,u darknpss ahead.
ou III must be your decision"
sisted.
~ II made my choice an hour ago" u
re answered frankly. ~
l waited an instant, thinking n
er might say more, but phe sat motto
less in the saddle. Just what her
ed cislon signined could not Judge.
seemed TO me that between two ds
nd gers she had simply chosen the o
10. she deemed to be the lesser. II "
II. not affection for me. but fear OF Of
ers, which urged her forward. Graz
ing her bride rein. rode on throu
w the dark without another word. r