The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-01-28

Surely: We vill Sc together ana
gripped her hands lightly IN mine.
whatever happens sill do my best.
But We must &c & once
yes, and-anf thank you
We crepf forward along the shadow
Of the orchard fence. until we mingled
with the horses fastened at the hitch
ing ran. / selected among them, as
best could in the darkness. two that
seemed well adapted TO our purpose.
/ helped her silently into the saddle,
thrusting one Of my fesolvers into the
empty holster. and then mounted my
self.
(which way had We better go?' |
asked. my face close. our horses
touching.
along the south road at first;
there is a cutoff Just back Of the old
school"
"And the pickets- do you know
where they are posfedi"
AT the ford OF the Green Briar-
the main ford"
There are none q Benton?"
No; I do not think they even know
the river Is fordsble there: it is 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
house of the village. II the camp
was not alarmed foranother half hour,
our pursuers would. be given a 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 pa-ties to cross, and
all those hills beybnd were full of
guerrilla bands eager to strike quick
and get safely awayf That they dared
to attack small BODIES of troops, and
especially poorly lguarded wagon
trains. had been q honstrated more
than once. and this secret ford gave
them easy opportunity. The Cowans
certainly knew of b feasibility, and
the wonder was thy had never uti.
lized it before. 3
The longer | hight the more
began to dread thdQnknown dangers
ahead-the gauntle I've must run be-
fore attaining the confederate lines.
We could battle purfuit, but If once we
came into contact with those irregu.
lars Of the mountaibs-merciless, IRE.
sponslble-no one could predict the
result. I could skulk along through
the night, discard my horse. travel
afoot and thus avoid encountering
any Of those villains. | was myself a
mountaineer, and knew the secret
trails. But with her beside me, the
two of us mounted. such a feat was
almost impossible | must find her
food and shelter, and we could not
travel on horseback without leaving
a trail unconcealed. To be sure.
knew her of old; that she was strong.
resourceful. fearless-yet she was a
woman to be protected from insult. to
be guarded against exposure; more.
she was the woman l loved.
But would she be In any less danger
II I compelled her to return to Lewis.
burg? She would be exposed to in.
dignities, to almost certain persecu.
ton from Raymond
"Noreen." l said. turning my face
toward her. DO you really think 1t
best to try this ride with me?"
you do not wish me to go?" she
asked. as instantly refining UP. "You
want me- TO ret r.
NO, not that ~ have no tnousht
but for your own good. Only do you
understand the pefiis through which
we must pass in those mountains?"
YES. / do understand" she an.
swered soberly and | comprehend. as
you cannot, the danger of my return
ing to Lewisburg. l will never go
back there; but, II you think it best
for us to part viii endeavor to reach
Charleston alone.'
"You would rather go on with me?"
Il made that choice. but II you con-
slider me burden"
mo, 1t is not that, Noreen," l in.
terrupted, touched by the regretful
tone of her voice. 1T was of you |
was thinking. not myself. Then we
go on together
She was silent, her eyes on the
darkness ahead.
1T must be your decision" In
sisted.
Il made my choice an hour ago." she
answered frankly
waited an instant. thinking she
might say more, but she sat motion.
less in the saddle. Just what her de-
cision signified could not Judge. 1t
seemed to me that between two dan.
gers she had simply chosen the one
she deemed to be the lesser. 1t was
not affection for me, but fear of 9th.
ers, which urged her forward. Grasp
ing her bride rein, rode on through
the dark without another word. The
decision had been made; now we must
both of us abide the consequences.