Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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TJfe LaOVE STORY A GRAY JACKET II By Randall Parrish II |B vAutborV MM ?'WW.Wikkr^MWa. K.of" II II illustrations by II II ajttmu11 a williamson C?trmfc> ?* a C. M?( \%n m C*. mmm ? !?>???'? iuu. i? ? Beyond the gleam of the uncovered windows all was wrapped in complete darkness, save that here and there we could distinguish the dull red glare of camp-Ores where the company cooks were yet at work, or some ?entry post had been established. We turned sharply to me left, and pro? ceeded down a comparatively smooth road, which seemed to me to possess n rock basis. It felt so hard From the position of the stars I jtidged our course to bo eastward, but the night waa sufficiently obscured to shroud nil objects more than a few yards dis tsnt. Except for the varied camp noises on either side of us the eve? ning was oppressively still, and the air had the lato chill of high altitudes. Mrs Rr.mnan pressed more closely to me as -ve passed beyond the narrow soae of light, and uncoisclously we fell into step together. A few hundred yards farther a fire burned redly against a pile of logs. The forms of several men lay out stretched beside It. while a sentry pared bark and forth. In and out of the range of light. We were almost upon him before he noted our ap? proach, end in his haste he swung his musket down from his shoulder until the point of Its bsyonet nearly touched try breast. "Halt!" he cried sternly, peering at us in evident surprise. "Halt! this road Is closed." "Valley Forge," whispered the girl, and 1 noticed how white her face ap? peared In the flaming of the fire. 'The word Is all right. Miss," re? turned the fellow, stoutly, yet with? out lowering his obstructing gun. "Hut we cannot pass any one out on the countersign alone. If you was going the other way it would answer." "But wo are returning from the offi? cers' ball." she urged anxiously, "and are one our way to Major Brennan's quarters. We hsva passes." As she drew the paper from out her glove one of the men at the flro sprang to his feet end strode across I the narrow road toward us. He was smooth of fsce and boyish looking, but wore corporal's stripes. What is if, Mapes?" ha asked sharply Without waiting an answer he took the paper she held out and scanned It rapidly. "This Is all right," he said, handing It back, and lifting his cap in salute. "You may pass, madam. You must pardon us, but the orders are exceed? ingly strict to-night. Have you a pass also. Colonel? ' I hsnded it to him, and after a single glsnce it was returned. "Pass them, guard," he said curt ly. s?andlug aside. Beyond the radiance of the fire she broke the silence. "I shall only be able to go with you so fsr as the summit of the hill yon? der, for our quarters sre Just, to the right, and 1 could furnish no excuse for being found beyond that point." ?he said. "Do you know enough of the country to make the line1* of your army?" "If this is the Kendallvllle pike we a*e on," 1 answered, "I have a pretty clear conception of what lies ahead, ??ut 1 should bo very glad to know where 1 am to look for the outer picket." "There ts one post at the ford over the White Ilrlar." she replied "I chsnce to know this because Major Brennan selected the station, and re msrked thst the ntroam wss so ht^h and rspld ss to bo Impassable at any o.Ler point for mile* Hut I regret this Is as fsr ss my information ex? tends." I started to ssy something?what I hardly know *h*n, slmost without sound of warning, a little squad of horsemen swept over the brow of tho hill In our front, their forms darkly outlined agsln*? the starlit sky. and rode down toward us at a sharp trot I hsd bsrelv time to swing my torn panlon out of the track when they clattered by. their head* bOBl km 10 thw wind, and seemingly oblivious to all save the movements of their Igsstgf "Sheridan!" I whispered, for even In that dimness I had m>' fnllo.l to recognise ?he si ort, ervct figure which rod?? in front Th? VOmai shuddered, snd drew Closer within my protecting shadow. Then out of the darkness there burst a solitary tider his horse limping as If crippled, and would have ridden us down, had 1 not flung tip one baud and grasped hW bridle rein "tireat Scott! what have we here1*" he cried roughlv peering down at us "My all the gods, a woman!" The hand upon my arm ( lurched me desytrs'ely, and my own h*ait seemed to choke back every utterance. The voice was Hrennan's. CHAPTER XVIII. The Reputation of a Woman. Like a flash occurred to me the only possible means by which we might escape ope~ discovery?an Instant dis? closure of my supposed rank, coupled with Indignant protest. Already, be? lieving me merely some private soldier straying out of bounds with a woman of the camp as companion, he had thrown himself from the saddle to In? vestigate. Whatever was to be done must be accomplished quickly, or it would prove all too late. To think ?Tut Down Your Pistol," She Ordered Coldly. was to act. Stepping instantly in front of the shrinking girl and facing biro, 1 said sternly: "I do not know who you may chance to be, sir. nor greatly care, yet your words and actions imply an insult to this ledy which I am little disposed to overlook. For your information per? mit me to state, I am Colonel Curran, Sixth Ohio Light Artillery, and am not accustomed to being halted on the road by every drunken fool who sports a uniform." He stopped short in complete sur? prise, staring at me through the dark? ness, and I doubted not was perfect? ly able y> distinguish the glint of but? tons and gleam of braid. "Your pardon, sir." he ejaculated at last. "I mistook you for some run? away soldier. But I failed to catch your words; how did yon name your? self?" "Colonel Curran, of Major-General Halleek's staff." "The hell you are! Curran had a full gray beard a month ago." He took a step forward, and before I could recover from the first numbing shock of surprise was peering intently Into my face. "Damn 't!" he cried, tugging viciously at a revolver In his belt, "I know that face! You are the measly Johnny Reb I brought in day before yesterday." There came a qul?k flutter of drap ery at my side, and she. pressing me firmly backward, fared him without a word. The man's extended arm dropped to his side as though pierced by a bullet, and he took one step backward, shrinking as if his stsrtled eyes be? held a ghost. "Edith?" he cried, as though doubt? ing his own vision, and the ting of agony In his voice was almost piteous. "Edith! My God! You here, at mid? night, alone with this man?" However the words, the tone, the gesture may have siting her, her face remained proudly calm, her voice cold aud clear. "I certainly am, Major Tlrennan." she answered, her eyes never onco leaving his face. "And mw I ask what reason you can have to object?" "Reason?" His voice had grown hoarse with passion and surprise. "My God, how can you ask? How can you even face rne? Why do you not sink down In shame? Alone here,"?he looked about him into the darkness?"at such an hour, In com? pany with a Rebel, a sneaking, cow? ardly spy. already condemned to be shot. By Heaven! he shall never live to boast of it!" j He flung up his revolver barrel to prove the truth of his threat, but sne stepped directly between us, and shielded mc with her form. "Put down your pistol." she ordered coldly. "I assure you ray reputation is In no Immediate danger unless you shoot me. and your bullet shall cer? tainly find my heart before it ever reaches Captain Wayne." "Truly, you must iudocd love him,*' he sneered So close to me was she standing that I could feel her form tremble nt this Intuit, yet her voice remained ernot loiiless. "Your uncalled-for words shame me. hoi my gctlont, In being here with Captain Wayne tonight i am merely paying a simple debt of honor ?a double ?lebt, Indeed, considering that he was condemned to death by your lie, vshlle you deceived tue by another." "DM he tell you that?" "ilo did not. Like the true gent Io? nian he has ever shown himself to be he endeavored to disguise the facts, to withhold from me all knowledge of your dastardly action 1 know it by the infamous sentence pronounced against him and by your falsehood to me " Kditb. you mistake." ho urged gl I loudly "1 -I Has told that he had Le? n sent North " Si e drew a deep breath, as though she could scarcely grasp the full au? dacity of his pretence to ignotauce You en pear ed to \*? iuii> Informed but uow as. to hid UvaUi seuteucv. "Yes, I heard of It while away, and iutended telling you as boon as I reached our quarters." I could feel the scorn of his miser? able deception as It curled her Up, and her figure seemed to straighten between us. "Then," she said slowly, "you will doubtless agreo that I have done no more than was right, and will there? fore permit him this chance of escape rrora so unmerited a T?te; Tor yon know as well as I do that he has been wrongly condemned." He stepped forward with a half smothered aih, and rested one hand heavily upon her shoulder. "I rather guess not, madam." he said. "Damn him! I will hang him now higher than HamaL Just to show Queen Ksther that it can be done. Out of the way, madam!" Rendered desperate by her slight resistance and his own jealous hatred, he thrust the woman aside so rudely that she fell forward upon one knee. His revolver was yet in his right hand, gloaming in the starlight, but before he could raise or Are it I had grasped the steel barrel firmly, and the hammer came down noiselssly upon the tlesh of my thumb. The next instant we wore locked close together In fierce struggle for the mastery, tie was tho heavier, stronger man; I tho younger and quicker. From the first every effort on both sides was put forth solely to gain command of the weapon?his to fire, mine to prevent, for I knew well at the sound of the discharge there would come a rush of j blue-coats to his rescue. My first fierce onset had put him on the de? fensive, but as we tugged and strained his superiority in weight begp.n to tell, j and slowly ho bore me backward, tin till all the weight of my body rested upon my right leg. Then there oc? curred to me like a flash a wrestler's trick taught me years before by an old negro on my father's plantation. Instantly I appeared to yield to the force against which I contended with simulated weakness, sinking lower and lower, until, I doubt not, Brennan felt convinced I must go over back? ward. Hut as I thus sank, my left foot found steady support farther back, while my free hand sank slow? ly down his straining body until my groping fingers grasped firmly the broad belt about his waist. I yielded yet another inch, until he leane? so far over mo as to be out of ail bal? ance, and then, with sudden straight? ening of my left leg. at the same time forcing my head beneath his chest In leverage, with one tremendous effort I flung him, head under, crashing down upon tho hard road. Trembling like a reed from tho exertion, I stood there looking down upon the dark form lying huddled at my feet. He rested motionless, and I bent over, placing my hand upon his heart, hor? rified at the mere thought that he might be dead. But the heart beat, and with a- prayer of thankfulness I looked up. She stood beside me. "Tell me, Captain Wayne," she ex? claimed anxiously, "he Is not?not se? riously hurt?" "I believe not," I answered soberly. "He is a heavy man. and fell hard, yet. his heart beats strong. He must have cut his head upon a stone, however, for he is bleeding." She knelt beside him, and I caught the whiteness of a handerchief within her hand. "Believe me, Mrs. Brennan," I fal? tered lamely, "I regret this far more than I can tell. Nothing has ever oc? curred to me to give greater pain than tho thought that I have brought you so much of sorrow and trouble. You will have faith In me?" "Always, everywhere?whether It ever be our fate to meet again or not. But now you must go." "Go? And leave you here alone? Are you not afraid?" "Afraid ?"sho looked about her Into the darkness. "Of what? Surely you do not mean of Frank?of Major Bren? nan? And as to my being alone, our quarters are within a scant hundred yards from here, and a single cry will bring me aid In plenty. Hush! what was that?" It was the shuffling tread of many feet, the sturdy tramp of a body of infantry on the march. "Go!" she cried hurriedly. "If you would truly serve me. if you care at all for me, do not longer delay and be discovered here. It Is the grand rounds. I beg of you, go!" I grasped her outstretched hand, pressed my lips hotly upon It, and sped with noiseless footsteps down the black, deserted road. CHAPTER XIX. The Cavalry Outpost. I lingered merely long enough to feel assured as to her safety, creep? ing closer until T heard her simple story of the Major's fall from his horse, and then watched through the night shadows while the little squad bore his unconscious form over the crest of tho low bill toward their quarters Then I turned my face eastward and tramped resolutely on. 1 was. first of all, a soldier, and noth? ing short of death or capture should prevent mo reaching Leo with tuy tage f.ot what would happen, ail else could wait. The gleam of the stars fell upon the double row of buttons down the breast Ol the enat I wore, and I stopped suddenly with an oxlamstion of disgust Nothlni could be gained by longer masquerade, and I felt ln? expn islble shame at being thus at? tired Neither pass nor uniform would suffice to net mo safe through 1 s outer picket line-* and If I should fail in 'he attempt, or be again made prisoner, 1 vastly preferred meeting my fate clad in the faded gr?.y of my own regiment. With odd sense of re? lief 1 hastily stripped off the gorgeous trappings, flung them in the ditch be? side the road, and pressed on, feeling like a new man. There was small need for caution here, and for more than an hour I tramped steadily along, never meeting a person or being startled by a sus? picious sound. Then, as I rounded a low eminence I perceived before me the dark outlines of trees which marked the course of the White Briar, while directly in my front, and half ob? scured by thick leaves of the under? brush, blazed the red glare of a fire. I knew the stream well, its steep bankb of percipitate rock, its rapid, swirling current which, I was well aware, I was not a sufficiently expert swimmer to cross. Once upon the other bank I should be comparatively safe, bir U) pass that, picket post and attain tue ford was certain to require all the good fortune I could ever hope for. But despair was never for long my comrade, and I had learned how de? termination opens doors to the coura? geous?it is ever he who tries that en? ters In. It took me ten minutes, pos? sibly, creeping much of the way like a wild animal over the rocks, but at the end of that time I had attained a position well within the dense thicket, and could observe clearly the ground before me and some of the obstacles to be overcome. As I supposed, it was a cavalry out? post; I could distinguish the crossed sabers on the caps of the men, al? though it was some time before I was able to determine positively where their horses were picketed. There must have been all of twenty in the party, and I could distinguish the lieu? tenant in command, a middle-aged man with light-colored chin beard, seated by himself against the wall ot a small shanty of logs, a pipe in his mouth and an open book upon his knee. His men were gathered close about the blazing fire, for the night air was decidedly chill as it swept down the valley; a number were sleeping, a few at cards, while a little group, sitting with their backs to vaiu me, yet almost within reach of my hand, were idly smoking and dis? cussing tue floating rumors of the camp. I managed to make out dimly the figure of a man on horseback be? yond the range of flame, and appar? ently upon the very bank of the stream, when some words spoken by an old gray-beared sergeant interested me. "'Bob," he said to the soldier loung? ing next him, "whut wus it thet staff 1 offleer sed ter ther leftcnant? I didn't just git ther straight of it." The man, a debonair youg fellow, stroked his little black mustaches re? flectively. "Ther cove sed as how Cole's di? vision wud be along here afore day? light, an' thet our fellers wud likely be sent out ahead of 'em." "Whar be they a goin'?" "The leftenant asked him, an' the cove sed as it wus a gineral advance to meet oV Hancock at Minersville." "Thet's good 'nough, lads," chimed in the sergeant, slnpping his knee. "It means a dance down tne 'alley after Marly. I'm a guessin' we'll have a bang-up ol' fight 'fore three days more " 'Tervidin' allers thet ther Johnnies don't, skedaddle fust," commented an other, tartly. "Whut in thunder is ther matter with them hosses?" he asked suddenly, rising and peering over into the bushes beyond the hut. where a noise of squealing and kick ing had arisen. "Oh, the bay filly Is probably over the rope agin," returned the eer geant, lazily. 'Sit down, Sims, an' be easy; you're not on hoss guard ter nlght." (TO BE CONTINUED.) AVIATOR'S GARMENT IN BLAZE. His Companion Extinguishes the I lames and the Two Come to Earth in Safety. St. I.ouis, June 13.?Facing death Anthony Jannus and Arthur Ismlngci debated in midair today which ol two plans for escape chance would favor. They >v>t into trouble when one of tin- tall roils on the machine worked loose while making a tlinht. Isminger caughl the rod, Intending to hold it until they could land. In his struggle with the rod, his coat tad fell over the exhaust pipe an.l caughl lire. Meanwhile Jannus had been fight Ing to keep the machine in the air. While sparks Hew from ismlngor's clothes, they debated whether it won d bo better lo drop the tail rod or desert the steering lovers for a mo? ment. They decided the latter course wat mote prudent. Jannus dropped the wheel and while Isininger held tlghtl) to tlx- rod. his burning coal was torn from his back They landed safel) at Alton, in. |... minger not a new coal and they r? sinned their Might. Aftc* leaving Alton Jannus decided to postpone the High! t" t'hlcagu until tomorrow ami made a trial High! up und down tin- Mississippi river, golmt us far north as Qrafton, ill, at Hie moul h of t hi- Illinois rh sr. On Saturday in New York City yeggmen blew open Iwo sales and got uwa> with tin- contents, This show that safe blowing la imi n rural -ii v el -ion. Wllinlllgtoti Star. GALLS TIME ON UNION PACIFIC SO FTRTTIER IXTIAslox THE DISPOSITION or STOCK Attorney General Beeves Notice Thai Government is Opposed to Giving Union Pacific More Time in Which to <ict Rid of Southern Pacific Holding ? Supreme Court Orders stock Relinquished July l. St. Paul, June 12.? Attorney Gen? eral McReynolds served notice today that the Qovernment was opposed te giving the Union Pacific Railroad any further extension of time within Which to dispose of Its holdings of Southern Pacific stork as ordered by the Supreme Court, in doing so he made known to the railroad's attor? neys and to United States Circuit Judges Sanhorn, Hook and Smith, at a hearing In the dissolution proceed? ings, his objections to two of the lat? est plans proposed by the railroad for getting rid of its $120,650,000 worth of Southern Pacific storck. A new plan was proposed for the, disposition of almost a third of the Southern Pacific stock held by the Union Pacific. This plan provides for trading Southern Pacific stock to the Pennsylvania Railroad for the latter company's holdings in Baltimore and Ohio. The court took the whole case un-; der advisement. FIRST HEAT WAVE. With Country Sweltering There is No Prospect for S|>cedy Relief. Washington, June 15.?Practically tic entire country sweltered today under the first real hot wave of the seasoni and tonight the weather bu? reau experts held out no hope for cooler weather within the next 4 8 hours. Omaha, Neb., and St. Joseph, Mo., were the hottest cities in the United States today with the mercury hover? ing around 9?; decrees. Chicago ran a close second, with the thermometer registering 94. Washington suffered its hottest day of the season and on< heat stroke oc? curred. The maximum temperature at the weather bureau today was 92, but the government's thermometer registered 100 degrees. The New York burglar who mas? queraded as a Belgian count wanted to ?et rich quicker than he could hope to do by means of the jimmy.?Wil? mington star. FOR GOVERNOR REFUSES RECORDS. LIGHT ON MILITARY TRIAM IS DENIED MINI: PROBED I _ \ West Virginia Executive Wrflc* Senate rnnwilttni Explaining That I i<> Make Public Records at ThWs Time Would be Prejudicial to Pub lie Peace. Charle ston. W. Va . June 12?Gov? ernor Hat Held, of West Virginia, to? night declined to suhmit to the Sen? ate mine strike committee the recordr of the trials before the military com? mission district of the state during the trouble this spring, in a letter to the committee the Governor sao* that the findings of the commission in those cases had never been approved, the men had been released and he desired to keep the records for use in seeking indictments in the Civil courts. To make them public at this time, he said, would be "prejudicial to the pub? lic peace." Governor Hatfield's letter was pre? sented to the committee at to-nights session. STORM MORO FORT. I American Troops Capture En? trenchment of Rebels Under Sultan of Jolo. Manila, Punc 12.?The entrench? ments of the rebellious Moros under the sultan of Jolo at Bagsag were taken by the American forces today after a fierce battle in which fhe American casualties were six killed and 12 wounded. _ The killed were two privates of Company B. Eighth United States in? fantry; three members of t'.ie First company of scouts and one member of the Twenty-ninth company of scouts. Lieut. Edwin EL Hackley was wounded in the leg. The casualties are regarded as light in view of the stubborn resist? ance put up by the Moros. The attacking forces had been made up unusually strong as a pre? caution, there being in addition to the company of regular infantry, a troop of cavalry, seven companies of scouta, two companies of constabulary with a battery of four mountain guns and a machine gun platoon. Although there remains one point still occupied in the mountains, the mountain guns will be in a position to shell it easily. Brig. Gen. Jo"i ?hing, commander of the dep of the Mindanao who led the IdeciAree he will continue op. In Jolo until the trlbesmet have been taken and the island Is peaceful. Mountain Excursion VIA Southern Railway premier CARRIKR OF THE SOUTH THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1913 Exceedingly Low and Attractive Round Trip Fares From Sumter as Follows: Asheville. N. C. $6 80 Brevard, N. C. 7.05 Hot Springs. N. C. 8.05 Ridgecrest, N. C. 6.80 Spartanburg, S. C. 5.00 Tryon, N. C. 5.85 Black Mt. N. C. $6.80 Hendersonville, 6.05 Lake Toxaway, 8.05 Saluda, N. C. 5.85 Taylor, S. C. 5.05 Waynesville, N. C. 8.05 Proportionately Low Fares From Other Points FINAL LIMIT : All tickets will be sold for trains leaving Sumter Thursday, June 19, and limited to reach Sumter returning not later than midnight Monday, June 30th, 1913. STOP-OVERS: Stop-overs will be permitted on these tickets within final limit at Spartanburg. Inman, Compobello, Landrum and all points in North Caroliua. SI>LENDIn TRAIN SERVICE ? TWO TRAINS FROM SUMTER Leave Sumter?No. 140.A. M. Leave Sumter?No. 142.3.50 F. M. HIGH-CLASS STAN I )_ARD 1)AV COACHES AND PULLMAN SLEEPING CARS ? BAGGAGE CHEC K ED TO DEST1N AT I ON A splendid opportunity for an inexpensive outing in the Western North Carolina Mountains. "Visit the Land of the Sky. the Beautiful Sapphire Country." Glorious Panorama, Outdoor Recreations, Home-like Boarding Houses. Attractive, descriptive Literature furnished on application to W. II. Caffcy, Division Passenger Agent, Charleston, S. C. For detailed information. Tickets, Reservations. Etc., apply t*j Ticket Agent. J. R. CLACK. Com. Agt. H. A. ROSE, Ticket Agt Sumter. S. C. Sumter, S. C. W. E. McGEE, A. G. P. A. W. H. CAFFEY. D. P. A. Columbia. S. C Charleston. S C.