My Lady of the North

angely to my protection. The very fact, which I now realized, that she was both young and fair added some indefinite burden and complicated

ucceed in safely reaching the Federal picket post in our front, the men on duty there were just as likely as not to prove of the same desperate stamp, and every indignity might be offered her were she to appear alone. Nor could I venture to accompany her on such a trip, for to do so would but assure my own capture, and involve

ergeant took her horse, and it seemed to me I could plainly read righteous indignation in the indistinct outline of her figure and the haughty pose of her head. To her at that moment I was eviden

about at the sound of my footsteps, nor deigned by the slightest motion to acknowledge my presence. So intense, indeed, was her evident sense of indignity that it awoke within me something akin to

nd safety," I said, striving to disguise all self-consciousness. "Every

asily dispense with any f

would willingly assume great risks to that end. But while you remain here and in my care, I shall perform my full duty toward you as though you were my own sister. Now please listen to me, and I assure you I shall speak nothing for the mere purpose of alarming you, but simply that you may better comprehend the facts which must influence our present relationship. I have sent forward Sergeant Craig with the message especially intrusted to me for delivery, and thus, if it fail to reach its destination, I have laid myself open to the charge of a grave military crime. In doing this I have not only perill

y I not go

e voice sounded more gentle. My wo

ay be the hiding-place of an outlaw, any dark ravine the rendezvous of as wild a gang as ever murdered for plunder. For months past-yes, for years-the two great armies have scouted these hills, have battled for them, and every forward or backward

as a Federal picket post at th

trembled a

ervice. Doubtless these thieving, murdering bands-such as that headed by Red Lowrie, of whom you may have heard-are sufficiently organized to keep patrol

you not g

naive innocenc

rned quietly. "But would it be a pleasure even to you to behold me swinging from the limb of a tr

n the dim light. I scarcely think I was ever considered a handsome man even by my friends, but I was young then, frank of face, with that about me which

o! Not

eavoring to perform my plain duty. I know not how I could do less without forfeiting entirely your respect. Now one thing more-please banish from your thought the idea that you are in any way a prisoner; forget, if possible, the color of my

ightly uplifted hand and surrender utterly. But it was only for the moment; whatever wave of emotion may h

hall endeavor to adapt myself to the requirements of my unfortuna

on of superiority? No, I felt that this was not the cause of her cold suspicion, her proud, unapproachable bearing. Undoubtedly it arose from the manner in which she had fallen into our hands, the strangeness and delicacy of our situation, the knowledge that I was a "Rebel" in arms against her people. These were the things which had reared such a barrier

far below. On the opposite side stood a dense wood, the outer fringe of trees overhanging the road, and through the waving leaves the moonlight checkered the ground with silver, while the dense mass beyond seemed to flow back up the steep side of

as possible. "But I propose to investigate the log hut yond

n pointed out, and her eyes mirrored

vely, "I could never ventur

ness, a fit abiding place for ghost and goblin damned;

thin than without, although, I confess, from here it appears gloomy enough to discourage any one. However

ave her seated upon the grass, and well protected from prying eyes, she hurried quickly

naturally timid, yet everything is so gloomy I ca

t a particle of danger in this, for if the house were inhabited its occupants would ha

e cabin, which grew ever more uninviting as we drew near. As I paused a moment before the closed door, in order that I might listen

hing here more terrifying than a vacant house, doubtless long since dese

moonlight which crept in through the doorway scarcely revealed the nature of that dark interior. I could dimly perceive what I believed to be a table directly in front of me, while certain other indistinct and ill defined shadows might be chairs pushed back aga

harply in terror,

fling sound directly in our front, followed by a stra

y. "Probably it is nothing

m; for from my new position I could look backward and distinguish in the moonlight the details of that simple, squalid interior. I ran

no noise, no sound, while for an instant, with strength of sheer desperation, I held back the snapping jaws that breathed hot fire into my very face. With a bound backward of its great body the beast jerked free from my grip, and the next instant had sunk its dripping fangs, deep and hard, into the flesh of my shoulder. As the intense pain shot thr

r there on the floor, and use it-but for God's

t I made was an agony, an inexpressible torture, but the very intensity of pain kept me from faintness, as the maddened beast tore deeper and deeper into the quivering flesh. With knee bent double beneath me I succeeded in turning partially upon one side, lifting the entire weight of the animal as I did so; but no degree of force I could exert would loosen those set jaws. There was no growling, no savage snarling, no sound of any kind,-just that fierce, desperate, silent strug

aid of the wall against which my head rested, looked about. Two broken chairs overturned upon the floor, and the shapeless, huddled body of my late assailant, alone spoke of the violence of that deadly struggle; but the cabin was yet

kly, for my breath yet came to

ever forget the glad ring in her

er words yielded me a

"and I thank you also as His instrument; but if you would keep m

startled at everything, and passing as far from the lifeless mass on the floor as the small space would allo

re you indeed

. There is brandy in the inner pocket of my jacket, but I am unable to mo

as with trembling fingers she undid the buttons of my trooper's jacket and ex

there returned all my old-time audacity, with that intense hopeful

y. "Things are surely not so bad after all. At least we hav

her s

It is so like some horrid dream, and I am trembling ye

or ungrateful. Years of war service make one careless of life,

and I knew she was crying softly. The sobbi

a coward I am. I scarcely knew what I was doin

is breed. But whatever it may have been, the beast

essed, almost hysterically.

action; besides, I felt the hot blood constantly trickling down my arm, and realized that somethi

hardly capable of helping you as yet; but we must have light in this gloomy old hole,

ere the dead dog lay, until in a brief space of time the welcome flame leaped up in the wide black chimney, and cast its red glare all over the little room.

exclaimed, looking at the fo

been a bear," I replied, clinching my t

t and most primitive kind; the bare logs forming the walls, unrelieved in their rough ugliness, except as here and there sundry unshapely garments dangled from wooden pegs; the rough deal table, with a few cheap dishes piled upon one end of it;

reamy lace was fitted, the full throat rendered whiter by the contrast, while at her wrists a similar ornament alone served to relieve the simple plainness of her attire. The flaming fire lighted up her face, making it seem to flush with the dancing glow, which sparkled like diamonds in her eyes, and touched