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■ 0 $Umi HcfmliUcmi. VOLUME I HATHDRUM, IDAHO, FRIDAY, MAY 2«. 18!«> M'MIiEB 2 or mat. * S?-— ait ttf V» 1 m w "v 4 .O W/r. x>: r -■ A ÊP BY EDWARD A. TJ,' ELLI S. CÔPYRICÎTiT 16 99. BY TH^AUTHC^ <5 C\ A frightful dread passed through the frame of the wounded officer. He felt his pale face flush under a fear that nn til that moment was a stranger to him. for the nn: Ackers hinted of treachery very near to headquarters. Was it possible? If the intimation of his eaxitor was based on fact, the dread that Lieutenant Oakman felt was not for himself, but for another. The fate of that individual might well make the bravt-st man shudder. r and the words of .Jim Tho officer looked appealingly at Ackers, and the rugged fellow answered with a solemn wink of the eye. Had not the prisoner been suffering acutely from his wound he might have felt more hopeful, but it seemed to him that the disaster which impended was irretrievable. With native American pluck, however, he set his teeth, resolv ed to brave it through to the end. Meanwhile it was becoming evident every minute that the wound in his arm was more serious than at iirst sup pospd. There was little bleeding through the crude bandage, but the pain and 3 j j partial numbness showed that it needed ; jj ! j sMèeSà '!Ü!I à ; U. ■03 —m ! 'S , m w, ifrUv/ih M K ; .v V S /■\'S U1 M mi r Mi yr Yn • -t -Sÿf She lifts stnruUng nror the steps, nnd fit Iter side tens her dnuijhier. skilled attention, and delay iu receiv ing such might imperil the life of the prisoner. His captors were roughly considerate, but he repressed the evidence of suffer ing so resointely that they did not sub- : pect ilia distress. The three were within 100 yards of the building when Jim Ackers called a halt. Facing the prisoner, he asked "Yank, who are yon?" Lieutenant Oakman gave his name and rank. "I in free to allow that Tim and me like yonr looks. You've got sand, and 1 respect that sort of chap, even if his uniform is the color of yourn If you warnt hnrt, we'd take yon to where that scout of yonrn has been took. But y,m ve been winged, and in these days. when we re in the saddle or on the jnmp all the time, you'd be only a bother. I s pose we could exchange you after awhile, but that, too, is a nui fiance Consequently, as aforesaid, the easiest way out is to take your parole. '• Lientenant Oakman nodded to signi fv lie understood. "I jiresnino you intend to leave me at this house?" Ackers in turn nodded. "It will be nnpleosant to the inmates t-o have an enemy, even if wounded, thrust n{»on them as a guest " Don t give yourself any worriment alout that That '« our part of the bnsi Now. let's have the parole. " ■ was not much formality about it Lieutenant Oakman prisoner of war. and. if recap tur.by bis own friends, he would not V»k- up arms against the Southern Con t *\V. ra, '- v nilf il regularly exchanged. w hile the simple proceedings were undi r way. the negro boy Rastus was ok>. rve .1 standing near the end of the mansion 1: - Then - merely gave , " v ' " r d of honor to consider himself a lawful some rods distant, attentively thev were watching them, through, he beckoned »ßd the trees. When with great vigor. party x-assed under the shade around the end of the long, low ure and ascended the ample x«irch. 1 General Eldridge, calm, matron T and -till bandrome. was xirriiaretl for ^ '-'t was coining, for she had rightly ub rpreted the astounding mw-sage of ui-tn*. i u her severely plain dross and * ?i *'*ry hair brushed away from her i-w'tn forehead, she was standing near .her side ^ngh.er, : lS calm and collected as her pannt If the thunder of war had not , 1 - n heard among these southern ■°uiw. the years of dread expectancy t-i anguish had burned its woeful les ®n into every heart G"- young woman was barely out of strn-.i was her her teens, but her mind had been tna tnred far beyond her years in tho bit tercst of all schools, R s midnight blackness rivaled the eves and the dark complexion glowed with * health and strength that forbade the shadow of a wrinkle. She was of slight stature, showing in feature tho best It was too early for the silver to in the silken mass of hair that in physicnl characteristics of each parent. Jim A :kers, who did all the talking for himself and comrade, presented the prisoner to the ladies and explained his wishes. At the moment of confronting them the lieutenant removed his cap an ,j stood with bared head blushing deeply. "This is wholly involnntarv on mv part." he hastened to explain. "It pains me inexiiressibly to bo forc-d thus upon yon . If yon have the slightest ob jection. I beg you to say so and I shall not cross your threshold. " "Mr. Ackers knew when he bronght yon i lero that you would he received, y[ y husband was treated kindly when a saw her in the faraway New England home when she kissed her soldier boy goodby. In a choking voice ho mnr inured, "Thank yon!" and. waving a farewell to the grizzled men still stand ing at the foot of the steps.' he followed tho ladies into the broad, roomy apart ment where they had been seated sew ing and waiting, waiting, waiting, when Rastus burst upon them with the startling news cf a wounded "Linknm's man" who would soon reach the door. prisoner. Aon belong to my enemies, ß a t you are injured. It is poor comfort we can oiler, but such as it is you are ; welcome. Please enter. " The gracionsness «if manner which accompanied these words was like a ! gentle benison. Lieutenant Oakman could hardly check his tears when, de clining tho air offered by his captors, he passed up the steps, enj) still in hand There was something in the sweet words that recalled his own mother as lie last ; "I feel meaner than i can express." thought Lieuti nant Oakman when he accepted this typical southern hospital ity. "for. iu welcoming me to their home, they have no suspicion of the whole truth. The best man does no know what a miserable scoundrel lie can become until ho makes tho honest effort for himself. " : CHAPTER V A BKKKZK. That hospitable southern home of General Arthur Eldridge. C. S. A., had its physician, who. so far as tho ordi the majority of the profession who hold the duly certified diplomas of the most famous medical schools of the land, nary ailments of the human flesh are concerned, could have given lessons to A tint Marcie. wife of old Pete, the coachman, and mother of Rastus. had nourished Adele when a child through a seemingly mortal illness after the reg nlar physician «aid all hoi»-was vini--.li ed. and she had sat by the bedside • f her beloved mistress as the husband uttered what he beli-ved \v.,s his last farewell and aduiinist-rc.l h--r simple remedies, which p-.illi 1 the mother back from the edge of tho dark river. General Eldridge kilns--If had r- ceived the benefit of that wonderful W.'UJ'I skill which nature sometimes bestows njmn those tliat are the least gifted mentally, while in ths old day*, whin the threescore slaves sang and worked the plantation, there was none who willingly received the care of any doctor iD preference to Aunt Marcie. Of nil this Lieutenant < iakmati know on nothing, but when the old coj.-rt 1 w man. with her head swathed in a g,,r geona bandanna handkerchief, promptly and deftly removed the bandage fr- m the wounded arm with a sniff of cun tempt lie felt somehow or other that it was nseless to send for the U ** surgeon in the Union army, even if the ojijior tnnity were presented While Mrs. Eldridge and h-r dangh ter looked sympathetically on. with an occasional word of pity. Aunt Marcie attended to bnsrness "Might've knowed dat was done by some fool of a white man like Jim Act ers. ' she remarked as she laid the stained and caked cloth a i i- "it sm tied twice as tight as it ort--r be. Dat * what makes yo face st» ml ' Lieutenant Oakman f- it his connte nance burning, for he was aware that a pair of bright eyes were fixed com iniseratingly upon hilu. and h- welcom "Yo'« a big fool as de rest ob de white folks. Doan yo see dat de band age beiu tied tight stops de blood from promenadin trough de system an k---p» it all in do head? Yo's mighty If :y dat yo' head hnin't busted afore dis. "Ah. bow w onderful! I never thought ed the chance for a rarry or diversion. "Why should that make my face red. aunty?' or mat. * . a . v- • wcr'n't liu'ii ild «-IV " * ° The offic£ raill hi« ev«w and met thoi: hurt ht, motto. I.» in toi *» put it in front of her mouth to hide the * ,a, e *''*?>"* "?* «■!***<• "hile he V ad< no effort to check hia own exprès Mon of arnnaeinent Hi" eye« flitted to those of the mother, who hail no hestta tion in showing her pleasure. Jn.st then aunty looked np. Lord sa be me I But l must be quirk form face am redder dan eher. It 11 bust fittfdi ef 1 doan hurçy_ Dépite the embarrassment felt by the invalid under the battery of those black eyes, there was something ungut y sootlnng in the manipulation of his wounded arm by the coli.ri d woman She had carefully provided herself with the medicinal herbs bronght hy Rastus from their cabin iron, some a bitter tea was made and from others a cooling lotion that was lue the touch of the winter s breath upon the f-vered fore head As the black, herny hands passed np and down the forearm, clearing it of the lust; traces cf coagulated blciod. spreading the subtle tonic over the fair sain through whose pores it gently node its way pain vanished, and the ofneor f* It tlsat but for the presem*i* of the two St .1 rill, g behind amity's chair he could have laid hack his head and .s sleep sunk into tile refreshing dreamlei of infancy. "I never saw anything like it." he said gratefully. "I felt better from tin. moment you began taking off the band age. I don't understand how" "Cose yo' doan' obstend it, is nuf.hi but a white man. " .. 1 hat must belt, aunty. I have had Fome fear that one of the holies was in jiired. Is it so- oh!" .who was kneading tlm f. -rearm with T) V ' 'Ti * < lt ' 11 i* ' 1 V* Z* 11 ' through his frame and ca ns--l the frown, the start and the exclamation t'on'lT'v r' D ° ?rnW i i t ought Marse Linkum s soy-rs had some sense, but d, y am as big fools as Marse Jeff Davis'. Yaas. do 1-me had been brashed a little by do bullet dut obw.it.-d it. but it ain't broke. Shall 1 teH yo'surnfm?'' The black eyes, with tho Iron specta d,> * ^ting on the bridge of the Hat nose, flash d upward and look, 1 into the . . 80 near its own.-like a vision of "- r 'T from out <-f the mmni.tht. '' I:!,ail >rI,id to bear it. aunty. ' . Dat arm am gw.ne to hab a good oal « b influ.mn.-ratmn. V, n.nst k-ep qllt . Do,in fiet. it it 11 hnrt like -fvitMii fur a t-w days. „„tvÇ' SUr ° * u ro Is no danger, a J.,' ' .. , , . ,, _. The question was ask-d by Mr, El drtdge. who was too accustomed to the wav»» of nor M rvant to bo startled by what she might say. Lor bless yo ! NnfTin at all. It 11 huit, but de hones am as good as et«r " 1 Î lu . a . 'j'' ', r ' * 1 'V 1 , 11 . '.V W »Andanntvniw^makJa mi'take.' vh« I« (he li St D , as she is. and film will soon bring you around. •:o yo' added Miss physician in tin-county Eldrid ;e. i , : MU PO « f i v 'XV... tôtèr HL •!r g )A ?J r I ! lT~à' > gV .T £ I - I u U;. >i V V fe ■ " T a >. i. •V >i< I t ■ ? V' « ; f I : &• "Shet up"' nnorily interrupted Aunt oT •^3 - V 'i .1.' OT Mv mother ha* already as«ur«-d you t h it V..U lire weir :n ch-to r -inain w fi « I -ng a* you n - mv ! hankfnlne««. ' said the lient- riant with deep feeling "Since I nit rod y mr state a* an en- my. what right bail I to look for such kindness?" "The rieht of those who profe-s tin faith of the good Gar anten. " r-j li-d th- in -th-r "God kn-.w» I have suffer ed i-Ti- itch at the hat- 1* of yonr p«-.pie My fat!., r and br 'h- r have given np their live-,, one at Gettysburg and the other in front of Richmond. Batwenr civilir. d rrcattir— and when my hns isenpr of the Unionist* as I hope to treat von.' "I r-:., iu- r General Eldridge well. ' said the Prim rinnt gently "No braver officer live* I help.■ 1 to capture him. and my opinion is th..t of all who knew him 1 wa* clad when lie was exchang I e ; 111!-.t hau l was a p he was tr.-iti-d ed. though, clfverly added the offi—r "I know it is just bth Ii a* he that lu Ip prol-r-g tiie w»r I shall avail niysi If Jour Kinde -s to tue extent of {«r .. . , . "Shet up angrily mtemiirted Aunt Marcie "A'-*' b.iut got nnffin t<- say how long yo's gwine to fai h-ah fix dan' 11! "As yen please, annty, " tn«e!'ly re sp- nd-.-d the invalid, who blueli- 1 ii* icclv than before, because at that "miHrnt in« eyes end those of Musa El dri dge met. and each smiled. ,Ut ° the room w; ' lkcd at that »« äJeI»««» f.Äto I'S'*£ Ti« £ w ,. r „ a m 4 hbor sh „ WM a nimd in black, and tbe light gray cy» the thin iij w and the ri«irt figure were those of 0Ue v . ho know« little of the quality of m ,. lvv ••.'his is Misa Harriinan, *' Mis« El dridge made hatte to say. mentioning at t lie -urne time the name of Lieutenant ( ): Annin and the misfortune that tnado him » temporary guest in that home. The officer partly rose from the cash i,. n ,sl chair in which he had been seat ,. (1 ^owed low and expressed his pl- a » ur „ at tla . llt ,. Mi«« Harriinan loo i ;ed angrily at him without the sli . ht08t itK !:! ; ;ltioa of , lf . r , K . ad or t.iowledgment of the introduction The fl!M clt) , cli f „ r ., niODK . nt and thrtl with a strange glitter in her steely eyes H ,„. tnru ,., ltli . tr ,. K , of the Th« words that f Mowed se.-m.sl tobe ^-.ot out like bullets from between the i ips -'yfrs Eldridge. do yon mean to let jbat man stuv here?" »Buch is mv intention. " replied the elder wilh .a -r.ity. "and 1 have yet to loam that it in nay concern of jours. ' "Humph ami, you claim to be a «ontbern woman ! ' "X do. ami therefore a Christian wo Tie-re was an ominous flash in the man eyes < f the daughter, who hero inter ior, d "Miss Harriinan. were I not certain that yon have forgotten your self maud and that yon will soon bo asham e d of this. I should not permit you to remain in this room." "Ashamed of myself" repeated the woman with scorn "Never 1 It is you wno will regret to vonr aving oav nav j h shelter to une'who comes to ska-our n "r 1 and bn-n err . . if I ^ i ÏSiS^hi; t rel . min ' minlI te „nder tl.ia roof L minute under this "Madam" int, maned Lieutenant Q ^ in , ; _ ' a ."f. , th( . " "j, -• J na - Ü y° a ure u ujl,Vü uf "I am " replied the woman turning f eroci , inH '|y ' "Vour Words and manner led me to it - .! And . am ..bamed of mv misfw tune. whi. h - ..nte.t b.- ii-1-. -i. " "No more ashamed tlu.n tlm north is of Bnch dan ^ t , rfl HS y ..„. and tlm fn , Rri(f , f it jq ' th . lt m-rth Ls equally helpless in its misfortune." - CHAPTER VL IVWHTT-UT-,.« cn*y,A,s . . A in Marc.e s diagn- -is of Lienten ant 0;ilc»n:tn s row-* was armrritf* Tin* comparatively slight wound gradually grew more angry and inflamed until his syst'-m was afire with fever and his sufferings were intense He walked tin tWl * pntii " >-»t *»'» disturbed tho -de,«, ing ones who could giv. him no more than their syn, and be rested only when nature rum Tie : that the old colored woman rrii-gly every phase of hi« in her at par iy sim explained that the bril- t. wh --h rung- I ni-.ng the f• .rc arm nnder the sleeve of coat and shirt had carried some of the cloth with it. and it was this foreign «iiiMtanc« that was still within tho Wound which caus ed the irritation Until that was re moved by her treatment tba inflammn tion l ,. in w -M continue, b-.-t the mw .:,vo:.- -. n«-.- wo .ildhe.xtid-d at .- «no hour on the fourth day. alt- r whi, h his improvement v.-.uid rapid And it c.;':. - about pr. cU-ly as she said Inde«-,! the reli f was so marked that, as he , xpn s.v.-i it. tho change was lit- ! .ven it- If foretold u case kept his conoden In io r I r ,de ng in n d---ir s to be I t al-ne wie nl. is stiff-ring Wont* of sym pathy do no gof-d and gen-rally an- a 1 re Li-ut- ii int <lakmati Mr, Eldridge and her d.inght- r under ft- 1 this truth and f : r- intruding u ; . : ; in:.. Til- ef. t ( t«. -ko'.v the < r te-v an l gr-ititu-i- due them would have iu- nii.,-1 hi« p«in L it t- : w.rede!. ,e.i.-s s-rdtohi-i .p. 4n ,.,j { . ^ irr j w -j , H b i:e- b V Aunt Marcie. that were' the «V .1 t of balms How th«-«« people re«luc. d to t'.i. most painful d,-gr.-..f j« •. i-rtv. con:-l furnish him with snch deli ,t- and nourishing f.««t was in cenc. i-.abie lo the All t>— slaves 1...-Ï ran -it ext- ptmg P-t- his v .fe and the b y U. The phmtatina had Ion going to wa«*« for a 1< ng time. tti-l it w : l mi** : j i that the fir duet: n w is n t -idicient for the « us.»nance of A s' s glad that r< né one {• i - • ii And 1- re v,--re mot lier and daughter, ac: i 1 to live* of refinement and luxury, b- -ides tits thr- e «ervuuta, n •f wie-m kIkiv. -I «-viik-n-'H of actual w -ut thougli the I*-* rty of attire, th» ! <i r genuine ta and cofft a;-i the in* ager f .ra i** -lf sjM.ge eio q ntly of tt ■ x iinful change of condi tions. It is probable that this exemption fr ->i the db-tress that cnine to thun ks of other I. in-s was «lue to a \ .,ri . f taupes. A.* u known, the sert ion lay in tho very heart of the Confedrtr u where, until the v.s.t of Sb- r.-iali au. t his army, th' r<:ii f.n- nce of war v.... : ot felt Although the men at t.; h--d to the pba.tati .n had long since gi.gu to war, taking the must valnubk* «: c El- non,e * " ,tn ,no *". **®te ana ni« wir« Weïe " b! " to K' Vo more help to the »«"« »h«. would b. «oppowd. Their &^ toïïïTLss^ ? anKht * r £ iÄtaEKÄlf* " " in Slue« Lieutenant Calm,at. waa not aib «» 'n body and the am. which he of carried in a sling was mending rapidly of tbur *-' was no call for him to atay within doors The second night on which ho El- Wi,lke d tho floor was tho most wretched at of his ,i,e A dritiling rain fell steadily threngh tho dismal hours, and tho pat t. ring on the roof, tho endbtas dripping nf tb" « ares, the soughing of the wet brandie», drove him almost frantic. 1..« wit b his «ndden releas» from angnUh »- tb - «ntnmn «tin burnt forth in splendor, *-'* rejoicing with him over the blessed the «nrcease from misery Stirring news had come to the Union The P r >*-ner From some « anse General Sh-rman made an abrupt turn to the northward in his line of march, thus > leaving the Eldridge plantation a g.sid- , ly number of miles to tho sonth. This the was nil euonuons relief to the officer who knew too well the plundering pro- 1 let clivities of many of his conntrymen which led them to regard everything the worth taking ns legitimate spoil. He to dreaded a visit from them, though ' it. nntil he learned of the a ch:,n K e »n the line of march Several squads of cavalry had been seen hover ^ lt * neighborhood but they van idled without molesting the the 1,0 uttensi a prayer of thankfulness when convinced that nothing inorc would be seen of the invaders. Of course in tho event of a hostile visit the officer would have defended the household to the last, but he ex women. to only one unarmed man against what might have been n score or a hundred the Poluips his chivalry would have avail ed. perhaps it would not : soit is well ' l " u " n !' 1 •upremo test to 1 he situation of Lieutenant Oakman if *** unique. He felt that he ought not ! V. P«^.mg hi. s^y. and yet wh^ means * h<mM he a, M»' to depart? He wa« e prjsoner on p3(r<> i e An<1 onexchanged hurrying back aud forth on the flanks j , and in tlio wake of the Union armv j uf were multitudes of Confederate cavalry m<,u - through which it would Lowell 1 nigh impossible for hi in to make hi to way ' So,u '' ot th<uu woro irr- gular fortes or guerrillas, who. enraged by I 4i-.i«t-r. would show scant considers ti,,a to the United 8 ta tea uniform is They were liable to net Uie Homo oi O-ner.U Eldridge at any hour Ls "I must take the first . .. to ! leave," v i Oakman'« thought. "M; . arm is only slightly sire, nnd if mount- i ed on a good horse, with my revolver Ht command. I wouldn't ii-sitate to chance it Poor Faimv! It : n't lik-lv I W( . ever moe| aKttin> hope, his with his captors the we.-q, ,n was drop pod while riding the mare at full s[ * r *'£™ (" r * . *; a th « yiilj <me who r,mile 1 tu- fact W r if *. l){ hu tinM> in waa . | dering abiut the old plantation loved to nit ander the grand old shad- > trie«, where «> ats had b-- n i laced long i before Bometimes WUfi and as fur a ri-volv. r" Ho checked hinuielf with a thrill of In tho flurry of hi« en- unt« r .1 he the u c< uni r--c -ver it ' COllVil', -nee He hi« it. re ,, the r " LMtidire and h-T daughter were cw,! * ! ' rat -'' r ; D>nding kindly to his r « T ". 1,51,1 ^pressing their pleasure ut rr ' ov ' r - v .' bt, ' tbe ""•«»«•« wa« she «"'«»« to him that he avoided l»,tb !,:4 K *' ,,vs <>f h, '"" r wonbI »"'» 1 -rmit "T , l ° 10 IT r *' n,ot ^i degree , to tab«* advaiitag» 1 «rf his ixositton. As for Miss Harridan, the «itnation may f said t<> have t«-en on he «-hatt -1 with , Aunt Marcio, and inus Ul.cl, Pete much as they r> f i .si t«» a< ,-r-pt any- | thin ; in tli- f >rm of money from him j he fill 'd the [ - ki t« ot Rastus with griH-nbncks, until the dusky urchin j tliriut- ued to become u budding mil lion.lire. I a ... , , .. V ' a ' " '"f "' 5 ' r \ hv ,al ' io Wltb ,lUI " i,n ' 1 ^»ngutw-nt f the Lotis.- «-.m.-timoa aU day «n«i Tb f, ,, ".* t that wa. said of her hy Mi«. Eldndgn W.-JS «-. explain that , H * i,T fr - 11 wan Marian Harrin .n. the that die had emu.- from New England P'«t 1-ef- re toe breaking ont of the war **<*"«; < jf h«-r high recon.mcn.1a ÎÎ, !" . 1,11,1 Uf,!B b X G.-n-ral in- Lhirwlge os a gov. ru-., or cmpanion bl " '»-'"«hter. who o-lit.-n,plated a .fe Lnr "I»«-* a n »our with h-r mother, but prevented by ths owning uf bostil 1,I " ,S - n of of armed neutrality Mr* Eldridge must have sp ken «harp words t < h r for nothing more was heard of fur biting «ent-nc«* n> v- r Kitting at ' Brief «* are the words Recorded of this young woman, they are sufficient to show h-r intens*- «.-luthcrn synix« thi«-s She was more extreme than th«*»} Bin-ng whom she lived and sometime* né brought reproof ufoia her head for her fierce ntterances. Lient-nant tiakiusn r -meinta-red tbe si* t wliere h« when he was «truck by tbe tmll-t of Tiai Masters- Sauntering to the id,ice, lie groped only a few minuti-s among the cotton »hriifjs when he came ax«>n th» weap n lying precisely a» f ill- n With 11 cry of j. y he matched it up. «tip;, 1 it into hi* pocket aud «tarted homeward. th» ion It was wholly accidental, the meeting Itv.esn Lieut .nant Oakman and Miss dr-iqx-d ills revolver it bad CHAITER VTL ÜMnvn TitK TREKS. I - E!dnâg&. tie was «aontcrtng tsought fully homeward after recovering hi. w r ^ •»«-»**» «• ^ *£»-« "» * P °* ln '? «pacxons. «haded #™»nd* he raised his eye. and saw the y« ,n «»K l*dy seated on one of thematic bt '"^ be " «cicely 20 pace« away, hbu wa * looking toward him and. «be «aught hi« glance, nodded and al "'"* t nncoMcionaly made r«.om for him. A singular thrill stirred the officer as |»« raid'd his cap. and. «lightly quicken lBK his pace, placed himself at the aid* of ' h< ' - v,, " n « * Ä,1 Y A touch of summer'* softness lin t1 "' h >r. but the »hapdy shonl der " were infolded in a light shawl and the head covered by a bat trimmed by ber own han,ls wlth » taste that would have won a compliment in Paris itself Hi *e -vet, carried a parasol which was > £ "* u ;: 1 ' wbl,u * ho cuicd tho sharp point , to d, * L tho K rot i ni1 ber feet, »me tlm ' H by way of emphaau and again wlll ' at all 1 After u few words the young woman *°' d; as "It seems inhospitable, lieutenant, after yonr brief utay with ns for me to urge you to leave, but I am compelled to do so. " "When I have rect-ivsd so mach kindness from your family, there can be no such thing as inho.-puahty on yonr purt ' "My words sound very like it How »•I«« run they tie construed?" Bim hml begun gouging the soft ground near the |«iintof onoof her tiny shoes with the tip of her p.irun-,1 anj looked npward and sideways at him with a faint «mile .. „ ! Tlle «en tie face became thopghtful. moment, .ilenc dwwid e ln a luwor lo " e "Yon speak the truth, for yon are in j danger. " j , "^ ach haa **** r 'iy situation from th - ,ir!it 1 "B«t »he danger him become im mi Despite the care we have ns«<d it kn-wn that we are shelter by I in # • Union officer nnder our roof "Ai"» ther-by'have placed General Mdn'lfl« In a faise position „».j^.^inVrnth b" w a « J " ' ' « „ »V . ! . * ra ' vbu Ju -n 01 ta 'n* i to I . | > i "The motivo must bo tho interpret«-!. Yonr words are prompted by tbc um« f, eling that led yon and yonr mother to extend hospitality when it wa» «or«-ly an be does. ' "Not Masters and Ackers?" "Their treatment of you does not warrant your distrust." Thu officer's face flushed and he made haste to apologise. "It does nut. but they might fw obey ing tin- orders of others. 1 understand that since the Union army lias pass-d through thi« section there are many Confederate cavalrymen hovering on the outskirts at the rear of the force a of r picking -ff straggb rs Somu of them are in this noighfiorh ud. ' "They are aud mean to pay you a ' v * h 'L " , "But ! am already n prlannov. " "And yet confined tu no pic-in.' The word« meant n go;«i deal. Lien tenant Oakniati felt that the most chiv* , | j in objecting to the prin j alrous enemy would have be. n justified es he eo joyed "Miss Eldridge. could 1 have carried out my wish 1 should have left this I lovely home several days ago. " Khe had resum-d h r g , ng of ths earth ut her feet, and for a minnts »•etneii at , rf. ■ 1 in tin- progress «h« was making Thcu again she turned her face sid< ways aud a«aed with m bright smile: "Why?" The officer would have be<«n «pitted bef- re telling mII that was in hi* mind. "I am entirely recovered from iny Wound and eould-have gone f»-f it this. a Instead I am in the unworthy x»-,*ition an abl-li-died soldier lingering in the r-ar when hi* country needs the s-rvics ot evejv iimi of its soli* " at Eh-did not ré pond until she com plet. -d digging a ragged orifice a little fartle r in front of the hem of ber dress. Th- ri. «tili surveying thj tiny pit. «hs «aid "Not your country, bnt yonr tion. " "No. allow me—mine—yonr country, for sni'k it n» aud shall bu to tbe end of time. " How many southern girls wonld hav* permitted th- se word* to [mss nnretmk e<l ' To tho majority, it would hav* of proved the sx>ark to the fiowder uiaga rin Hnpx>o«e he had ctter«d th-m to Misa But no— tho suxiposition Hajfiuian? of Wa* lUcreillhle Ho was frighten«-d liy his own temer ity and lii /k-d «|ue«tiouingly ut her. The gouging of the x*iiat--l wood had «acavated a symmetrical orifice in ths dirt B< verai grains were flung over the toe of. tbe Umd rellalike mum-. She flirt ed them «-ff aud continued digging, a» if promised by a definite pnrjxxse. lie» waa grave, but she remained si "Have iny word« given offense?*' asked the lien tenant with a pang of self reproach, while studying the period profile before him "No. i could not respect ffon wen you* sentiment* different. " I (To l*.- Co.i-in-1 *1; t