The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-24

The dog said Major Van Zandt. =" But
in what way could you help this double
traitor"
81 hare helped him. said Thankful
quietly
But how said Major Van Zaudt.
BY becoming traitormyself" she said
turning upon him almost iercely. "Hear
me! While you were quietly pacing these
halls, while your men were laughing and
talking in the road. Crsar was saddlng
my white marc, the ncctcst in the country,
lie led her 10 the lane below That mare
is now two miles away, with Captain
Brewster on her back. why do you not
start Major? Look at me. I am II traitor.
and this X my bribc," and she drew
package of letters from her bosom. and
Hung them on the table.
she had boon prepared for an outbreak
or exclamation from the man before her.
hut not for his cold silence. speak" she
cried AT last, pa-stonately, speak. Open
your lips If only to curse me- order in
your meu TO arrest me. | viii proclaim
myself guilty aud save your honor. But
only speak,
MAY | ask" said Major Van Hnndt.
coldly, "whv you have twice honorcd me
with q blow"
Because loved YOU Because when
first saw you saw the only man that was
my muster, and rcbelled. Because when
found | could not help but love you,
knew ! never had loved before. and !
would wipe out with ono stroke all the
past that rose in judgment against me.
Because would not have You ever con.
fronte1 with one endearinc word of mine
that was not meant for YOU"
Major Van Zaudt turned from the win
dow where he had stood, and faced the
girl with sad resignation II have. in
NV foolishness. Mistress Thankful, shown
yen how great was your power over me-
when you descended TO this artihce 10
spare my feelings by confeSsinc your own
love for me, You should have remembered
that you were dong that which forever
kept me from wooing or winning you. If
You had really loved me your heart. ns
woman's, would have warned YOU against
that which my heart. as a gentlcman's has
made a law of honor. when tell you. rs
much for the sake Of relieving Your own
conscience rs for the sake of justifving
mine that if this man. traitor, my pris-
oncr. and your recognized lover. had cs-
capped from my custody without your
assistance. connivance. or even KNOWLEDGE.
I~hould have deemedit my duly to forsake
You until caught him, even If we bad
been standing before the altar
Thankful heard him, but only as n
strlngr voice in the distance, n she stood
with fixed eyes ana breathle.s parted lips
before him. Yet even then fear that.
womanlikr, she did not comprehend his
rhetoric OF honor but only caught here
and there dun henumbiug idea that he
despiscd rer. and thai in her effort to win
his love she had killed II, and ruined him
forever.
II YOU think il strange" continued the
Major "thnt. believing rs | do. stand
here only To utter moral axloms when my
duty calls me to pursue your lover | beg
YOU to believe that II is only for your sake.
| wish to allow reasonable time between
your interview with him and his escape.
that shall save YOU from any suspicion of
comuhcitv. DO not think. lac added. with
a sal smile, rs the girl made an impatient
step toward him, do not think am run
ming any risk. The man cannot escape.
\ Gordon 81 pickets surrounds the camp
for many miles. He has not the counter
sn, and his face aud crime are known"
YES" said Thankful. eagerly but n
pam 81 his own regiment guards the Bask-
in-udGc road,
How know YOU TIN, .' SAL. &C Major,
SEEING her hand.
tie told me.
Before she could fan on her knees and
beg his forgiveness he had dartei from the
room. given An order, aud returned with
checks and eyes blazing
Hear m. he said. rapidly taking the
girls two hands. you know not what
you've done. forgive you. But this Il
no longer matter Of duty, but of my
/ personal honor | shall pursue this man
alone. | shall return with him. or not at
/ all Farewell; God bless YOU"
But before he reached the door she
caught MIN again. "Only say you have
forgiven me once more
do"
"Guertl"
There was something in the girls voice
more than this first utterauce of hs Chris
tan name that made him pause
- told-a-le-iuSt- There is Il
fieeter horse N the stable than my mare
ii, the roam Ally in the second stall
God bless you.
He was gone She waited To hear the
c'atter Of his horse IS hoofs IN the roadway
when Caesar came in a few moments later
to tell the news Of Captain Brewster
escape the room was empty. Bat II WA
soon nlied again by "A doom turbulent
troopers.
"Of course she's gone, said Scrgoan
Tbbous; the jade flew with the Cap
tain"
AYE us plain ouough Two horses ar
gone from the stable beside, the Majors
said Private Hicks.
Nor was this military criticism entirely
n private one. When the courier arrived
at headquarters the next morning, II wa
to bring the report that Mistress Thaukfu
Blossom, after assisting her lover to escape
had He'd with him. " The RENEGADE is wei
off our hands, said General sullivan
grunly. lie has saved us the public dis
grace Of q trial, but this is bad news %
Major Van XIndt.'
"Whst news OF the Majorl asked Wash
ngtou, quickly.