Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-02-19


could not help saying: ''There are some
things worth STOPPING for, Maj. Van
Zspdt"
But she had not calculated upon the
audacity Of the man; and as she turned to
fly she was caught by his strong arm, and
pinioned to his side. She struggled, hon
estly l think, and perhaps more frightened
at her own feelings than at his strength;
but it is TO be recorded that he kissed her
10 a moment Of comparative yielding, and
then, frightened himself, released her
quickly, whereof she fed to her room, aud
threw herself painting and troubled upon
her bed. For an hour or two she lay there,
With flushed cheeks and conflicting
thoughts. ale must never kiss me again."
she said softly to herself, 'unless"-but
the iuterrupting thought said, Il shall die
if he kiss me not again; and / never can
kiss another" And then she was reused
By a footstep upon the stair, which in that
brief time she had learned to know and
look for, and a knock at the door. She
opened i. to Mai. Van ZIn1t, white and
so eolorless as to bring out once more tie
faint red line made by her riding whip
two DAYS before, IS if il had risen again In
accusation. The blood dropped nj Of her
cheeks as she sazed at him In silence.
can escort OF dragons" said Maj Van
Zandt, slowly, and with military psrcision,
has Just arrived, bringing with them one
Capt. Allan Brewster, Of the connecticut
contingent, on his way to Morristown 10
be tried for mutiny and treason. A private
note from Col. Hamilton lnstructs me to
allow him to have a private audience with
you-if sou so wish it."
With a woman's swift and too often
hopeless intuition, Thankful knew that
this was rot the sole contents OF the letter,
and that her relations with Capt. Brewster
were known 10 the man before her. But
she drew herself up a little proudly, and,
turning her truthful eyes upon the major,
said: "I do so wish it"
1T shall be done az you desire, Mistress
Blossom" returned the officer, with cold
politeness, as he turned upon Eis heel.
'rOne moment, Maj. Van Zandt," said
Thankful, swiftly.
The msior turned quickly; but Thank
iups eyes were gazing thoughttully Tor
ward. AID scarcely glanced at him. Il
would prefer" she said imidly and hest
~tatingly, that this interview should not
take place under the roof where-There-
( whereby father lives. Half way down
the meadow there is q barn, and before 1t
"a broken part of the wall, fronting on a
sycamore tree. He will know where it IS.
Tell him l will see him there in half an
hour"
A smile, which the msjoF bad tried to
make a careless one, curled his lip satiri-
cally AZ he bowed in reply. ut is the first
time" he said dryly, "thst ] believe l
have been honored with arranging q tryst
for two lovers; but believe me, Mistress
Thankful, l will do my best. In bali an
hour will turn my prisoner over TO you
In half an hour the punetual Mistress
Thankful, with a hood hiding her pole
face, passed the officer in the hall, on the
way to her rendezvous. An hour later
Cesar came with a message that Mistress
Thankful would like TO see him. b
the major entered the sitting room be was
shocked 10 find her lying pale and notion
less on the sofa; hut as the door closed she
rose to her feet and confronted him.
81 do not know" she said slowly,
whether you ere aware that the man
lust now parted from was for o twelve
month past my sweetheart, and that l be-
lieved | loved him, and knew / was true
to him. II you have not heard it, l tell
YOU now, for the time will come when you
will hear part of it from the lips OF Others,
and would rather you should take
the whole truth from mine. This man
L. haKraua1 fun friends
of mine rs spies. l could have forgiven II,
had it been only foolish jealousy; b IL
yas, | have since learned from his W lips,
only that be might crafty his spite against
the commander in chief by procuring their
arrest, and making q serious difficulty In
the American camp, by means OF which ne
hopsd to serve his own ends. He told me
this, believing that / sympathized with
him in his hatred Of the commander In
chief and in his own wrongs and srtferiDgs.
l confess TO my shame, Maj. Van Landt,
that two days ago l did believe him, n
that 1 locked upon you as q mere eaten
poll or bailiff of the tyrant. That found
ont how I was deceived when l saw the
commander in chief, you, major, who know
him 60 well, need not be told. Nor was
it necessary for me to tell this man that ne
had deceived me, for l felt that-tnat-
was-not-the-only reason-why l could
no longer returE-his love"
She paused as the major approached her
earnestly, and waved him back with her
hand. HE reprosched me bitterly with
nv want OF feeling for his misfortunes,"
she went on again; 'he recalled my past
nrotestations; he showed me my love let
tiers; and he told me that if l were still his
true sweetheart | ought TO help him. L
told him if he would never call ne by that
name again; if be would give mp all claim
to me; if he would never speak, write to
me, nor see me again; if he would hand
me back my letters--I would help him"
She stopped; the blood rushed into her
male face. "You will remember, major,
that | accepted this mans love as a young
foolish, ~trustful girl; but when l made
him this ofEer--he--.he accepted it."
'oThe dog" said Maj. Van Zandt. But
in what way could you help this double
traitor?' ,
II have helped him." said Thankful
quietly.
"BGt howP" said Maj. Van Zandt.
by becoming q traitor myself" she
said, turning upon him almost fiereely.
Hear me- While you we're quietly pac-
ing these balls, while your men were
laughing and talking ia the road, Cesar
was saddliUg my white mare, the hastest
in the country. He led her to the lane
below. That mare is nov two miles away,
with Capt. Brewster on her back. Why
do you pot start, major? Look at me. l
am a traitor, and this is my bribe;" and
she drew a package of letters from her
bosom and flung them on the table.
"a ~