The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-07-06
CHAPTER I.
THE PRoPHEsY.


MAE HIN'.''
The American civil war had begun.
Missouri was about evenly balanced be-
tween secession with tile southern states
aud loyalty with the Northern states. The
time was August. in 1861. There had
been struggles Of legislation over the
question whether Missouri should go
with the south Or stay with the north.
Every city, every town, and many a
family, was distracted and divided. All
was turbulence. Cen Fremont was in
command of the Unionist military de-
partment, and be had sent Gen. Lyon
with a small army to drive out the Con-
felerate troops, who had entered the
state from Indian territory under COM
mand Of Gen. Ben McCulloch The
movements of both commanders were for
awhile as chaotic as the diverse senti-
nents Of the people, for the governments
Of the United States and the Confederate
States were alike indeeisive IN their policy
concerning the uncertain territory. The
battle OF Wilson's Greek was not far off,
and the immediate region was loosely
possessed by Confederate troops.
But peaceful quite was the yard Of a
farm house which overlooked the stream
at shutdown of summer day. Four
persons were unconsciously grouped in a
way that made a fair picture. They
were two men and two women, not one
of whom had gone further in life than
few years beyond maturity. One woman
sat negligently on a bench, with one arm
hanging over its back, and the other
swinging at her side. Her face was so
perfectly regular and proportionate in its
features that it might have been express
sionless but for large black and wonder
fully lustrous eyes. He who stood be-
hind her, leaning on the back of the seat,
was very manly fellow. A tendency
10 slouehiness m his clothing was in keep
ing with free and careless ways, and in
Dictated his rural rearing as certainly as
the woman !; ssas;;cettgg Of dress showed her
acquaintance with the cxaetions of a
fashionable life in the city.
The other couple were in swing that
hung from the limb of tree, the brawny
man clasping the ropes with his hands,
and the slender woman clinging to him
with more energy than her position
seemed to require. She jumped down of
a sudden, and perverted the fact by say
ing: You were hugging me, Tudor
BOVINE She ran out of the yard. he
following, and cluinsily protesting his
innocence Of intentional impropriety.
The pair that remained had listened
with the air Of being still diverted by
something that was by no means new to
them; and the woman said: .'They are
amusing, Mr.. Wiilett." Her tone was
lazy, like her attitude and her manner.
Whether she was affected by the listless-
ness that comes of summer lounging in
the country, or whether her calmness of
surface was careful covering Of activ-
ity underneath, young Oliver Willett had
been trying to discern. He courageously
determined on a more direct way to the
desired knowledge than guessing, and
precipitately began. in thoughtlessly
chosen, but ardent words, an avowal Of
his passion.
A woman came to the open window Of
the house and stood eavesdropping. This
was May Willett divers sister, and
older than he. She waited only long
enough to comprehend what her brother
was doing and then interrupted by pye-
senting herself before them. Oliver
walked into the house without saying
another word. May took the place that
he had left at the back of the seat, and
said quietly, but with firm meditation:
MRS. Arlnytage, have been listening.
Iheard what my brother said, and knew
what he was going to say. l am going to
speak frankly--it is my duty. You and
Mrs Dimmock-married wonaen-came
here to spend few weeks. l welcomed
you as school day friend, and her as
your friend. You asked me not to tell
anybody that you were wives"
That was her freak, not mine," Mrs.
Arnnytage replied; Il was ashamed of it
from the start"
You acquiesced at least, and gave
you my word not TO let even Oliver
know. / did not foresee that you would
so quickly become lovers. He has been
commissioned an officer in the Confeder-
ate army, yet he fingers here, away from
his duty and in dangerous proximity TO
the Unionistss advance
! Mrs. Armytage's manner was placid
as she said: .sAn / to blame2 / have not
undertaken to control his conduct or his
heart. / am the wife of a United States
army officer, and who can say that am
unfaithful? I have tried to discourage
your brother, and it is not my fault if l
have not succeeded. But if you order
L. - III