The National tribune., 1890-07-03

on the still, cold air, and were lost in hollow
echoings among the leafless trees.
In another instant riders and speakers would
come into view around the bend of the road, a
scop of yards from where we crouched with
| finger on trigger. For il seemed to me n little
eternity. / held my breath, keeping one eye on
the road and one on Job.
AT last appeared n TALL slender girl, riding n
bloOded horse and man in blue walking by
her side. 1t was Samantha Lomax and Orlando
Green.
At sign from Job we let down our ham
| meTs gently, but remained in, hiding. We
! scarcely needed 20 have been so secretive, for
tho couple were so deeply ingrossed in each
other that they took little heed of their sur
| roundings. They were talking very earnestly
| indeed, and with the careless loudness that be-
ing in the folds or woods begets in most people.
When within rod of where | was crouch
| ing behind curtain of matted trumpet flower
| vines hanging over fence corner, Samantha
stopt her horse
| "Ill not go any farther" sho said. awe
are now nearly in sight of the Yankee-I
mean the Union-pickets tn be just as well
| II none OF your people see you out here with a
rebel girl, and for mono of mine TO sec mo so
| close TO the pickets with Yaukee-I mean a
| Union-soldier"
Dear. call us Yankees, if you wisi," said
| Ian, again taking her hand, which she had
! withdrawn to aid in refining up her horse.
It's the name you re used to, and which comes
natural to yOu. We have accepted il, and will
| make it proud one"
No, must break myself Of that" she an
swered gently. Not that there is anything
wrong in the name itself. but on the tongues of
our people it means everything that is hateful
it means what would not think of you, and
what i am coming to not want to think of
| those who are with you"
| ! happened to catch Jobs eye at this moment
and it closed with wink of deepest sgnif-
! cancc
As watched Samantha sitting there on her
supple-limbed steed, / began to have grave
doubts whether | had not greatly underesti-
mated her. IL did not seem likely that wher-
ever we might go, we should find an abun-
dance OF handsomer women than she. On tho
contrary, II was very improbable that should
ever see again a more fascinating woman than
the one who sat there on her saddle as if it
were throne, with strong, high h-bred face,
perfect in shape and coloring. Instead OF her
not being worth the risk that Ian had run,
should have thought him a coward if he had
not been willing TO encounter much greater
chances for her.
For a minute Ian stood without speaking
holding her hand in both of his aud looking
straight into her eyes with all tho admiration
aud devotion that mans eyes could convey
She met his gaze with frank steadiness.
will you not" he said at last slowly and
earnestly, "say before we part that you will
be miner Tell me this, aud / will walt for
you, il God spares my life, M long ms Jacob did
Tor Rachel, aud work as hard for you. You
say that you must know mo better before link
ing your life to mine. That is "a good reason,
j must admit Reason would dictate that
should do the same with regard 10 you, but ]
feel that If had known you always / would
not be any more eager than am now TO take
you for my own and devote all my life 10 you.
l owe duty 70 my country; after that all there
is OF me s yours, aud yours alone, whatever
time may bring"
1t is not only that know so little Of you,"
she answered, in tones that were very tender,
while still unmstaka ably firm Perhaps ii Ia
wrong that l should say ! know so little of
you, for 10 seems to me that know you oven
now better than any other man alive. But I
am not yet prepared TO admit TO myself even
in my most confidential moments, that can
care for an enemy of Old Virginia more than
DO for the men who are Sighting her battles.
shrink from acknowledging even tendency
to such disloyaty. IL Is only since | have
known you that ! have como 10 understand
that they who fsRhiing ns can be loyal and
true, even as wo are. You therefore ought 10
understand as we'll my feeling ofioyalty TO my
kindred aud State. Can you not also under
stand what obstacles find In the way Of even
caring for you, much more in pledging myself
10 your"
But this rebellion Is so unjustiaablo and
wrong headed, 80 wanton and - broke in
Ian.
"Pll not waste any of our precious moments
in discussing politics" she interrupted "Itis
sufficient for me that my people are all in it,
aud their hearts bound up In its success. Think
III what position my acceptance OF you would
place mean alien and an enemy among my
own kindred"
But they need never know. / don't ask
you 10 declare yourself. Lot our engagement
be our dear secret, 10 be divulged TO no one,
until the Government has crushed the rebellion
aud brought your people back TO their true al
lcgiancc."
Will 10 be any pieasanter for me 10 play the
hypocrite-with one feeling in my heart and
the other on my tongue2 DO you think am
the kind that delights in living a LIEF"
No; you are the soul of frankness and
truth. But is there no hope that you can give
me7"
"We are all in the hands Of God.p she said
with sweet soemnity. "No ono but lie knows
what tho issue of this war will be. lie will
direct IL for His own glory and His own ends.
And "a He noteth even sparrOw's fall begin
to feel that lie may have intended you aud me
for each other. / will even say that earnestly
hope He has. II this is so He will work il out
in bis own way, even rs lie works out the In
conceiVabiy greater problems Of the war. We
must simply wait his pleasure. each of us doing
his and her best In tho stations in which He
has placed us. If He brings us together in
honor and happiness / shall be very glad If
not, shall bow in uncUmplaining submission
10 His will, aud you must brayely do the
same"
All this time Job and the rest Of us were feel.
ing very uncomfortable in our scarcely honor
able position Of eavesdroppers / looked APP
pealingly TO Job, and got from him a signal 10
move back without attracting the couples at.
tentiOn. But as attempted TO rise "A little
dead limb broke under mo with a sharp crack.
Samantha started little, but turned steady
eye III my direction. Lan's revolver was out
instantly and ieycIed towards my covert.
sprang into full view and called out:
Don't lre, Ian. 1t Is ]. Tracy Tremmel."
Ian lowered his pistol, and we all rushed
from our lurking places into the road.
What are you all doing here I" asked Ian
in surprise
Samanthas face famed with anger. you've
been playing the eayesdropper aud spy Won
sueaking Yankee" she said TO Job "Take
that" She struck him across the face with
her riding-whip, wheeled her horse around,
and before VIC could say a word WAS galloping
down the road out Of sight
Job felt the welt her whip had raised Iookea
savage for an instant, and then broke into a
laugh.
81 like spunk," he said, and that girls got
enough in her purity corporosity to supply a
family. Ian, IL you ever get her you'll have
to see that all the broomstcks ia the house are
cushioned"
We hastily explained TO Ian our apprehen.
sions in regard 10 him, and then hurried bacl
IN eaTnn When wa eanne 4 ha ton .F a.. A sn